On Tuesday 5th June 2007, HVA celebrated its 10th Annual Achievement Awards. The Achievement Awards ceremony is organised each year to recognise, appreciate and reward the people who volunteer their time and skills for free each day in Hackney. Through their voluntary activity, Hackney’s voluntary and community sectors can exist, deliver essential services and make an impact in the community.
The event was sponsored and hosted by UBS –The Investment Services firm - who have supported and partnered with HVA in various capacities. About 110 people from Hackney Council, the Metropolitan Police, Voluntary and Community organisations, Hackney Schools and Colleges attended the ceremony.
The Speaker of Hackney, Cllr. Faizullah Khan attended the event as Honourable Guest and Principal Speaker to show his support for volunteering in Hackney and the good work HVA is doing for the community. He greeting all awards recipients and thanked them for their tireless efforts to improve and empower the community through volunteering.
Many worthy volunteers were honoured and presented with certificates and awards for their outstanding work in the community. Jean John of Wayside Community Centre received the Older and Bolder award. This award is presented to a volunteer aged 60 or over who has shown commitment and outstanding service to a community group or voluntary organisation.
The Active Community award is presented to an organisation demonstrating excellence in Committee Support and a high level of Committee Commitment to their organisation. This award was picked up by Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground Association.
It was an emotional day for Naznum Khanam who picked up the Volunteer of the Year award. Miss Khanam who volunteers with Inshape Healthy Living Network single-handedly trained volunteer support workers and implemented a customer satisfaction survey across the seven charities in the InShapes partnership network. She also applied for and successfully obtained funding for a new community gardening project she is now helping to set up. The management of Inshape described Naznum as an assertive and enthusiastic volunteer who has done such a difference to the organisation. “We have seen her blossom and bloom from a shy insecure person to a strong, assertive young lady. She was always capable but now she knows she is. She has done so much serious professional work for us, she has made a real difference to this organisation. She really deserves this award for going from dissatisfied call centre manager to future charity development worker”.
The Volunteer Program of the Year award went to SKY Partnership, a local organisation whose clients are young people between 10 and 25 years old. SKY Partnership works mainly in the south of Hackney and has won this particular award for three consecutive years.
HVA introduced a new award category for 2007, Young, Gifted and Volunteering (12-16) and (17–25). This award is presented to a volunteer aged between 12 and 16 and between 17 and 25 who has shown dedication and commitment to a community group or voluntary organisation. Charley Watson, who is 13 years old and volunteers with Shakespeare Adventure Playground took home the award for 12 – 16 while Estelle Bevis-Murrain volunteer bagged the awards for 17 - 25. Miss Bevis-Murrain who is 17 years old has volunteered with
Kings Crescent for over 6 years as a dance teacher and admin support assistant. Cllr Karen Alcock, Member of the Hackney Cabinet in charge of customer and corporate services presented the awards to these Young and dedicated Volunteers. She encouraged them to keep up the good work and motivate their peers to also engage in voluntary work.
Cllr Karen Alcock, Member of the Hackney Cabinet in charge of customer and corporate services presented the awards to these Young and dedicated Volunteers. She encouraged them to keep up the good work and motivate their peers to also engage in voluntary work.
If you are a voluntary sector organisation in Hackney wishing to engage volunteers in your projects or you are an individual willing to give of your time and share your talent with others in a voluntary capacity, call HVA on 020 7241 4443 for your volunteering pack.
