The winners of the 2024 Gravesham Civic and Community Awards have been honoured at the annual meeting of Gravesham Borough Council.
Held at The Woodville on Tuesday (14 May), the awards honour those who devote their time to helping make the borough somewhere where together, we are proud to be Gravesham, and were presented by the outgoing mayor, Cllr Gurdip Ram Bungar.
This year’s winners are:
Helenna Shelley for establishing and growing Gravesham Pride from the first virtual event in 2020 through to the first Pride March in 2022 and since.
Steve Nolan for his work in helping roll-out Gravesham’s Safe Space project.
Shelia Gibson for volunteer litter-picking around Istead Rise and reuniting local residents with lost items.
Mandi Knight for supporting community arts and activities in Northfleet.
And Michael Fitzsimmons for his work on Gravesend Regatta and support for Gravesend Rowing Club and the wider community.
Highly commended were:
Zoe Webber who volunteers for the Gravesham and Dartford Phab Club.
Dennis Usher for setting up and running a men’s group in Shorne.
And River Church for The Feast – a programme to provide Christmas lunch hampers to struggling households.
The Mayor’s Special Award was presented to Robert Sparks for his extensive fundraising support for the local community and looking after the gardens and grounds at Milton Church.
A further special award was presented to Northfleet Technology College for their Apiary Project which reached the final three of the Zayed Sustainability Prize and saw them attend and present at COP28 in Dubai.
Cllr Lauren Sullivan, Gravesham Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure, said: “Our Civic and Community Awards presentation is always a highlight of the year, recognising the commitment and hard work of local people who care passionately about their local community and making Gravesham a better place to live and work.
“Between our winners and all those nominated, these awards highlight the many hundreds of hours of effort and service that are given to Gravesham.
“While our award winners and nominees do not seek recognition or thanks, it is only right that as your local council we recognise them formally for their dedication and that we as one borough-wide community give these award recipients and nominees our thanks and appreciation and show them that their efforts do not go unrecognised, and we are grateful to them all.
“Congratulations and thank you to all of those recognised, thank you those that nominated, and to everyone in the borough who gives their time to support others in any way.”