Emma Faunch (pictured centre), a volunteer cook at the Barons Court Project, won the Most Dedicated Volunteer Civic Honour in 2019
The shortlist for the Hammersmith & Fulham 2022 Civic Honours has been announced.
Judges have had the difficult task of narrowing 105 entries down to just 22 finalists who have been invited to an awards ceremony, where winners will be announced at Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush on Thursday (3 March).
"Narrowing down our incredible list of nominations was an almost impossible task for our judges," said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader of H&F Council.
"The commitment, compassion, kindness and hard work in every single entry has shown just how fantastic H&F's residents truly are. Thank you everyone who took the time to nominate each candidate, we are looking forward to seeing who wins. Good luck everyone."
You can read about the amazing achievements of everyone shortlisted below.
Act of compassion
Beverley Fleary is the owner and manager of Extra Help Hammersmith and Fulham. The organisation provides a helping hand to the elderly and busy people through a bespoke, regular and ad hoc service.
Jo MacInnes and Leyla Williams of West London Welcome have opened and provided a free clothes shop for Afghan refugee arrivals and worked with community and council officers and the NHS to organise Covid vaccines for refugees and asylum seekers.
Bringing people together
Active Successful Engagement CIC (ASE) have worked alongside various departments within Hammersmith & Fulham, such as the education service and gangs unit to provide a hyper-local response to H&F residents across a range of work streams.
Diana Belshaw and Sally Taylor have spent the last 11 years fighting with others to save their estates from demolition. They are both chairs of their TRAs and work extensively for the local community, including securing funding for a nature garden.
Community organiser
Sara Benjamin has dedicated her life to helping people in the Fulham community, particularly those living on the Gibbs Green Estate. Among other things she organises trips for the elderly and has created a seniors' club to help those feeling isolated.
The Smile Brigade, a non-profit social enterprise offering free and low-cost services and activities to vulnerable people.
Contributions to art, culture or heritage
Peter Parkin, from H&F Council, saw a gap in the borough's celebrations of black history. He has championed the idea of Black 365 which is the celebration of black history throughout the year.
Rachel O'Riordan is the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre's first female artistic director in its 125-year history. Since joining as artistic director, Rachel and the Lyric have risen from being listed as 69th to 41st most influential in the Stage 100 power list.
Contributions to health and well-being
Peggy Coles from Hammersmith & Fulham's Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) set the alliance up from scratch and is now supporting H&F Council in meeting its manifesto pledge to be a Dementia Friendly Council by 2022.
Simon Maskell from Fulham Good Neighbours provided online weekly classes for seniors throughout the pandemic which has proved a life saver for many.
The Smile Brigade who successfully provide heathy nutritious meals to vulnerable residents in Hammersmith & Fulham. During the Christmas period the charity and its volunteers delivered over 350 festive meals.
Covid-19 community contribution
Charlotte Hume started a Masbro Road WhatsApp group in the first weeks of the pandemic. She worked tirelessly to put people in touch with each other, organised information and identified vulnerable individuals.
Nadia Jazaerli, from H&F Council, lead on the Covid-19 vaccination and testing centres around the borough. She's worked around the clock to make sure residents are vaccinated and tested against the virus.
Improving our environment
Bubble & Squeak began in 2017 when a group of local schoolchildren learnt about food waste. They were shocked and so set up their local own surplus food stall for their local community.
Debbie Warren from the Urban Partnership Group successfully ran crowd fundraising campaigns at Masboro Centre and Edward Woods Centre so that both will now be run off solar power in the future.
Tim Prager chaired the independent Parks Commission and through Covid guided and inspired the commissioners to propose measures to make parks and open spaces more accessible, better managed and financed, and greener.
Lifetime achievement
Lesley Schwartz from the SEN Project has been a community volunteer for 30 years, including as a trustee-treasurer for SEAPIA (1991-2012), where she has supported the fundraising and securing of large grants.
Ruth George from Fulham Good Neighbours has worked with the organisation for 30 years, exactly half her life. Since 1992 she has held various responsibilities from running the bathing service, to finance, to her current role managing the organisation's 100 volunteers.
Most dedicated volunteer
Dawn Brown has volunteered on the Wood Lane TRA and with the Kathy Dolan Community Centre for the past 11 years, including running a bingo group for 25 older women living on the estate to get them out of their houses and socialising.
Judy Skelly has volunteered at the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre since 1990, where she has been volunteering longer than any other volunteer. Her work includes leading ponies for children, mucking out stables, and coaching SEN young people.
Shirley Cupit has been involved in the project Defend Council Homes for the past five years and has chaired the working group to formulate the Defend Council Homes Policy which was accepted by H&F Council's cabinet on 4 January 2021.
Thanks to our sponsors
This year's Civic Honours are sponsored by Westfield, ID Verde, FM Conway and Fulham FC.
This year's Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored by Horton & Garton.
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