Chiswick Winners At Volunteer Awards

Honoured for their work in the community

Chiswick winners at the Hounslow Volunteer Awards (Weds, July 3rd) included a mother who set up a youth group after her son was shot and injured, and the organiser of the Pensioners Alone At Christmas dinners.

Sally Chacatté, who set up W4 Youth for 11-19 year olds, received the Entrepreneurial Volunteer of the Year Award (sponsored by Foxtons) for her work as a volunteer who has "initiated and led a new community project during the year".

She was prompted to set up the youth group in Chiswick following an incident in which her son Ollie was shot in the face in 2009. There are now 250 young people attending the youth group in Southfield Road, engaged in a variety of activities from dance and drama to football.

Sally (second from left) receiving her award

Sally told ChiswickW4.com that winning the award meant recognition of the work they had done so far to give young people in Chiswick somewhere safe to go and something good to keep them off the streets.

Pauline Hart received the Personal Achievement Award (sponsored by the Shepherd’s Bush Housing Group) for her work with the elderly in Chiswick. The citation stated that the award was for “a person who has overcome personal adversity or challenges to make a difference in the community”.

The awards, which were organised by local MP Mary Macleod and the Volunteer Centre Hounslow, were presented in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Syon Park.

Pauline Hart who was on holidays in Egypt was unaware that she had won the award until contacted by ChiswickW4.com. She was thrilled and said; “I’m so excited, thank you for telling me. This is wonderful news. I never expected to win.”

Pauline Hart (on left) at a recent function

John Abba (49) was also nominated in that category for work in the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden.

Other Chiswick people nominated included Laura Ware in the category of Carer of the Year, for her work with people suffering from disability. Laura, who is now a radio presenter and stand-up comedian, was also involved in the campaign to keep the Chiswick Day Centre open. That category was sponsored by Aker Solutions and the award was presented to Isleworth student Blessing Paradza by Mike Smith, London Operations Director of Aker Solutions.

Andree Lee from Chiswick was also nominated for an award (Charity of the Year) for her work with The Shelter Project, a church-based pilot scheme she started last winter. This involved bringing together a number of local churches who took it in turns to allow homeless people spend the night indoors. The winner in that category was Hounslow Multicultural Centre.

Mary Macleod with some of the winners

The Dukes Meadows Trust was also nominated in the Charity of the Year category, which was sponsored by BSkyB.

Dukes Meadows Golf & Tennis was nominated in the Business Community Impact Award (sponsored by The Barratt Homes) for its work in giving free coaching to local schools. The award in the category was won by BSkyB staff for their volunteer work.

Adrianne Yeo of Chiswick was nominated in the Mentor of the Year category (sponsored by EMC Computer Systems, for her work at Chiswick Citizens Advice Bureau. Philip Sarell was also nominated in the Entrepreneurial Volunteer category for archive work for the Chiswick House Gardens Trust.

Kathleen Healey received a nomination in the Entrepreneurial Volunteer category for her work at Dukes Meadows. A founder and now chairman of the Dukes Meadows Trust, she was nominated for helping save the park from dereliction, and raising millions in grants for restoration.

Following the awards, Mary Macleod commented; ”There are many volunteers in Hounslow who deserve recognition for their tireless work and dedication to the local community. Over the last two years, as I have met many unsung heroes in this Borough, I have been increasingly convinced of the need to recognise the contribution of these selfless individuals and groups. The Hounslow Volunteering Awards 2012 aimed to publicly commend the volunteers who have accomplished so much and made a difference in the local community. I know that I was inspired by the stories of the nominees and I hope that everyone will ask themselves how they can get involved in volunteering”.

“I have been very impressed by the commitment to volunteering that many of the local businesses demonstrated through their sponsorship of the Volunteering Awards. Our main sponsor Foxtons, co-sponsor BSkyB, and many others generously provided the support we needed so that the nominees could be properly recognised. I have been thrilled to learn that during the ceremony, many sponsors directly offered their support to several of the nominees. I hope that this event is the first of many and will inspire people to take up a rewarding volunteering opportunity”.

July 6, 2012