Council celebrates local heroes at Community Awards

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Westminster City Council recognised its local heroes this week at an inspiring Community Awards ceremony held in Soho.  

The awards were a chance to celebrate and highlight people in the community who make a real difference, recognising the wide range of contributions that our residents make. 

One of the winners was The Mosaic Community Trust, who took home the Neighbourhood Centre of the Year award. They shared: 

It means a lot to us to be recognised by Westminster City Council for our hard work. As much as we are grateful for winning, this award belongs to our community. Community is the pillar of what we do, and this one is for them”.  

Mike Smith, runner up of the Active Citizen of the Year and the Building Social Cohesion Award, said:  

I feel overwhelmed by the ceremony. It’s brought so many people together for the first time since the pandemic, and it shows that we’ve all kept on fighting for our community and Westminster - despite the difficult times that we have faced.”  

Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:  

I am so proud that we have relaunched Westminster City Council’s Community Awards. Our voluntary and community sector organisations, their staff and incredible volunteers go above and beyond to serve our communities. As a council, we recognise and value all of these contributions. 

These awards celebrate their skills, experience, generosity of spirit and incredible energy that individuals and organisations bring to their work across the city. A huge thank you to all those who took the time to make a nomination, and congratulations to all our runners up and the winners!” 

The winners were: 

• Outstanding work with children and young people: James Balloqui 

• Contribution to Health, Wellbeing and Health Equity: Angela Singhate - Tell It Parents Network, Harrow Road 

• Contribution to Older People: Sarah Beshir – Right at Home Central 

• Contribution to People with Disabilities: Hend Rahman- Make It Happen 

• Contribution to Arts and Culture: Margaret Wimble- Handel Hendrix 

• Contribution to Environment/Green Hero: Maya Erdem & Zara Erdem 

• Building Social Cohesion Award: Deujean Bernard- Harrow Road Soup Kitchen 

• Young Volunteer of the Year: Myra Soni 

• Active Citizen of the Year: Jacqui Haynes - The Maida Hill Project 

• Volunteering Project of the Year: Abdul Mageed Educational Trust 

• Neighbourhood Centre of the Year: The Mosaic Community Trust 

• Corporate Social Responsibility Impact Award: Morgan Sindall Property Services 

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Tessa Jelen 

The runners up were: 

• Outstanding work with children and young people: Maria Ingles – Greenhouse Sports 

• Contribution to Health, Wellbeing and Health Equity: Essa Rashan – Pro Touch CIC 

• Contribution to Older People: Telma Asemota – Penfold Community Hub 

• Contribution to People with Disabilities: Deujean Bernard - Harrow Road Soup Kitchen 

• Contribution to Arts and Culture: Antonio Capelao – Architecture for Kids CIC 

• Building Social Cohesion Award: Mike Smith 

• Young Volunteer of the Year: Maya and Zara Erdem 

• Active Citizen of the Year: Mike Smith - Mary Smith Pantry 

• Volunteering Project of the Year: Treasure Boxing Club 

• Neighbourhood Centre of the Year: Mary Smith Pantry 

• Corporate Social Responsibility Impact Award: Hold Storage