People who go the extra mile to support their community, or who have shown great courage, were recognised in an awards ceremony at White Rose Shopping Centre.
A total of 20 people were recipients of the White Rose Community Awards presented by centre director James Bailey and centre manager Dean Stratton.
The awards, a hand-crafted glass dish produced by pupils in the Glass Room at Cockburn School, were designed by Phoebe Brook, who was one of the VIP guests at the ceremony.
Recipients, who also received a certificate, included ten-year-old Lily Corbridge, who earlier this year, made the huge sacrifice of cutting off her waist-length hair into a short bob so that it could be donated to a charity that makes wigs for children who suffer from various medical conditions.
Margaret Bingham and Andrea Edwards of the Ciaran Bingham Foundation Trust in Belle Isle, which helps young people who have suffered bereavement and also supports the elderly in south Leeds, were also honoured.
Neil Woodcock, a long-standing volunteer who works at South Leeds Alternative Trading Enterprise (SLATE) in Hunslet, received an award for his bravery. He was recently mugged on his way in to work and received a nasty gash on his head. Undeterred by the ordeal, he continued on to complete a day’s work at SLATE, after receiving treatment from a paramedic and giving a statement to the police.
Neil’s colleagues and fellow volunteers Peter Stanley, Barry Inglis and Theo Garvey, were also recognised for their hard work and dedication.
Thahmina Begum of Health for All, Leeds and Starr Zaman, who works at Hamara Healthy Living Centre in Beeston, were also among the award recipients.
Over the past two years, Thahmina has been working with a group called Kushy Dil, which supports women from the Bangladeshi community in south Leeds who suffer social isolation.
Starr, who is a health and physical activities co-ordinator, is one of the most popular members of the Hamara team. His award was in recognition of the enthusiastic approach he adopts to everything he does and the way in which he helps and encourages others.
White Rose centre director James Bailey, said:
“This is the second year that the centre has run the awards and we are delighted, once again, to be able to recognise and reward our community heroes.”
Great article well done Jeremy need more positive articles like this. Think Jeremy should get an award for his tireless efforts for Beeston Festival and Friends of Cross Flatts Park. Well done all good inspiring stories and I felt honoured to be in the same breath as those receiving the award xx