Last night, Hillingdon Council lit up the Civic Centre in Uxbridge to honour the unsung heroes within Hillingdon’s communities. The 2024 Hillingdon Community Awards ceremony celebrated the outstanding contributions of 18 individuals whose remarkable deeds often go unnoticed.
Chosen from a pool of 137 nominations across four categories—Helping Communities, Helping Vulnerable People, Bravery, and Promoting Health and Wellbeing—the winners were hailed for their exceptional efforts.
In the grand setting of the Council Chamber, Mayor Shehryar Ahmad-Wallana, Council Leader Ian Edwards, and Chief Executive Tony Zaman presented the accolades to the deserving recipients.
Among the highlights of the evening were the two gold award winners in the Helping Communities category. Christine Bennett was lauded for her extensive involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and her stewardship of 13 local Scout groups as District Commissioner. Meanwhile, Kath Powell was recognized for her nearly three decades of dedicated service at Whiteheath Junior School, Ruislip, spanning roles from volunteer to teaching assistant.
Christine shared her sentiments, expressing her enduring joy in helping others develop essential skills through Scouting. Her journey from earning her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to becoming a leader reflects her unwavering commitment to nurturing the potential of young minds. She said: “From teaching Cubs how to tie a simple knot, learn basic compass directions and know simple map symbols, to supporting Explorer Scouts who have developed these skills so that they can use pioneering techniques to build a platform to sleep on or navigation skills to complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s and Scouting Awards; I enjoy seeing them all succeed and flourish.”
Hayes-based charity SEND Family Support clinched the silver in the Helping Vulnerable People category, a testament to their tireless advocacy for children with special educational needs since 2015. Trustee Sarah Francis, humbled by the recognition, emphasised their dedication to offering guidance and support to families facing similar challenges. Sha said: “We feel honoured and privileged we have been nominated. We love to be able to offer support and advice to families who have children with special educational needs.
“Having my own child with special needs and volunteering for SEND Family Support has helped me to use my own knowledge and experience to guide others in need of help, as I never had such support when my own children were growing up, so it’s a very special feeling for our charity to have been awarded this honour.”
Other deserving winners celebrating on the night were Sharon Pink, who got a silver award in the Helping Communities category for her work volunteering in the community and as director of Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce.
Divya Patel received a bronze award in the Promoting Health and Wellbeing category for giving up her time to lead a group of volunteer yoga instructors in Hayes offering free classes to the local community, helping people stay active.
Asad Karim was given a bronze award in the Helping Communities Category for his work on crime prevention by working closely alongside the Met Police’s South Ruislip Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
The Friends of Northwood Recreation Ground were also awarded bronze in the Helping Communities category for the group’s dedicated hours of maintenance and conversation work ensuring the park remains a pleasant and welcoming place for residents and visitors.
Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council said: “The Hillingdon Community Awards never fail to surprise and astonish us with the sheer dedication and selflessness shown by the wide range of brilliant nominees and winners.
“They all possess the qualities we pride ourselves in and that reflect on us as a borough, while highlighting how the work of a determined few makes such an invaluable difference to the lives of many.
“And that’s why these awards are so important: They remind us that small acts of kindness and bravery can have a wider ripple effect, helping build resilience and harmony in our communities. Our awards are the very least we can do to thank the winners for that.”
