22 Sep EMMA RIGBY FROM ENFIELD NAMED REGIONAL WINNER OF O2 EVERYDAY HEROES AWARDS 2021
Enfield-based business is calling for support as it reaches the final with a chance to be voted t national winner of O2 Everyday Heroes Awards
Emma Rigby, founder of Love Your Doorstep, is one of five regional business owners with the opportunity to win the £5,000 cash prize
After rallying a team of over 600 volunteers who have delivered over 60,000 meals to those in need, Emma’s commitment to supporting her community over the past 18 months makes her a worthy winner
Voting is now open over at @o2businessuk on Twitter until the 21st September for the public to vote Emma as their winner
Love Your Doorstep, a small business based in Enfield, is calling for support as it reaches the final stages of O2’s Everyday Heroes Awards.
Founder, Emma Rigby, has been crowned one of the regional winners of this year’s awards – celebrating the independent and small businesses, and the individuals behind them, who have adapted and flexed their business to go above and beyond to support their communities or have remained resilient and resourceful in the face of adversity.
Emma was nominated by members of the public who wished to acknowledge her incredible efforts in connecting Enfield residents, charities and businesses to the services they needed most throughout the pandemic.
Love Your Doorstep was set up after the London riots in 2010 after Emma wanted to create something that helped bring the local community together at a time where they needed it most. Since then, the online platform has over 30,000 members who have been able to be connected to over 750 businesses, community groups and charities in the borough. In the last 18 months in particular, Emma has used the network to help recruit in excess of 600 volunteers who spent time helping Enfield residents get access to food and medication.
When asked what being named a regional winner meant to her, Emma said: “It is such an honour to be named a regional winner of the competition! I just knew as soon as the pandemic hit that we had the links and platform that could really help support our community.
“It’s been a real team effort to keep things going over the past 18 months and it’s reaffirmed the sense of community and connection we’ve all needed to lean on at some point. I’m delighted to have received this recognition and even be nominated in the first place! To win the national competition would mean so much and the money would help us continue to support the local businesses and individuals who still get so much out of our service.”
Working closely with charity partners such as The Felix Project and Cooking Champions, the Love Your Doorstep team has delivered over 60,000 meals to those in need. Many of the volunteers who helped bring the operation to life have now committed to supporting local charities moving forwards, a legacy no doubt inspired by Emma and her team. The £5,000 prize for the national winner will help Emma continue to provide her service to her local community and help them continue to connect those in need.
Emma is one of five regional winners battling it out to be crowned this year’s Everyday Hero who will receive the £5000 cash prize. Public votes will account for 50 per cent of the final outcome, while the other 50 per cent will be determined by the O2 panel who will be joined by internationally renowned interior designer and entrepreneur, Kelly Hoppen, CBE.
Members of the public have until Tuesday 21st September to head to @o2businessuk on Twitter to like and retweet to vote for their winner.
Jo Bertram, Managing Director, Business & Wholesale at Virgin Media O2 said “Emma is an incredible representation of the huge effort that people have made across the UK in bringing communities together during the pandemic. Highlighting the valuable role that technology plays in connecting people, she helped ensure that no one in the Enfield borough felt unsupported at a time where it felt so easy to feel alone. Her incredible tenacity, determination and desire to help is truly admirable and the local community is lucky to have her. If you’re inspired by Emma’s work, make sure you vote for her to be in with a chance of being crowned O2’s national Everyday Hero.”
