With their 45th anniversary on the horizon, staff at Access Community Trust will be welcoming in the New Year with renewed vigour.

The charity, which works tirelessly in communities throughout Suffolk and Norfolk to combat homelessness and social exclusion, has received a prestigious double star accreditation from Best Companies, made possible only through an outstanding commitment to workplace engagement.

Judged against an eight-factor model, the award reviewed how the charity embraces its workplace team and assessed what measures are in place to ensure it stands out as a pleasant and rewarding place to work.

John Austin, founder of Best Companies, said: "I would like to congratulate Emma and the team at Access Community Trust on their achievement.

"Best Companies have been awarding this accreditation standard since 2006 to acknowledge excellence within the workplace.

"Organisations like Access Community Trust have continued to focus on their customers and employees and have been rewarded with an engaged workforce who tell us that this is a Best Company to work for."

Explaining why recognition like this is extremely important for the charity as the ever-increasing demand for its services - such as homelessness, housing, mental health and wellbeing support grows - Emma Ratzer, chief executive of Access Community Trust, said: "This award speaks volumes about who we are and the great work we achieve every day and to be recognised on the same stage as large national and multi-national organisations is fantastic!

"To deliver our services to local communities requires a strong and resilient team.

"We achieve this by maintaining a healthy and caring work culture - we quite simply look out for each other.

"Whether it's been or going to be a tough or good day, we work together, listen and provide support where it is needed.

"It's the responsible thing to do and it empowers Access employees to deliver amazing results in our local communities in what can sometimes be testing environments."

In the last year alone the charity has managed to help and house more than 600 homeless individuals and families through its nine specialist housing projects and is once again providing this year's 'Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub' and 'Cold Weather Provision' for rough sleepers and those in need via its Bridge View premises on Commercial Road, Lowestoft.

Further bold and ambitious plans for its 45th year will be unveiled as the New Year begins. For more information, to donate or get involved visit www.accessct.org