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The Mayor’s Community Awards 2012

Mayor's community awards The exceptional work of local people in Redbridge was recognised on Saturday evening (24 March) when the inaugural Mayor’s Community Awards 2012 was held at Redbridge Town Hall.

Individuals, groups and businesses who all give up their time voluntarily to help other people and make the Borough a better place were rewarded for their dedication and commitment for going above and beyond.

Redbridge Mayor Councillor Chris Cummins, said on the evening, “We wanted to recognise the work that local people are doing in our community much of which you never hear about. This is a great Borough, full of great people, who do so much for the local community. They are what makes Redbridge the Borough it is today. I would like to congratulate all of the winners.”

Find out here what the winners were chosen for and the judging panel.

Here is a bit about the winners and what they had to say about becoming the first group of people to receive a Mayor’s Community Award:

Winner Best Business Award – Barnabas Workshops Bernadette Benn, Barnabas Workshops Chief Executive, said, “It’s a privilege to receive this award. I also hadn’t realised we’d been nominated in three different categories which is very special indeed. For a voluntary organisation to receive best business is real recognition that the voluntary sector can be seen as business like and business focused. This is something I and the other people who work at Barnabas work tirelessly to achieve so it’s a great honour.”
	Caring Redbridge Award – Jack Weedon Jack Weedon, said, “We were bombed out of our home in Britannia Road in Ilford in 1941. My father approached the British Legion, as it was called then, and they paid for us to move back here. I never forgot that and I’ve been involved with the Legion since. It all feels a bit overwhelming really but I’d like to accept this on behalf of the Ilford branch. I’m not a one man band, everyone does their bit.”
Green Redbridge Award – Redbridge Nature Conservation Volunteers One of the volunteers Hannah Wallace, said, “We’re not looking for recognition for the work that we do but the fact that we have won an award is really exciting. We are happy to do the work that we do to make the improvements to our parks and spaces but receiving this award gives our work real meaning. We’re always on the look-out for more volunteers so why not come and join us.”
	Redbridge Community Hero Award – Redbridge Street Pastors (RSP) Jacqui Kean, RSP Manager, said, “We believe that our work is important because it doesn’t matter who we come across we are here to help. We help in number of ways by just listening to people, cleaning any broken bottles or debris from the streets and ensuring young women get in the right taxi at night. We also carry bottles of water and sit with people if they are drunk to help them sober up. We do this because it is what we believe. We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised for the work we do and it has been a great evening.”
Safer Redbridge Award – Yasir Sadiq Yasir Saduiq, said, “I enjoy football and I enjoy helping young kids as well. I’m very proud to receive this award.”
	Contribution to Young People Award – Devinder Dhillon Devinder Dhillon, said, “Being nominated was more than enough but actually winning was a nice surprise. I’ve been coaching for seven years and it’s really nice to be rewarded for something you enjoy doing. This award is great but what I really get a buzz from is seeing a child improve. I learn a lot from them when I’m coaching and it is a pleasure to work with the young people.”
The Recorder/Redbridge Rotary Club Young Citizen Award – Grace Boxall This award was presented to Grace who set up her own charity called Smiles with Grace, after battling a brain tumour. She won £400 to spend at Exchange Ilford as part of her prize.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Jack Petchey CBE

Lifetime achievement award Jack petchey Jack Petchey CBE was born in 1925. He was born and brought up in the East End of London. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Navy and used his Navy discharge pay to start a car hire and car sales business. This grew into a business empire worth – in mid 2007 – over half a billion pounds. Also involved in property development he has become one of the most successful businesses men in Britain.

The Jack Petchey Foundation was established in 1999 to support programmes and projects that benefit young people. He has established an Achievement Awards ceremony which involves 21 schools from the Borough to highlight the positive contribution being made by young people. The winner receives £200 to be spent on a school/club or community project of their choice.

Mr Petchey has given thousands of pounds to Redbridge Youth Service to run an Urban Music Project which enables young people to access music and record their own tracks. He has also given a grant of £20,000 to the Redbridge Music Service to fund a Key Stage 3 brass project in schools and has contributed to Redbridge Drama Centre and their students.

In total the Foundation has given over £65 million to projects in London, Essex and Portugal.

Please contact the Mayor's Office for more information.

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