Rewarding our community heroes at the Pride of Waltham Forest awards
Last night, Thursday 1 December, I was honoured to attend the annual Pride of Waltham Forest Awards at Chingford Assembly Hall alongside the people who go above and beyond to support their community.
The awards showcase the very best of our borough - the dedication, compassion, and kindness that defines Waltham Forest and its residents. We received over 1,000 nominations from you this year, an astounding total that made choosing winners a very difficult task! We could have doubled the number of categories and still not be able to give everyone the recognition they deserve.
The ceremony featured local legend Alessandro Babalola (Soho Theatre and star of Netflix's Top Boy) on the mic to compère proceedings, ably supported by local performing arts group Leaders Community Dance Group and Youth Choir.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate their community heroes. It's evenings like this where our remarkable residents and community groups take centre stage that make me so proud to serve Waltham Forest.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Waltham Forest for All Award
Waltham Forest Women's Network is a volunteer-led women's organisation with over 90 per cent of women on the committee from diverse backgrounds. The organisation has been running for 18 years and has worked across the borough to improve the wellbeing of women of different age groups, ethnicities, and abilities.
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Stronger Waltham Forest Award
The Together Space offers a much-needed inclusive space for children who are often excluded during everyday life, catering especially to parents of children with special needs. A positive social enterprise bringing the community together on neurodiversity topics and breaking down barriers.
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Community Culture Award
Aga Wood runs Everyone on Boards, a group dedicated to empowering girls through skateboarding and other board sports. A large part of skateboarding culture is about the community and about art, music, design, photography, and video. Aga recently arranged a skateboarding exhibition in Winns Gallery, Lloyd Park.
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Community Sports Club of the Year
Leyton Orient Walking Football Club provides both social and competitive walking football sessions, with a focus on providing a fun and supportive environment. A significant number of members were deemed vulnerable either from past health conditions or through age. The club is run and managed wholly by volunteers.
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Health and Wellbeing Champion of the Year
The Community Farm Kitchen has volunteers who take cooked food twice a week to local people who cannot get out to shop and cook for themselves.
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Local Business of the Year
Stone Mini Market is 11 years old and owned by Adrienne Alher, a woman devoted to her craft. Adrienne cares about the environment and always provides the community with interesting and new opportunities and products.
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Climate Champion
Friends of Queens Road Cemetery have helped transform the cemetery from a desert into a thriving wildflower and insect wilderness. This has been achieved by the dedication and hard work of a group of local volunteers, week in, week out. They have turned the cemetery into a place of contemplation and reflection for the local community and for those involved in the study of biodiversity and insects.
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Volunteer of the Year
Gosia Jones, who with her friends established the Friends of Ukraine appeal, has worked tirelessly to raise funds for vans, trucks and aid. Gosia never stops fundraising and finding new ways to get support into Ukraine.
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Voluntary and Community Sector Organisation of the Year
Cann Hall Deen & Education Trust holds weekly food banks, feeds the homeless, ensures that local school children are fed and cared for, hosts health initiatives and vaccine drives, makes individual donations to people in need, runs youth and education clubs, and engages in a wide array of charity and fundraising activities.
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Mayor's Public Service Hero
Mehmet Hassan is a senior ranking officer in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary. Having risen through the ranks in the borough, Mehmet leads the Special Constables in Waltham Forest. His dedication to duty and to the borough is faultless.
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Leader's Civic Award
There were three separate winners in the Leader's Civic Award category:
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Anna Alcock champions the learning disability community, working with groups including Mencap and LDX, to highlight their value and diversity, encouraging wider acceptance in the community and inclusivity for all. |
Julie Pell works tirelessly for the community in multiple roles, displaying endless strength and leadership whilst working with individuals on the verge of destitution or fleeing dangerous situation |
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Project Zero fosters lasting relationships between all ages and sectors of the community and this October was honoured with a visit from HM King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, a testament to the work it does for the community. |
 Our festive celebrations kicked off last weekend (Sat 26 and Sun 27 Nov) with the Christmas tree switch-on event at Fellowship Square.
There are plenty more events happening before Christmas, including the Local Makers Market on Saturday 3 December between 3pm and 8pm. Pop down to Fellowship Square for handmade art, cards, clothing, ceramics, homewares, preserves, jewellery, and more from 16 local designers. Plus, there will be hot food and drinks, music performances, and fountain shows to enjoy. If you're in the area, why not head to the High Street on the same day for A Winter Feast, to celebrate a new public artwork by local sculptor, Sandie M Sutton.
Saturday 3 December also sees several festive events championing small businesses in the borough, including Winter in the Stone in Leytonstone and a Window Art trail in Chingford. Find out more about Small Business Saturday.
We're hosting free festive events all across the borough in the lead up to the big day. There's something for everyone in Waltham Forest this December.
Winter Spaces are a collection of community and Council settings across Waltham Forest that are open to the public to provide support throughout the winter. There are three types of spaces: Community Living Rooms, Community Kitchens and Libraries which you can visit to relax, socialise, and grab a hot drink, or learn about cooking and enjoy a free meal. One of the spaces, Leytonstone's Farm Community Kitchen, was the recipient of the Health and Wellbeing Champion of the Year at the Pride of Waltham Forest Awards (see above.)
Head to our website to find your nearest space on our live map. More spaces across the borough and details of the facilities at each venue will be added soon, so please keep checking back. You can also find information on where to get help and support during the cost of living crisis.
The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) is a two-year scheme for graduates who wish to pursue a career in local government. We’re looking for Waltham Forest residents, who either live here or have parents who live here, to apply for the programme. We offer support throughout the application process and a live Q&A with current graduates on Tuesday, 13 December, which you can book here. Applications to join the programme close on Wednesday 4 January 2023.
Current council vacancies and other local jobs
We regularly update the vacancies and local jobs listing on our Adult Learning website. Explore available job opportunities and apply for roles that suit you.
And you can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website or LinkedIn.
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