Community Awards 2013

Westminster Community Awards 2013

These awards recognise the local heroes who dedicate their time to benefit the lives of others in the community.

The awards ceremony took place on 6th June 2013 Victory Services Club near Marble Arch.

A full list of awards and winners is below:

Bringing People Together Award

This award recognises outstanding individuals or groups who have improved social cohesion by bringing together people from different backgrounds.

Winner: John MacDonald

John is described as ‘the soul of the Westminster community’. His work fostering relationships between charities, community centres and the general public has caused substantial change around the Church Street neighbourhood.

Partnership Award

 

This award celebrates the outstanding partnerships between voluntary/community sector organisations and private sector organisations that have benefitted the community in Westminster.

Winner: The Portman Estate and St John’s Hospice

Since 2003 The Portman Estate has worked in partnership with the St John’s Hospice to raise over £50,000 for the hospice. The Portman Estate has benefitted from the experience and expertise of the Hospice fundraising team to help make their events a huge success and the Hospice have benefited from the Portman’s Estate’s local contacts which has led to further financial support for the Hospice.

Group Award

 

The award is for the outstanding groups of volunteers who have worked together to make a positive impact in their community.

Winner: Youth Secure Streets

A group of 16 13-18 year olds from Westminster formed YUS youth campaign team, some of whom had previously been involved in or are affected by crime and serious youth violence in their local area.  Coming together on evenings and weekends and working with industry professionals the campaign team developed a campaign that would speak to other young people and prevent them from getting involved in gang and serious crime.

Better City Better Lives Award

Recognising an individual or group who has shown leadership in their local area.  This could by taking responsibility for decision making or by setting up a service or local amenity to assist the community.

Winner: Emma Sweeney

Emma received several nominations for this award, a testament to her continuous hard work in the Queens Park area.  Her most recent achievement was in helping to establish the Queen’s Park Community Council but she has championed several other initiatives in her local community, such as a dental awareness campaign to encourage young children to brush their teeth and so avoid hospital visits for dental problems.

Outstanding Organisation award

 

This award is for an outstanding voluntary sector organisation or social enterprise that has had a large impact on the community in Westminster.

Winner: Westminster Befriend a Family

Providing practical and emotional support to vulnerable families in Westminster, WBAF offers a range of tailored resources to improve the wellbeing of families. The services are aimed at tackling poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion, and helping individuals and their families to see and reach their potential.

Young Volunteer award

 

This award recognises the outstanding volunteers aged 16-24 who have shown dedication to a voluntary organisation or cause as well as helping to make a difference in their community.

Winner: Nellie Khossousi

Despite already volunteering at her local Brownies and as a City Guide, seeing the impact of the London 2012 volunteers encouraged Nellie to take on even more voluntary roles.  She now writes for The Cut magazine, as well as setting up new feature ideas and research trips. She volunteers at her local British Heart Foundation charity shop and helps edit the VCW newsletter into an easy-read format.  All this whilst still studying and carrying on her role as a City Guide.

Inspiration Award

 

This is awarded to an individual that have overcome obstacles or gone beyond the call of duty to benefit a voluntary organisation or cause.

Winner: Khairy Eteiwy

In the last few years Khairy has faced a number of major life problems and unfortunate circumstances.  Despite this though Khairy has picked himself up and dedicated a large amount of his time to voluntary work in his community, from being a  Team London Ambassador' Manager to being a volunteer coordinator for the digital switch over, giving hundreds of hours of volunteering towards the success of this project and successfully recruited 150 community supporters. Not many of his colleagues know of Khairy’s struggles and instead are overwhelmed with the enthusiasm and energy he commits to his volunteering roles.

Dedication award

 

This award recognizes the outstanding individuals who have dedicated their time to a voluntary organisation or cause in Westminster for many years and was an incredibly popular category.

Winner: Sandra Kitchen

Sandra has been involved in the Girl Guide movement since 1979, dedicating her time to the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides within Paddington ever since.  Not only does she make sure there are weekly meetings for the various organisations, but she also organises trips and activities.  She has also trained up many other leaders who have gone on to lead in Westminster, as well as acting as a mentor to others throughout the country.