SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has recognised Shannon Blanks, its Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Social Worker, with the Sir James Gildea Global Staff Award for her passion, dedication, and commitment to the charity.
Presented at the Victory Services Club during SSAFA’s Annual General Meeting, the awards recognise exceptional contributions to SSAFA’s work and values. This year’s presentations had a special link to SSAFA’s history as they were made by two of Sir James’s descendants: Edward Gildea and David Santa-Olalla DSO MC. Edward is a retired headteacher, and David is Regional Chair of SSAFA London.
Shannon who lives near Weymouth, was nominated for transforming safeguarding support for regional offices, improving response times, and providing same-day practical guidance on urgent safeguarding referrals.
The mum-of-two has served with SSAFA for five years and has a personal connection to the military community through her husband, who is in the RAF, and her grandfather, who served in the Armed Forces.
Shannon’s citation highlights how her “… continued support strengthens safeguarding practice across SSAFA and ensures employees and volunteers have confidence that their decisions and referrals align with best practice.”
It also recognises her as “… an asset to the organisation and a strong example of SSAFA’s values of Compassion, Commitment, Integrity, and Understanding.”
Shannon said: “My work focuses on safeguarding individuals at risk and advocating for those who often struggle to have their voices heard. I am incredibly passionate about supporting vulnerable people and ensuring they feel heard, protected, and empowered to rebuild their lives. “
She reflected: “Grampy sadly passed away in November and was incredibly proud of my work with SSAFA and of me supporting serving personnel, veterans, and their families. His experiences, and my husband’s, have given me a strong understanding of military life and the unique challenges faced by both serving personnel and their families.”
“This award means a great deal to me. It recognises work that I’m incredibly passionate about and proud of. Given my husband’s service and my grandfather’s legacy, supporting the Armed Forces community means so much to me, and receiving this award feels like an honour not just for me, but for my husband and Grampy.”
SSAFA sends heartfelt congratulations to Shannon and to every individual and team recognised this year.
To learn more about the charity, search for “SSAFA near me”.
