EPICs - Exceptional People in Camden Awards 2006

Celebrating Camden’s heroes 

Celebrating Camden's heroes

The EPICs Awards 2006 were a great success. We received a record number of nominations, with over 120 residents putting forward their own ‘Camden Hero’ for an EPIC award in one of eight categories.

The winners were announced at the awards dinner and presentation on Wednesday 29 November at the Congress Centre in Great Russell Street. This was hosted by Britain’s leading female marathon canoeist, Anna Hemmings, and attended by 250 people.

The winners and finalists…

Exceptional young person

Aneira Roose-McClew

Nye has been a well-respected peer motivator for the past two years, helping and advising young people, and encouraging them to join our summer schemes.

She has also provided invaluable support to new peer motivators, as well as young people in the community, as she can understand some of the issues they face. Nye is currently working with our anti-social behaviour team and the police to help with activities for young people at risk of offending.

On top of this, Nye is very active in her school (Parliament Hill) and in the community. She is involved in drama projects at the Hampstead Theatre, giving up her own time to put on productions. Along the way she has gained skills in lighting, props-making and directing. She is also part of a youth sailing club supporting other young people to enjoy sailing responsibly.

“Nye’s enthusiasm to include others and desire to try new things makes her a great volunteer and role model,” says her nominator, Kim Trehane.

Highly commended by the judges

Jerick Campena
Youth Awareness Group

Finalists

Avni Shah
Katherine Umutoni

This award was presented by James Scroggs from sponsor MTV

Exceptional work with young people

Abdulkadir Arshe

Abdi is an excellent role model for young Somalis in the borough, making an exceptional contribution to their lives.

He has volunteered his time and put a lot of effort into supporting projects, helping his peers, young people and community members alike. At the same time, he has made extra efforts to raise the issues and needs of the Somali community.

Over the past year, Abdi has taken on a leadership role in managing projects, successfully acquiring funding and supporting the development of several football teams and holiday programmes. These have provided many young Camden residents with new and challenging educational opportunities.

He is now volunteering with the Camden Detached Project which works with young people in the community.

“Abdi and his friends organised Bridging the Gap, a successful intergenerational community event,” says his nominator, Sacha Kaufman from the parents and young people in the Somali community within Camden.

Highly commended by the judges

Dawn Caplin

Finalists

Amanda Szewczyk-Radley
P.C. James Day
Lucia Dube
The Hampstead Committee for
Children’s Country Holiday Fund

This award was presented by Amir Deng, winner of the Young Camden category in the EPICs 2005

Exceptional contribution to community safety

Beverly Gardner

Beverly is a known locally as a crime fighter and tenants’ champion. She took swift action when a dangerous drug dealer started operating from her estate, causing anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Beverly, the chair of the estate’s tenants association, rallied her neighbours, brought them to meet the police at Neighbourhood Watch meetings and encouraged them to obtain intelligence and give witness statements.

Dozens offered to testify, but backed off when the drug dealer in question and her associates threatened violence. Beverly stood firm and appeared in court, providing crucial testimony to get the drug dealer evicted and convicted.

She has also instigated the installation of security measures and has recently been elected Vice-Chair of the Haverstock Safer Neighbourhood Citizen Panel.

“Beverly Gardner is a borough heroine,” says her supporter Peter Cuming, former Chair, Haverstock Ward Safer Neighbourhood Panel. “She is in the frontline all the time, dedicated and tireless - a real star much appreciated locally.”

Highly commended by the judges

Glyn Roberts
Anne Stannard

Finalists

Gafur Rahaman
Pam Mansi

This award was presented by Cllr Ben Rawlings, Executive Member for Community Safety

Exceptional contribution to the local environment

John Walsh

John has been a major force in volunteer nature conservation in Camden for many years. As well as being the Camden representative for the London Wildlife Trust, John has worked tirelessly to improve the local environment across the borough.

His infectious enthusiasm and passion for the environment has clearly rubbed off on others, with many people being inspired by John to go out and re-connect with the natural world around them. John has successfully encouraged many residents to get directly involved and volunteer at nature reserves across the borough.

John’s work at Adelaide Nature Reserve has been particularly notable; he has given up many Sundays to work at the site, leading volunteer workdays, run events and fundraise. Thanks to John, Adelaide Nature Reserve is now widely recognised for its biodiversity and its importance as a refuge for a wide range of wildlife.

“John had been helping save sites from development, says his supporter Moira Cash, from our Nature Conservation team.

“He has set up local groups to manage and protect these valuable open spaces. Residents who are committed to nature conservation in the way John has been are like gold dust.”

Highly commended by the judges

Sean Canavan

Finalists

Lester May
Max Neufeld
Ricci de Freitas

This award was presented by Teresa Davey from sponsor Veolia

Exceptional contribution to sport and leisure

Martin Toogood

Since becoming involved with Hampstead FC in 1997, when his son started to play for the team, Martin has tirelessly supported youth football in the borough.

Over this time, Martin has held every position within the club: Chairman, League Secretary, Kit and Equipment Manager and Club Coaching Co-ordinator. Since he first became involved the club has grown substantially, now numbering some twenty-two teams, including five girls’ teams, with forty coaches and three hundred children.

Martin’s enthusiasm and dedication to coaching young people in the borough football is boundless. He positively influences those he coaches, improving their lives and those of their parents and their local community.

This dedication was well demonstrated last season when Martin, along with four fourteen year-olds from his team, spent eight evenings learning the laws of the game to qualify as Middlesex referees.

