Southwark residents have the chance to nominate a religious project, group or individual who has gone above and beyond to help the local community.
Southwark’s faith and belief awards, run by the council and two local interfaith organisations, are open for nominations until Monday, June 27.
The awards are in the following six categories:
· Action against climate change
· Community resourcefulness in response to Covid-19
· Health & wellbeing
· Inspiring youth
· Interfaith relations
· Promoting inclusion
The winners will be announced on July 19 at a ceremony at Southwark Cathedral.
Nominate projects, groups or individuals here.
One such person who helped others during the Covid-19 lockdowns was Hajia Saidat Oketunde, Astley Estate resident and founder of Faith Women’s Community UK.
“At 6am every Thursday morning during lockdown I can be found in Tesco on the Old Kent Road, getting essentials into bags to be hand out to households who are elderly or vulnerable,” she told the News in 2021. “Ensuring these residents have their five a day essential foodstuff is vital to keep them going through this pandemic.
“Myself and my team are mindful of the social isolation policy and always knock, leave the food parcels by the front door and step back to wait for the household to open the door and exchange a few cheery words before moving on to the next recipient.”
One of those she was regularly supporting was an elderly woman, over 80, who needed help with shopping, collecting medication and paying her bills.
She has also helped struggling families throughout the holidays, whether through summer programmes for kids or by delivering 70 Christmas hampers to primary and secondary age children. She estimated she has delivered hundreds, if not thousands, of parcels over the course of the lockdowns.
“One thing I will not stop is giving smiles to the face of the people through doing my friendly regular phone calls to those who are housebound and have now got used to hearing my voice once or twice a week,” she said.