Harrow's Heroes

Everyone knows a local hero

Everyone knows a local hero 

Our flagship community awards returns this September! Nominations are now closed and preparations are being made for the awards ceremony.  

Harrow’s Heroes celebrates the extraordinary achievements, hard work and dedication of local people and teams who make our borough a special place to live and work. 

It highlights and showcases the best of our borough. We know thousands of people roll up their sleeves, help their neighbours and really get stuck in to help their communities. 

From our carers, food distributers and teachers; to volunteers, street cleaners, befrienders and transport drivers – there are lots of great things taking place in our borough that we want to celebrate.    

2024 finalists

Bringing People Together

• WINNER - Cathy Kim: Nominated for working tirelessly for the benefit of the Pinner community by organising events and activities including the Pinner Village Show, and the annual wheelbarrow race which bring together thousands of local people.
• Neil Kelly: Nominated for bringing residents and visitors together with the ‘Whitmore Lights’. The annual event which Neil runs has raised thousands of pounds for local charities and attended by thousands of people.
• Mitraseva: Nominated for helping elderly residents with shopping, taking them outside, and arranging events which steer hundreds of people away from isolation by giving them a reason to go out and meet others.
• Spire Café: Nominated for bringing neighbours together to chat and get support. This is a well-loved resource for the community including wider social activities such as historical tours and bell-ringing demonstrations.

Lifetime Achievement

• WINNER - Paul Turner: Nominated for his dedication and his many years of leadership of various scout groups. For more than 50 years, he has been running Beavers, Cubs and Scouts clubs to ensure that children have a successful and enjoyable scouting experience.
• GaryRoberts: Nominated for serving more than 25 years as the caretaker of South Harrow Baptist Church. Always willing to help anyone in need and generous with his time to help people.
• Ian and Jackie Silverstone: Ian and Jackie have run the 9th Pinner Cub Scout Group for over 25 years. They have both given up countless hours preparing and running the Cub Scout Group for the benefit of the local community.
• Mike Bishop: Mike has been a Governor at Whitmore High School for 54 years and has had a huge impact on the pupils and staff at the school. He gives freely his time, experience and support - including helping parents through the stressful process of a Permanent Exclusion Panel.

Good Neighbour

• WINNER - David Woon Soong: Nominated for helping residents in his South Harrow neighbourhood. He delivers newspapers to vulnerable residents which allows him to check on their health and wellbeing and provides help when they need it.
• Howard Beake: Nominated for his motivational force in his neighbourhood. His volunteering acts include tidying up gardens and all landscapes, and helping retired people who don’t drive by giving them a lift to the medical centre or shopping.
• Rekha Mehta: Nominated for her volunteer work with MyYard to help run weekly food market for families in need. She also visits helps people who are struggling, attends community meetings and helps with calls and emails on the behalf of others in her neighbourhood.
• Wendy Thiel: Nominated for being a pillar in her local community. Wendy litter picks in her spare time to keep the local area clean and looking welcoming to visitors, as well as feeling homely for residents.

Outstanding Young Person

• WINNER - Joshua Patel: Nominated for his relentless dedication to supporting vulnerable families by organising a significant food donation drive to help families in need and also enhancing a warm hub to provide much needed comfort. Volunteering every week, Joshua has a genuine desire to help others.
• Tianae Gould: Nominated for helping families in need of support. As a young carer Tianae goes above and beyond to help families who are struggling or in need of help.
• Mahnoor Saeed: Nominated for inspiring the next generation with through Science Technology Engineering and Maths education – and in her role as scout leader. Her devotion to and commitment has a significant influence on young lives in Harrow.
• PC Nathan Watson: Nominated for his dedication to make a difference to Harrow. He goes beyond tackling crime as a police officer and has shown a real commitment to the well-being of residents. In one example, he intervened in case where criminals were exploiting a vulnerable person.

Health and Wellbeing

• Bipin Dattani: Nominated for raising awareness and educating people about diabetes through the Diabetes Community Club. He has also delivered diabetes digital inclusion classes. His support has helped people become more confident in managing their own health.
• Soham Yoga London Srini Arumugum: Nominated for providing Yoga activities to the local community. In a short period of time, they have garnered a huge following allowing people to rediscover joy, peace and flexibility through yoga. In one instance they helped a resident get through their cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Veronica Chamberlain: Nominated for her work in promoting and encouraging cycling in Harrow. She set up the Harrow Cycle Hub, recruited many volunteers to help run the charity that brings many environmental and health benefits.
• Wealdstone Baby Bank: Nominated for being a lifeline for families with young children. They provide free essentials such as clothes, blankets, nappies, and toys for families in need. They also distribute much-needed mother and baby vitamins which families would otherwise not access.

