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News / Southwark Faith & Belief Community Awards 2024 Celebrate Local Heroes 

Southwark Faith & Belief Community Awards 2024 Celebrate Local Heroes 

News

Raahim

27 / 09 / 24

Last night, Thursday 26 September, the winners of the Southwark Faith & Belief Community Awards were announced during a ceremony at Southwark Council. 

Southwark Faith and Belief Community Award Winners, Runners-up and Recognised Projects 2024

The winners of the prestigious Southwark Faith & Belief Community Awards 2024 were unveiled last night during a ceremony at Southwark Council on 26 September. This event featured universal prayers from different faith traditions, musical interludes from the local Mind & Soul Communtiy Choir including audience participation as we heard about the inspiring work that charities and community groups selflessly undertake in Southwark.

The awards are a part of a series of local and city wide awards that the Faith and Belief Forum runs with partner councils to celebrate the outstanding contributions of faith-based and community organisations in each borough, to highlight the incredible efforts of local projects working to make a difference. 

Hosted in partnership last evening between the Faith & Belief Forum, Southwark Council, and the Southwark Multi-Faith Forum, the event honoured the vital work of grassroots voluntary, community, and faith groups across Southwark. Five award winners and five runners-up were celebrated, with the awards presented by Councillor Naima Ali, Mayor of Southwark, and Cllr Stephanie Cryan. 

Download the full Southwark Faith & Belief Community Awards 2024 Brochure (A5 Document) to learn more about the spotlighted projects and individuals.

 

This Year’s Winners: 

  • Cost of Living Crisis Support, Redeemed Assemblies Trust
    Serving one of Southwark’s most deprived wards, this project has become a lifeline for hundreds of residents weekly, offering essential support during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.As a representative noted, “The simple act of food distribution has had a profound impact—we’ve seen people who once shoplifted out of hunger now being able to access food without fear.”

 

  • O YOU WHO BELIEVE, MAN UK and Old Kent Road Mosque
    An innovative online platform tackling social isolation while promoting mental health and community well-being, particularly among marginalized groups.Hassan from the initiative added, “The world was distanced and reordered during the pandemic, but it has shown us the importance of reconnecting—this is a call to humanity, fairness, equity, faith, knowledge, justice, unity and ultimately, salaam, peace,” as he ended his speech with the Jewish greeting,Shalom aleichum.”

 

  • Spring Social Supermarket (Triple S), Spring Community Hub
    This initiative provides low-income residents with the opportunity to purchase £25 worth of groceries for just £5, empowering families with dignity, choice, and affordability in a way that surpasses traditional food banks.
    As they went up to receive their reward, they recalled how the verse from the bible and Christianity’s call to serving the neighbour inspires them:“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was a stranger, and you invited me in.”

 

  • Party in the Park, St Peter’s Church, Walworth
    Since 2012, this annual event has drawn 1,500 local residents together, featuring fairground rides, activities, and food, fostering unity and strengthening community ties. 

 

  • Salmon Youth Centre
    Delivering 800+ youth work sessions just last year, supporting 1600+ young people, and providing 9000 hot meals, the Salmon Youth Centre offers 35 diverse sessions weekly ranging from arts and sports to education, helping young people aged 6 to 25 develop the skills they need to thrive in adulthood.   

 

As well as the certificates they received at the ceremony, the winners will receive an invitation to a reception at the Mayor’s Parlour, a featured article in Southwark Life magazine, and automatic entry into the judging for the Faith & Belief Forum’s London Awards in November 2024. 

 

“Each person and project honoured tonight demonstrates the rich diversity of our borough,” said Musharraf Chaudury, Chair of the Southwark Multi-Faith Forum, in his speech. “We publicly acknowledge our gratitude for your hard work, especially after the challenges we faced during COVID.” Chaudury emphasized that the forum’s goal is to promote understanding and unity across the community, adding, “We are here to bring people together to create positive change.” 

 

Cllr Stephanie Cryan​, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Democracy and Finance,​ Southwark Council​ said, “It was an honour to host the borough’s second Faith & Belief Awards and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our faith communities in Southwark. This evening has been a real inspiration, and we would like to thank you all for your work to make Southwark a better place. The awards gave us the opportunity to shine a light on the organisations, projects and individuals who work tirelessly to support our local community and tackle a range of social issues. A huge congratulations to the winners and all those who were nominated.” 

Sophie Mitchell, Programme Coordinator at the Faith & Belief Forum remarked that “for over 25 years, the Faith & Belief Forum has been bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the power of faith-based initiatives. Too often, the remarkable contributions made by those inspired by their faith or beliefs go unnoticed. These awards provide a valuable opportunity to publicly recognize and thank the individuals and groups making a profound difference in Southwark. The award ceremony marks a significant moment in celebrating the power of faith, belief, and community action to address local challenges, foster unity, and promote social justice in Southwark.” 

2024 Runners up: 

  • Black Culture Conversation, Rebel Led Training CIC 
  • Community Clinical Basic Vital Organs Healthchecks, St John Chrysostom Church Peckham 
  • LOVO CIC 
  • Borough Food Cooperative 
  • Faiths Women Community UK CIC 

2024 recognised projects: 

  • Latin Age UK 
  • Anusandhandin (Immersion Day) 2024 
  • London Reclaimed 
  • Love connection with Revd Tony 
  • Climate Project, Courthouse Community Centre 
  • Henrietta Onyema 
  • LSBU Islamic Society 
  • The Sanctuary Project, Jamyang Buddhist Center 
  • Bait-ul-Aziz Islamic Cultural Centre (Harper Road Mosque) 
  • The Breakfast Club, The Redeemed Assemblies Trust 
  • Sitting Exercise for Older People, Bermondsey Central Hall 
  • Community Garden, Love North Southwark 
  • Maryam Support Line 
  • Zion Reach Food Bank 

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