The annual Southwark Civic Awards saw fourteen individuals receive certificates for services to local people and the borough.
The ceremony at Southwark Cathedral on May 13 was attended by the borough’s MPs, as well as Southwark Council leader Peter John and opposition leader, councillor Anood Al-Samerai.
The event was twinned with the mayor-making ceremony, in which Cllr Charlie Smith was made the mayor of Southwark, succeeding Cllr Kath Whittam.
The Young Citizen of the Year Award was given to William Carter. William won a Jack Petchley Award when he was eleven years old for being a great ambassador to his school, despite being dyslexic. Now, as well as achieving excellent A Levels, the Civic Award was given to him in recognition of his work as national co-ordinator for international charity, Outreach.
The mayor’s Discretionary Award went to Robert Hulse for his work at the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe for over 30 years, culminating with the opening of the Grand Entrance Hall, attended by Prince Edward.
Honorary Liberties of the Metropolitan Borough were also given to:
- Anne Bowers: as well as helping to organise the Bellenden Big Lunch events since 2013, Anne has also arranged present collections for refugee children, and actively encouraged and promoted community cohesion in her neighbourhood
- Mike Donovan: founder of the Bermondsey Community Kitchen that trains unemployed sixteen to 24-year-olds and offers support to find work
- Jo Harding: founder of The Pudding Club for mums on lower Chadwick Road
- Cherie Johnson: who runs a 24 hour service to support young women to change their lives by helping them leave gangs
- Tina Johnston: as the Older People’s Services co-ordinator for the Blackfriars Settlement, Tina has been an inspiration for older people’s services
- Christine Kassim: a member of the support staff at Notre Dame School since 1982. Despite retiring in 1999, she still works as a lunch time supervisor and is seen by many students as a grandmother figure
- Link Age Southwark: a volunteering charity that connects older people with volunteers to alleviate loneliness and isolation
- Teresa Marshall: an employment advisor at Pecan for thirteen years, Teresa has helped thousands of people build their self-confidence and find employment
- Dorothy McEvoy: a well-known figure in the Newington ward, Dorothy long been a community leader, organising events to helping older residents with online applications or booking them hospital appointments
- Vallin Miller: runs a project called Leaders of Tomorrow, working with young people for over ten years to train them in public speaking, debating and creative writing
- Beryl Peckham: who has made an outstanding contribution through her work with the Cambridge House Law Centre
- Rotherhithe Shed: a free project helping predominately at older, male residents who experience isolation
- Stephen Whitmore: special constable Whitmore initiated the Books in the Nick project to build bridges between police and the local community.