SSAFA gives top honour to NI volunteer Jean

12 July 2024

Jean Davidson, a volunteer who wears many hats for the Northern Ireland branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been awarded the Sir James Gildea Global Award.

SSAFA’s Sir James Gildea Awards were created to recognise the staff – voluntary and paid – for their exceptional contributions and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values. The awards were presented at SSAFA’s Annual Members’ Meeting in London at the Victory Services Club on July 11 by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, SSAFA’s President.

The much-respected Jean was born in County Antrim, and has lived in Eglinton for the last 38 years. She worked for Northern Bank Ltd for 22 years, was made an MBE for voluntary service to the community, served as High Sheriff of County Londonderry in 2012, and is a Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry. Her husband served with the Ulster Defence Regiment, Jean’s late father-in-law was a lieutenant colonel in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, and her brother-in-law a major in the Gurkhas.

She joined SSAFA in 1993 having been introduced to the charity by a family friend. Jean’s reasons for joining were simple: “I volunteered for SSAFA because I was aware, via the service of family members, of some of the problems faced by service personnel, and was eager to assist in any way I could.”

Her first roles were with the Londonderry City and County Division as a committee member, caseworker, and fundraiser, taking on Divisional Secretary some three years later. She has been instrumental in raising thousands upon thousands of pounds for SSAFA’s work in Northern Ireland.

Jean’s current roles within her branch are Divisional Secretary, caseworker, and fundraiser with the Londonderry Division, and Northern Ireland Branch President.

Reflecting on her award, Jean commented: “I feel very honoured and proud to have been chosen to receive the Sir James Gildea Global Award. The award acts as a tremendous incentive to all SSAFA volunteers to strive to reach the best of their ability in carrying out their volunteering activities for the charity.

“Recipients must, however, remember that they may not have achieved the award had it not been for the backup and support of their fellow volunteers, so the award is for their branch or division as much as it’s for the individual.”

All at SSAFA send their sincere congratulations to Jean and her fellow SSAFA volunteers in Northern Ireland.