Community workers and volunteers were among those honoured at the 1V Community Champion Awards.
Organised by One Voice the annual dinner was hosted by 15-year-old student Witton Park Academy student Ayah Abdualsalam and held at the Windsor Suite at King George's Hall in Blackburn.
The event featured key note speeches, as well as presentations from the many groups run by One Voice Blackburn.
These included a stunning performance from WEGS music group, ‘Banned’ with lead singer Assiya El Sakka.
The awards culminated in the John Roberts Outstanding Achievement Award which was presented to Specialist organ donation nurse Angela Ditchfield.
Angela said, “It’s an absolute honour to have won this prestigious award. Working to raise awareness of organ donation within Muslim communities is an essential part of seeking to reduce inequalities in health. It is an issue I am passionate about and it is a pleasure working with such a responsive group.”
A keynote speech was delivered by Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner. Also speaking on the night was Ronan McMahon, Club Link Maker managing the Satellite Clubs intervention at Active Lancashire and Nadya Osman, Young Leader of the 1V Scouts.
Chief Executive of One Voice, Zaffer Khan, talked about the importance of recognising the new age of digital communication and said people should look to the young for inspiration.
1V Excellence Awards were presented to Jal Iqbal, Isma Sajid, Anneka Iqbal and Tahseen Patel.
The dinner featured the Community Champion Awards, including the Mohammed Khan Leadership Award.
The Youth of the Year Award went to 10-year-old Nathan Pugh, the youngest winner in the history of the One Voice Community Champion Awards. Nathan said, “I am amazed. Everyone nominated is a winner. I want to encourage everyone to apply for their free litter picking pack and join in the fun.”
The Institute of the Year was won by ARC.
Institute of the Year winners ARC
Phil Boulding (above) who was awarded Man of the Year, said, “It was an amazing and thrilling experience when the whole room at the 1V Annual Awards dinner erupted when they announced ‘Phil Boulding’ as the winner. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, cheer or jump for joy. It was such a privilege to have been selected and for me to accept the award on behalf of everyone at Secret Santa.”
The Woman of the Year award went to Liz Crook.
The Mohammed Khan Leadership Award was presented to Keep Blackburn Tidy by the council’s chief executive Harry Catherall.
Councillor Mohammed Khan, leader of the Council, said, “I am delighted Keep Blackburn Tidy are being recognised for their efforts. Our borough is blessed with two fantastic Keep Tidy groups, this one and the one in Darwen. Our borough would be a worse place without them.
“But the Keep Tidy groups are not just about litter though. They are bringing people and communities together around the goal of loving where you live and being proud of your town.”
Councillor Jackie Floyd, one of the admins of the group and herself a keen litter picker, said she was delighted the group had been recognised for their hard work.
“It’s been amazing how quickly the group has grown and how many members we have actually making a difference.
“The group is a way to keep volunteers in touch, support and encourage each other. It is also a way of helping people realise that looking after our streets is something anyone can do. It’s a way of uniting people around one common goal that has the added impact of growing community cohesion.”
1V Excellence Leadership Award winner Tahseen Patel
1V Excellence Empowerment Award winner: Isma Sajid
1V Excellence Health Award winner: Jal Iqbal
1V Excellence Award Parent of the year winner Anneka Iqbal
One Voice Chairman Abrar Hussain said, “The Annual Dinner was a wonderful evening with so many inspiring people gathered together in one room in a spirit of tangible cohesion.
"We would like to congratulate the winners and all of the nominees in the 1V Community Champion Awards.”
The event also saw the official launch of boys group East End Boys’ and the Heritage Project looking at life in the Lancashire Mills. An organ donation awareness programme ‘Let’s Talk About Organ Donation’ was given its first public airing.
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