National award for Diss Costa coffee shop manager

Megan Clifford picks up her award at the annual Costa Coffee convention. (Image: Archant)

Megan Clifford from Costa Coffee in the town beat off competitors from other stores nationwide to be awarded for her work and effort for the company's Costa Foundation.

Miss Clifford joined 4,000 other managers at the annual company convention, picking up the award for her work across five stores.

Each year Costa stores are encouraged to put on fundraising events and activities to raise money for the charity and this year the Diss store raised £1,200.

The foundation is an independent charity which aims to relieve poverty in coffee-growing communities by building schools and providing children with the opportunity for a quality education.

Megan Clifford, who was one of four Costa Coffee mananger nationwide to be recognised for her fundraising work. (Image: Archant)

So far it has supported 42 school projects in eight countries around the world including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Uganda and Vietnam.

Miss Clifford said: 'I felt almost guilty to have won the award, my team won it and they are just as passionate about the foundation as I am.' The 28-year-old is an ambassador for a five-store franchise, which includes Diss, with the aim of inspiring and motivating the stores to raise funds.

In January Miss Clifford will get to see the work of the charity first hand as part of her prize.

During a one-week trip she will visit Vietnam to see the building of the foundation's fiftieth school, as well as trips to an established school and the site of a future school.

Miss Clifford said: 'It really is a once in a lifetime trip, it's really fantastic.

'Coming back I'll have a much better understanding of it and be able to inspire others.'

Have you won an award which recogniese fundraising work? Email kate.royall@archant.co.uk