The second annual Unlocking the Potential of People Awards was held on Wednesday 26 October. Shortlisted nominees were invited to attend a ceremony at the prestigious Regents Park Holiday Inn. The awards are to recognise the residents who make a positive difference in our communities through volunteering activities.
Residents also participated in round table discussions and listened to talks from guest speaker - comedian, broadcaster and consultant Simon Fanshawe.
There were four award categories:
1) Improving Community Cohesion Award
Community cohesion is what must happen in all communities to enable different groups of people to get on well together. People all want to fulfil their potential and feel that they belong and contribute to their local area.
This Award was open to any group which has come together and made a real difference to the quality of people’s everyday lives in a neighbourhood. This category is inclusive of all diversity strands. This can include organising fun days, setting up projects to bring groups of people together, inter-generational projects, tackling social issues that have previously divided communities and so on.
2) Significant Contribution to a Community Award
This award was for an individual who has proved to be an asset to their community, or to their close neighbours. This could be someone who has brought people together in a positive attempt to improve their community or this may be through good deeds done on a regular and voluntary basis, or just someone whose community-minded attitude manages to inspire others.
3) Youth Award
This award was open to individuals or youth groups (under 25 years old) who have challenged negative stereotypes of young people, encouraged other young people to get off their backsides to change their communities, and put their own difficulties to one side while putting others first. This award will recognise young people who make a sustained, selfless contribution to their community.
4) Greener Living Award
Celebrating outstanding achievements in creating positive change for the environment.
Activities and achievements in this category can be large or small, focussed or tackling broad issues but should demonstrate a positive change for the environment. Examples could include:
- Growing vegetables and gardening projects, estates clean ups, encouraging wildlife, finding innovative ways to save energy & water and raising awareness about environmental issues such as climate change and saving energy.
Each attendee was given a booklet which contained a small case study of each nominated individual and group. There were eleven winners, including runner up awards, across the four categories.