It is not surprise then that the teams he produces are not only talented at football - they rarely finish a season without a cup or two - but are full of nice, responsible young men.

“Martin with his positive attitude and wealth of knowledge has been a major influence in the growth of this football club and local kids who are proud to wear the kit and play for the teams,” says Michael Powell, whose sons play for Hampstead FC.

Highly commended by the judges

Margaret Ray

Finalists

Diane Leverett
Jef Gooding
Peter Cooper
Sally Bowman

This award was presented by Cllr Flick Rea, Executive Member for Culture

Exceptional Contribution to Arts and Culture

Drew Jensen

Drew, a mental health service user, feared London’s Music Scene was too "volatile" for his illness. However, keen to perform, he was not deterred and, four years ago, he established Upbeat, a pioneering local project for volunteers which promotes mental well-being through music.

The project has has gone from strength-to-strength, receiving a grant in January this year which enabled the projects steering group to employ a development manager, and introducing more workshops to help individuals in their musical development. So far, this year Upbeat have performed at over 20 community events in Camden.

Drew volunteers for Upbeat at least three days a week, chairing the project’s Steering Group and using his great charisma, sense of humour and love of people to encourage others around him to become involved.

Despite being in recovery himself, Drew has gone on to recruit more volunteer performers who were experiencing mental health issues, set up gigs within the mental health community, and even secured free rehearsal space for his band.

“Drew gives more of himself to others than anyone else I can think of - more of his time, energy, charisma, warmth and great musical talent,” says his supporter Phil Harvey.

Highly commended by the judges

Samina Dewan

Finalists

John Martin
Rob Inglis
Steve Denholm

Ade Adepitan, TV presenter and ex-Paralympian, on behalf of sponsors, the Community Channel, presented this award.

Exceptional carer

Michael Stratton

If anyone deserves acknowledgement for exceptional caring, it is Michael Stratton. He is a modest, almost self-effacing person who takes the time to talk and listen to the people around him and does his utmost to improve their lives.

If your bicycle is broke, Michael will weld it for you. If you have a mouse in your house, Michael will catch it. If your cat needs feeding, your plants watering and your house minded while you are away, Michael is your man. If a house alarm is driving everyone crazy in the middle of the might, Michael is the one to get out of bed to fix it. He does all this because he cares.

Recent examples of Michael’s caring highlight his level of commitment to others around him, from helping a young man who fell from his bike to carrying an elderly old and terminally ill neighbour up and down stairs in their home, from introducing and accompanying a neighbour with a problem to Alcoholics Anonymous to visiting a neighbour in the mental hospital every day for six weeks.

Alongside all this, Michael helps run and fundraises for the London Mobile Christmas Service in Camden, a service which provides food, clothing and haircuts to the street homeless - something he initiated, organised and has run for fourteen years.

“At first glance Michael Stratton is not your obvious carer,” says his supporter Dr Jill Wells. “He is a big guy with a permanent tan from outdoor work (and riding his motor bike and sidecar). But beneath that rough and ready exterior lies a heart of gold.”

His nominator, Professor Rosamond McGuinness, agrees:

“he cares for us all with a generosity of spirit that is heartening to experience…everyone knows him and to everyone's lives he brings sunshine”

Highly commended by the judges

Patricia Crinnion
The Breastfeeding Network

Finalists

Diana McCleary
Marcel Lam-Hing

This award was presented by Cllr Martin Davies, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health

Exceptional older person

Wendy Munro

Wendy has literally ‘knitted’ her community together, using her various skills and arts and crafts to help others.

She is the Chair of Caversham Older Persons Organisation (CEPO), and engages in an incredible amount of activities locally.

Wendy is involved with Kentish Town Community Centre (KTCC) where she sits at the Board. She is also involved with Camden Pensioners Action Group and Caversham Neighbourhood Partnership.

Wendy is a talented and committed knitter and craft connoisseur, and has created two groups at KTCC including Chatty Crafts, which now boasts an active group of 30-90 years olds.

Wendy has lived in Kentish Town for over 25 years and can hardly walk for two minutes without being stopped on the street by people who recognise her as a driving force for their community, and someone ready to dispense a hug or word of comfort.

“Wendy deserves this award because she is a local treasure, an inspiration and one of the most valuable resources we have in our community, “ says her supporter Sophie Martin.

Highly commended by the judges

Enrique Figueredo
Frances Eley

Finalists

Efua Taylor
Margaret Fraser

This award was presented by Cllr Andrew Marshall, Deputy Leader of the Council

The exceptional Camden hero award

From the eight category winners the judges picked one overall winner to receive this special accolade.

Aneira Roose-McClew

Nye was chosen to receive this extra accolade for her outstanding commitment to the peer motivator scheme. The judges decided that her dedication and the inspiration she gives to others makes her truly an exceptional Camden hero.

This award was presented by Griff Rhys Jones

Exceptional Camden Hero award created especially for this category by John Dilnot

The London Borough of Camden would like to thank:

Media partners - Ham and High / Camden Gazette

Category sponsors - Veolia / Community Channel / MTV

Also supporting EPICs - Viacom

Contact

For further information contact the communications team

A carbon-neutral event

To play our part in tackling climate change, we teamed up with Climate Care to offset our carbon gas emissions. The emissions we produce by running these awards has been calculated, and a commensurate sum invested in sustainable energy and forest restoration projects in order to make it climate neutral.

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Page last updated Feb 27, 2008 11:27 AM