The Enfield Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition Volunteer Awards are given to volunteers who go “above and beyond” their volunteering role

Volunteers at Enfield Civic Centre with their awards (credit Enfield Council)

Volunteers said to have made a “huge difference” to people’s lives in Enfield have been recognised in a special awards ceremony.

The lifetime work and special achievements of the 34 volunteers was recognised at Enfield Civic Centre last month where they were presented with certificates and medals.

The Enfield Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition Volunteer Awards are given to volunteers who go “above and beyond” their volunteering role, who may have taken on one or more special initiatives to help others, and to those who have shown exceptional long service in the borough.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual’s long-term commitment to volunteering and the Special Recognition Award is for individuals who have given exceptional service to others, particularly over the past year.

Gina Needs, the council’s cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: “The award winners this year have some wonderful stories to tell, about how they have made and continue to make a huge difference to people’s lives.

“I would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved who has been recognised for their dedication to helping others. I would encourage our residents to look into becoming a volunteer and to check out the current opportunities available in Enfield, so we can help to make the borough a better place to live.”

The awards were originally launched in December 2021 to recognise and to celebrate volunteering effort and commitment. The winners are chosen from nominations made by residents, voluntary organisations and community groups. A full list of winners is below.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer in Enfield:
Visit enfieldva.org.uk/volunteering/

Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award

Abdul Hamid Khatri (Muslim Community & Education Centre)
Bernard Ecker (Age UK Enfield)
Ditta Aydemir (Citizens Advice Enfield)
Donna Halkyard (Middlesex Association for the Blind)
Evis Suka (Shpresa Programme)
George Gavas (Chickenshed Theatre)
Gill Pointer (Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)
Helen Bender (Chickenshed Theatre)
Jacqueline Pearce (Enfield Borough Over 50s Forum)
Jeffrey Hopwood (Citizens Advice Enfield)
Jill Kidger (Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)
John Johnson (Age UK Enfield)
Korayshia Auladin (Palmers Green Library)
Max Bender (Chickenshed Theatre)
Michelle Graham (Citizens Advice Enfield)
Mohammad Hatia (Muslim Community & Education Centre)
Muayyad Othman Mohammad (Muslim Community & Education Centre)
Patricia Talbot (Chickenshed Theatre)
Richard Ellwood (Walker Cricket Ground Trust)
Rudolph Joseph (Citizens Advice Enfield)
Saqibah Sheikh (Muslim Community & Education Centre)
Stacey Wood (Middlesex Association for the Blind)
Suhas Khale (Enfield Racial Equality Council)
Susan Turck (Citizens Advice Enfield)
Symah Shaikh (Muslim Community & Education Centre)
Valerie Golding (Chickenshed Theatre)
Vicky Dungate (Enfield Racial Equality Council)
Vivienne Legg (1st Enfield Boys’ Brigade Company)

Special Recognition Volunteer Award

Andrew Lack (Bush Hill Park Residents Association/The Enfield Society)
Besiana Hasa (Shpresa Programme)
Bleranda Synaj (Shpresa Programme)
Stephen Miller (Nightingale Cancer Support Centre)
Steven Fairhead (Community Litter Picking)
Yvonne Mulder (Enfield Borough Over 50s Forum)

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.