An awards night celebrated some of the most dedicated individuals and organisations in the community, charitable and voluntary sector across Brighton and Hove.
The Sector Star Awards recognised winners in a dozen categories in an event at Komedia organised by Community Works and hosted by local comedian Drew Cameron.
The ceremony was attended by more than 200 people from local communities along with guests from Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local businesses.
The awards are now in their fourth year and were supported by American Express and judged by a panel drawn from public agencies, businesses and the local community.
Community Works chief executive Sally Polanski said: “The awards were a huge success and it was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the dedication, creativity and talent of those who work tirelessly every day to improve lives in our local communities.
“Thank you to the judges and to Drew Cameron for their involvement, and to our awards supporters, American Express, and individual award supporters Brightminded, Brighton and Hove Buses and City College Brighton and Hove.
“And thank you to everyone who made a nomination and who attended and made the evening such a success.
“It was wonderful to celebrate the amazing community and voluntary activity happening locally.”
Community Works aims to ensure that voluntary and community action has the greatest possible benefit for people in the local area.
It provides support to more than 500 charities, community groups and social enterprises, all of which are working to improve the lives of tens of thousands of people every day.
Community Works also helps people who are looking to volunteer to find the right option – and connects local businesses and public agencies with voluntary and community activity taking place locally.
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Here are the winners along with some of the judges’ comments …
Brighton Table Tennis Club www.brightontabletennisclub.co.uk
Winner of category: Most Creative Approach to Community Cohesion
For running sessions with BHT and FFT, fostering community integration and cohesion between groups of people that would not normally have a chance to meet and become friends.
Michelle Gavin – Friends, Families and Travellers www.gypsy-traveller.org
MindOut www.mindout.org.uk
Winners of category: Excellence in Furthering Equality and Diversity
For their commitment to furthering equality and diversity and ensuring that our local area is an inclusive place for everyone.
Sussex Armed Forces Network www.sussexarmedforcesnetwork.nhs.uk
Time to Talk Befriending www.timetotalkbefriending.org.uk
Winners of Category: Best Partnership or Collaboration
Both winners have shown particular expertise in how to work in partnership to ensure effective service delivery. Between them they have formed partnerships with more than 50 voluntary and community organisations and public sector agencies to empower some of our most isolated residents.
Dave Ely, Safety Net www.safety-net.org.uk
Billie Lewis, LGBT Community Safety Forum www.lgbt-help.com
Winners of Category: Best members of a Committee or Trustee Board
For an outstanding commitment and going above and beyond over many years to consistently supporting the development of two highly valued local organisations.
Kirsty Walker, Trust for Developing Communities www.trustdevcom.org.uk
Jess Sumner, AGE UK Brighton and Hove www.ageuk.org.uk/brightonandhove
Winners of Category: Most effective Community Works Rep
For consistent excellence in representing the voluntary and community sector over a number of years. Community Works and our members are lucky to have such committed volunteers.
Brighton and Hove Food Poverty Action Plan www.bhfood.org.uk/reports-publications/food-poverty/32-food-poverty-action-plan-final/file
Winner of Category: Most innovative Commission or Public Sector Service Collaboration
Brighton and Hove Food Poverty Action Plan is truly cross-sector collaboration with multiple partners across the city, making sure that together all sectors can change lives and the environment.
Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company www.buses.co.uk
Winner of Category: Greatest contribution to the community by a business
The contributions by Brighton and Hove Bus Coach Company to the community were many but the panel wanted to particularly acknowledge their commitment to equality and diversity through their support for disabled people and improving accessibility in the city.
Jordan, Trust for Developing Communities www.trustdevcom.org.uk
Mattias, Young Men’s Health Champion, Right Here B&H www.right-here-brightonandhove.org.uk
Winners of Category: Outstanding Volunteering Contribution: Young People
Celebrating Jordan’s and Mattias’s amazing contribution to the organisation they volunteer at and the communities who they change through their hard work and dedication. They have both grown from being recipients of services to delivering services to others and now steering the organisations themselves.
Raminder Gill, Hangleton and Knoll’s Multi-Cultural Women’s Group www.hangletonandknollmulticulturalwomensgroup.wordpress.com
Ann Bradley, Grace Eyre http://www.grace-eyre.org/
Volunteer Linguists Team, Sussex Interpreting Services www.sussexinterpreting.org.uk/
Volunteer Team, Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans www.samaritans.org/branches/samaritans-brighton-hove-and-district/volunteer-at-brighton-and-hove-samaritans
Winners of Category: Outstanding Volunteering Contribution: Adults
For outstanding work with a huge number of volunteers who have contributed many hours to local communities across the local area for decades and can often go unsung.
Brighton Open Air Theatre Trust www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk/about.html
Mothers Uncovered www.mothersuncovered.com
Winners of Category: Small Group – Big Achiever
The panel recognise Mothers Uncovered and Brighton Open Air Theatre for creating a service that didn’t previously exist to women at a vulnerable time in their lives and creating a community asset that will be there for future generations to enjoy.
Lucky Dip https://en-gb.facebook.com/HollingdeanLuckyDip
Sussex Community Foundation www.sussexgiving.org.uk
Winners of Category: Biggest Impact in the local area
The panel wanted to recognise a small group and a larger organisation, proving that everyone can have an impact on their local area and in many different ways.
Chris Todd, Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth https://bhfoe.org/
Jackie Fuller, North Laine Community Association http://www.nlcaonline.org.uk/
Marion Silsby, Honeycroft Childrens Centre www.honeycroft.co.uk/
Winners of Category: Lifetime Achievement
This was by far the most difficult category to choose from. We’re lucky to have such committed individuals making such a difference. Between them Chris, Jackie and Marion have contributed over 130 years to the local voluntary and community sector making a huge difference to their organisation and the causes they fight for. We are so proud to acknowledge their hard work and commitment.
