Mayor of Redbridge Community Awards sees heroes honoured

Redbridge Town Hall played host to the Mayor's Community Awards on March 12, which celebrated the efforts of 24 outstanding people in the borough. 

The night was divided into two sections, starting with The Recorder and Redbridge Rotary Club's Young Citizen Award.

It recognises the outstanding achievements of young people in the borough aged 25 and under.

The awards were presented by Peter McCafferty, from Redbridge Rotary, and Ilford Recorder reporter Olivia Carter.

Olivia said: "We take great pride in getting to speak with the younger generations and hearing of the positive impact they are having in their community. 

Abigail Saltman, Olivia Carter, Peter McCafferty, Tiago Piccaro, Nate Harding and Nahian Joyeta. (Image: Sandra Rowse)

"All nominees have displayed true promise with amazing values and we are sure they will go on to do great things."

It was 16-year-old Nahian Joyeta that won the Young Citizen Award for 2024, with 18-year-old Abigail Saltman named as runner-up.

Runner-up Abigail Saltman (left), Olivia Carter, Mayor Jyotsna Islam, Peter McCafferty, winner Nahian Joyeta (right). (Image: Sandra Rowse)

Nahian goes to the Urusline Academy and was nominated for her "inspiring" contributions to her school and community.

She has overcome adversity at home, including her family being evicted, to flourish at school.

The 16-year-old has excelled in the school’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programme, her school said, and was a member of the team which won the Design Future London Challenge for 2023.

Nahian has mentored other girls in the Stemettes mentoring programme for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

A number of awards were dished out (Image: Sandra Rowse)

She has also organised an awareness campaign for Islamophobia Awareness Month, that was supported by the school.

Outside of education, Nahian is a member of the Redbridge Youth Council and is also a child-friendly Redbridge ambassador.

Nahian is working closely with aid organisation Unicef and police to make the area a more friendly place for young people, with a focus around vaping.

Reacting to her award, Nahian said: "I was very pleasantly surprised that I had won the Young Citizen Award as I truly feel that everyone there was truly deserving of the award. 

"It was amazing getting to know about everyone and their nominations. I loved how we all have the same passion of making Redbridge a better and safer place."

Michelle Bucan was given an award by the Mayor after she prevented an accident after a car had been left with the engine on. (Image: Sandra Rowse)

Abigail was recognised for her volunteering work at Jewish Care's day centres and she also jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet to raise money for the charity's planned development in the borough.

Other nominees were Tiago Piccaro, three, who carried out litter-picks with mum Elisa and teenager Nate Harding, who has spent years volunteering in the borough including as a youth leader at Woodford Green Athletics Club with Essex Ladies.

The Mayor's Community Awards followed and were announced by Weininger Irwin, the first champion of Gladiators in 1992. 

READ MORE: South Woodford 'litter-picking hero', 3, up for award

Mayor Jyotsna Islam, who presented the accolades, said she felt "privileged" to be at the awards. 

She said: "I've come across some lovely, wonderful, amazing people. If I wasn't mayor, as a councillor I wouldn't have been able to."

Sixteen inspirational people were presented with community awards by the mayor, including Sonia Lard.

Mayor Jyotsna Islam with Glen Haywood after receiving his Community Award. (Image: Sandra Rowse)Sonia, a development officer for Redbridge Public Health and Wellbeing, was recognised for her work helping distribute surplus food and the community project she runs. 

Her work began at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic where she used her contacts as an events planner to distribute surplus food to those in need. 

Sonia pictured with Mayor Jyotsna Islam after receiving her award. (Image: Sandra Rowse)

She said: “It was all through Covid. I felt like supporting and working with different charities but more so supporting those that needed help and they helped me as well.

"It was just a really hard time for everyone. It kept me sane to be honest."

Faheem Khan also received an award from the Mayor (Image: Sandra Rowse)The project initially focused on the Loughton area but has now reached foodbanks and charities from Tower Hamlets to Waltham Abbey.

READ MORE: Ilford teen from Ursuline Academy in Young Citizen Award nod

Sonia has also set up local cafes - The Loxford Community Cafe and Hainault Community Cafe - to provide support to people suffering from social isolation and loneliness. 

Maria Sanchez was given a special award by the Mayor for her fundraising. (Image: Sandra Rowse)Sonia said: “I’m just really grateful to have received the award and I’m really grateful that we had an opportunity and a platform to be able to talk about the projects that we do. 

"For me, it's an opportunity to be able to highlight the projects and highlight the charity as well, more so the projects that we’re doing so we can actually get the extra support.

Cherril Hutchinson & Raquel Crezomartin with their awards and the Mayor. (Image: Sandra Rowse)"Hopefully there’s businesses and other people that would like to get involved."

Most recently, Sonia has set up the Perfect Mix project which supports asylum seekers and refugees. 

Those in need are able to attend the project, cook and eat with others and can event take the home cooked meals back for their children. 

The full list of Mayor's Community Award winners:

Anisa Shoaib

Ash Khan 

Cherril Hutchinson & Raquel Crezomartin

Christian Education Project

Diliniya Stanislaus Sureshkumar 

Faheem Khan 

Glen Haywood 

Haydn Powell

Michelle Bucan 

Sue Bass

PCSO Audrey Adebiyi

Rayla Begum 

Sonia Lard

Steve Collins

Tea & Company (Sharon Daughter)

Mayor's Special Awards:

Maria Sanchez

Honey Kalaria 

Suresh Kumar

Eliyah Qureshi