Lewisham's volunteers celebrated at annual Mayor's Awards

The Mayor's Awards recognise the valuable work of individuals, community groups, voluntary organisations and businesses which contribute to or support others to volunteer their spare time and skills within the borough.

The shortlists for the four categories were drawn up from nominations made by the public and the category winners were selected by a panel of peers comprised from Lewisham Local collaborative, Councillor Joan Millbank (chair of the Mayor's Awards) and event sponsors including Goldsmiths University, Lewisham Homes and Phoenix Community Housing.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham and Femi Komolafe, Young Mayor of Lewisham, presented each of the four award winners with a framed certificate and gift voucher.

The winners for 2019 were:

• Nike Ajijola, for her contribution to youth engagement within Lewisham Health Watch.
• Christine Tedder, who has been volunteering with Lewisham’s Guiding movement for over 50 years.
• UCKG Soup Kitchen volunteers.
• Tamara MacFarlane of Tales on Moon Lane Books, a local business supporting community Learning and literature.

A special fifth framed certificated was presented to Andrew La Pierre as a posthumous prize in memory of his late mother Lucreta La Pierre for her outstanding and varied contribution as a volunteer within the borough.

A further 63 individuals and organisations were honoured for their voluntary work and received certificates.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, said: "These awards allow us to celebrate all the amazing people who make Lewisham such a great place to live. There are so many individuals who go above and beyond in their communities and it's nice to give them the recognition they deserve.

“Both the nominees and the winners of these awards make our borough stronger and make us all proud to live here."

More information about the scheme can be found at www.lewisham.gov.uk/mayorsaward.