Civic Awards 2016- Royal Greenwich Recognize Outstanding Contributors To Life In The Borough

by Benson Agoha | Woolwich

Exceptional people who have made outstanding contributions to life in the Royal Borough of Greenwich were honoured at this year’s fourth Civic Awards 2016 held at Woolwich Town Hall on Friday, March 18, 2016.

In all, 23 worthy winners from eight categories received their awards from the Leader of the Council Denise Hyland, who joined Mayor of Royal Greenwich Councillor Norman Adams in speaking at the awards, and congratulating the winners.

Categories were community, young person’s outstanding achievement, volunteer, business, act of courage, sporting achievement and finally the arts and entertainment award.

There were eight winners in the community category. They were: Wendy Young, who established the Woolwich Singers - a community choir welcoming singers of all abilities, Greenwich MIND, which has worked in the local community for over 40 years offering services for people who have experienced mental illness, the Skills and Care Community Interest Company Team, who raised £20,000 towards the 2015 Nepal Earthquake Appeal and, Pamela Franklin, who founded the Caribbean Social Forum, a weekly social group for members of Caribbean Community aged 50-plus.

Other winners in the community category were Margaret Taylor, recognised for her roles in the community life of Eltham, Nick Day, a leading member of the Plumstead Common Environmental Group, Pamela & Derek Johnson who have run the Kidbrooke judo club for over 20 years, and Nirmal Singh Kailey and his team whose work at the Sikh Temple, the Gurdwara Sahib, has made a difference to the lives of isolated members of the community.

Chawhan Nemdharry and Kyle Horner were each awarded a young person’s outstanding achievement award. Together they set up Volunteer Police Cadet Unit at Thomas Tallis School, working with the young people to instil a sense of pride, purpose, self-confidence and teamwork.

There were four winners of the volunteer award. They included Neutral Ground Child Contact Centre, a charity which runs contact sessions to help children maintain a relationship with a parent they do not live with. The Volunteers of the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice were also recognised with an award and Joan Cheesman and June Brenchley, volunteer members of the Middle Park Community Centre Management Committee, also won in this category.

The First StepTrust and its SMaRT Garage Services initiative won the business award. The Trust runs social enterprises to provide work and training opportunities for people excluded from work because of mental health issues and other disadvantages. They provide a commercial environment which people can join, on a voluntary basis, to gain work experience, confidence, skills and confidence.

Luke Springate and Jordan Hart both won an act of courage award going to the aid of a member of public who appeared to be in crisis and in danger in June 2015.

Three individuals each won in the sporting achievement category. They were Tony Nell, for his outstanding contribution to sports over 30 years, and Mick Northwood, for his dedication and hard work in contributing to the success of Long Lane Football Club since 1982.

Jonathan “JJ” Webb also picked up an award in this category. Despite only being 19, JJ is a fencing star of the future and is transitioning to the senior level of competition, having been the British Number one in his age group. He is targeting the Gold Medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

There were three winners of the arts and entertainment award: Global Fusion Music & Arts, which provide a wide range of music and arts based projects in the area, Doris Dowsett Muench, for her distinguished career in the art of creative dance, and the South East London Rock Choir – who have been performing in Royal Greenwich for the past five years.

Leader of the Royal Borough Councillor Denise Hyland said: “The Civic Awards are about recognising the hard work and dedication of local people and organisations in making the Royal Borough a wonderful place in which to live, as well as a place offering support and care for residents who need it."

"Seeing the winners pick up their awards across the eight categories really highlights just how many local people are doing brilliant work in the local community and I would like to say thank you to them for their on-going efforts.”

Mayor of the Royal Borough Councillor Norman Adams said: “These awards are for people who have made a real difference to the life of the borough and to their community. Their recognition is fully deserved and I congratulate them all.”

See also: [ Royal Greenwich Civic Awards 2016 - Full List Of Categories And Award Winners ].

* A line-up of all the Winners at the Royal Greenwich 2016
Civic Awards inside the Town Hall, Woolwich.

* Skills and Care Community Interest Company Team
 won for raising £20,000 Nepal Earthquake Appeal after
two earthquakes hit Nepal prompting a massive international
rescue effort in 2015.

* The South East London Rock Choir also won for
performing in Royal Greenwich for the past five years.