Pride in Harrow

• WINNER - Harrow Parks Forum: Nominated for setting up and shaping various park Friends Groups. They have motivated these groups to hold community events and have also supported the council in retaining the Green Flag accreditation.
• Joanne Payne: Nominated for dedicating her time to support her local community. From helping Harrow Junior Parkrun and conservation work in Newton Farm Ecology Park to litter picking - she cares deeply about improving her local community and environment.
• Kanchan Chauhan: Nominated for her work in clearing an orphaned land and transforming it for the benefit of the community. 
• Mr & Mrs Nick & Susan Shellis: Nominated for litter picking their local area in South Harrow for the last 50 years to make it a cleaner and pleasant place to live.

Team of the Year

• St Luke's Hospice Bereavement Support Service Volunteers: Nominated for the vital role they play to support families dealing with grief. Their support has helped people move forward in their bereavement quickly and without long waiting lists – and some who have accessed the service have become volunteers themselves.
• FC National Harrow: Nominated for supporting children to achieve their full potential through football. They help children develop and live healthy lives and help them understand the importance of managing mental health.
• Carib and Co Brunch: Nominated for arranging social events to help people gain knowledge on topics such as mental health, the NHS and cost of living. They also offer lots of activities such as poetry, comedy evenings, art shows, and shopping experiences to support local businesses.
• Oshwal Elderly Welfare Association CIO:Nominated for supporting more than 600 elderly residents through events that helps them stay connected in the community. From befriending, creating lasting friendships to organising holidays, live music events and serving home cooked food - they bring people together.

   

Extraordinary achievement

• WINNER - Casey Dalton: Nominated for her extraordinary work over the last four years through the Harrow Litter Picking group. She clears litter every day and has led large clear up events. Her passion and determination have resulted in the formation of a committed group, dedicated on making Harrow cleaner and safer.
• Isobel Hulbert: Nominated for supporting residents with appointments, prescriptions. At the age of 90 she also leads a popular exercise class which keeps dozens of elderly patients fit, active and reduces the risk of falls or becoming housebound.
• Kerri Lendon-Pett: Nominated for her volunteer work in putting Hockey on the Harrow map. She set up the Harrow Hockey Club and helped develop the first hockey pitch in the borough. She coached the under 10 girls team who won the London regional tournament and went onto the London finals.
• Paolo Arrigo: Nominated for his compassion willingness to help others. He carried out humanitarian trips to help people affected by the war in Ukraine. Another example includes helping an elderly gentleman who collapsed on a cold night, taking them to safety.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• WINNER - Grace Kelly-Graham: Nominated for her care and dedication in helping young people with Special Educational Needs. She is a specialist childminder who has also fostered more than 50 children. She is always on hand, and a great support for parents and carers providing them with advice on Special Educational Needs parenting.
• Conversation café volunteers: Nominated for their dedication and selfless contributions to the community. Despite facing their own challenges, through the Conversation café they have created a welcoming and inclusive environment where community members and those in need of help can come together, and find support.
• Emma Harrington: Nominated for using performing arts to provide a safe and enjoyable place for people with disabilities. Emma runs an Inclusive Theatre group and her work helps improve the quality of life for disabled participants and supports their well-being.
• Soul Kitchen: Nominated for providing hot meals to those in need within the local community. They work with food banks and are also working closely with the local council and communities to offer support to the vulnerable by supplying essential items and food packs.

Contribution to the community

• WINNER -Chandni Palan: Nominated for her dedication in providing a crucial support for the elderly in Harrow by helping them stay up to date with the ever-changing world of technology. She holds the Tech Surgery in Pinner, and her impact has helped residents stay connected online and live more independently.
• Asia Chetouani: Nominated for supporting local community groups reach their full potential and ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in their care.
• Helen Eamus: Nominated for her contribution to supporting young people through Girl Guiding, giving them life experiences to take into their adult lives. Many of these girls have come back because they have had such a positive experience.
• Sharon Pink: Nominated for her contribution to the Pinner community. This includes volunteering to help Pinner’s Remembrance Sunday and the Summer Band Concerts. She has also provided volunteer support to local businesses, and is always happy to help and mentor business owners.