Local residents and charities were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the local community at the inaugural Chairman’s Community Awards last Friday (8 March), helping raise over £5,000 for Cllr Rabi Martins’ chosen charities – mental health charities the Guideposts Trust and Signpost.
The event, held at Watford Football Club (WFC) – with the support of football legend, Luther Blissett and Glyn Evans, WFC operations director – celebrated people in Watford who deserve recognition for the work they do in their local community and who are going the extra mile to make our town a great place to live, work and visit. The six winners are:
· Street Angels – for their work in the town centre at night helping to ensure people get home safely and to provide support to those who are out
· Russell Martin – re-fitted carpets free of charge for a resident with young children who had been flooded
· Dan Holden – Deputy Chair of Courtlands Residents Association and helps coordinate a Fun Day held every summer in Goodwood Recreation Ground. He also helps run the Nascourt Luncheon Club and raises funds for the Peace Hospice and Watford Renal Unit.
· Doreen Saint and Kevin France – Both play an active role in Courtlands Residents Association. Doreen volunteers at the Holytree Café and Kevin is a key part of the local community helping raise money for charity.
· Mr and Mrs Woodhead – Founders of Café West, a place where residents can enjoy tea and cake, whilst talking to members of the police and local councillors about local issues.
· Kenny Walker – Coach at ABC Boxing and Box Cleva, a community safety partnership initiative which helps to promote safer neighbourhoods and well-being in young people.
· Special award from the Chairman to Enoch Kanagaraj – for his outstanding contribution to the welfare of various under privileged groups of people in the town, including the One Vison Café project in Market Street which serves free food to Homeless people on Monday’s every week.
Chairman of the Council, Cllr Rabi Martins, said: “These awards are a great way to recognise the individuals who voluntarily help to support their communities and to raise money for my chosen charities. The event helped raise the profile of mental health and wellbeing within the town. I want to make Watford more inclusive for people who suffer from mental health issues. I would also like to thank the event sponsors: Warner Bros. Leavesden, Watford FC, Metroprint and Veolia for their support”
A mental health champion for several years, the event was particularly important to the Chairman, who has spent the last nine months of his year in office promoting the work of the Guideposts Trust and Signpost, fundraising for them through various activities and the gala dinner was a key part of his fundraising.
