A Honeycomb Group volunteer who overcame homelessness and addiction to help others rebuild their lives has been named Volunteer of the Year at the BBC Make a Difference Awards.
Jamie Palmer, a peer mentor with our homelessness specialist, Concrete, received the prestigious award in recognition of his dedication to supporting people experiencing homelessness and other complex challenges across Stoke-on-Trent.
Jamie first came to Concrete in 2019 after facing a series of personal challenges that saw him lose his home and battle addiction. With support from Concrete, he was able to rebuild his life, secure his own home and create a positive future for himself.
Today, Jamie uses his lived experience to support others through the peer mentor programme. Volunteering at Concrete’s 24/7 male accommodation scheme and other homelessness hubs across the city, he offers practical advice, encouragement and a listening ear to customers beginning their own journeys towards recovery and independence.
Jamie received the award at the BBC Make A Difference Awards 2026, held on 3 September at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent. The Volunteer of the Year category was judged by potter and TV personality Keith Brymer Jones, who presented Jamie with his award.
Speaking about his win, Jamie said: "Winning Volunteer of the Year is an amazing feeling. To be recognised in this way means so much and really makes me feel like I'm making a difference to people's lives. Volunteering has given me purpose, confidence and a chance to give something back. If sharing my experiences helps just one person realise that things can get better, then it's all worth it.”
Jamie has become a familiar face to many customers, using his own experiences of homelessness, addiction and recovery to offer hope and encouragement. Having walked a similar path himself, he is able to connect with people in a unique and meaningful way. Through the peer mentor programme, current and former customers volunteer their time to support others, helping them build confidence, access opportunities and take positive steps towards a brighter future.
Reflecting on his journey, Jamie said: “My Service Coordinator at the time could see that I was bored just sitting around doing nothing. I was frustrated and angry – I wanted something that would keep me busy.
“She told me about the mentoring programme and I got in touch with the team. It was amazing. It filled my time, kept me busy and gave me a real sense of purpose. This was crucial because in order to help others, you’ve got to feel good about yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup – if you don’t feel good in yourself, how are you supposed to make others feel better?
“Through mentoring I’ve gained self-worth and also a bit of personality. It sounds strange, but you come across so many different people doing this, that you take different things from each person and learn from them. I’m still Jamie, just a new and updated version. I’ve grown and I absolutely love it.
“Peer mentors are such an important part of Concrete. We volunteer our time because we want to use our lived experience. We can relate to what customers are going through and we can really empathise. We’ve been there.”
The BBC Make a Difference Awards celebrate individuals who go above and beyond to improve the lives of others in their communities. Jamie's award recognises not only his personal journey, but the positive impact he continues to have on people across Stoke-on-Trent every day.
Click here to learn more about volunteering at Honeycomb Group.
