Charity worker nominated for unsung hero award (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans charity volunteer nominated for Community Gold Award

1:10pm Friday 11th February 2011 in News By Manisha Mistry

A DEVOTED charity volunteer who has helped improve the quality of life for residents in a poverty-stricken African village, as well as the homeless in St Albans, has been nominated as the Review's latest community hero.

Tim Fox, general manager at Emmaus, joined the charity seven months ago and previously worked with the YMCA.

In 1997 Tim was instrumental in setting up a tour company in Kenya after having the chance to visit a small village called Mundeku.

Kogelo Tours is now a successful business which has brought tourism alive in this once forgotten village.

Tim has turned Mundeku into an economically viable area helping villagers to set up a guest house, a demonstration farm and create employment opportunities as well as develop education.

Neil Kirby, who has been inspired by Tim's work, made nomination and has also set up his own charity raising money for projects in Mundeku.

A “delighted” Tim said: “I'm very humbled and actually very proud to have been nominated – I'm delighted.

“I wouldn't have expected that at all. The motivation and inspiration I get from the work I do is the reason I continue.

“Just to see the delight on the faces of people who are able to help, the small differences your work can make.”

Neil first met Tim when he worked for the YMCA in Welwyn Garden City. He said: “I found out Tim supported a village in Kenya, called Mundeku, having struck up a friendship with a Kenyan family.

“Tim devoted his own time, money and energy to helping the village deal with the poverty they faced.

“He's also taken many friends from the UK to the village, proving them in turn with experiences that have shaped their lives – myself being one.

“For me it was a deeply humbling experience. He is the reason why I set up a charity which now provides bursaries for Kenyan children to continue their education and give them a way out of poverty.

“Time does not boast about the great work he does – but he is a great inspiration to me and many others.”

The Community Gold Award scheme is run by the Review, in conjunction with St Albans solicitors Debenhams Ottaway, with the aim of recognising unsung heroes across the district.