VOLUNTEERS were among the people and organisations honoured at the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Awards.
At the event, held on behalf of the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board, 25 awards were given out – including 12 for outstanding contribution to health and wellbeing, and eight from the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Among five volunteer award recipients was Damon Croft from the Bell Green Amateur Boxing Gym, which started in January last year with just two young people but now, with Damon’s help, trains 55 young people every week.
Damon said: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive this award. I’ve seen the Bell Green Boxing Gym expand since January last year and I volunteer my time to make a difference to the young people who come along.”
Other projects receiving awards included the Hillfields Mobile clinic, which operates a Hillfields Health Day to offer a range of health support to the community; ‘It’s K to Talk’, which helps young people impacted by Ketamine use to access health assessments; and Macmillan Welfare Benefit Team, which provides benefits and advice to people diagnosed with cancer.
Dina Oketch, who helps run the Hillfields Mobile Clinic, said: “We have been using a mobile van to raise health awareness in the Hillfields area and it is really overwhelming to receive the award for outstanding contribution to health and wellbeing.
“We are grateful and we want to do a lot more work in this area.”
Chairs Awards recipients included Coventry City owner Doug King for his support with Sky Blues in the Community, and Raja Mubarak who has provided practical and emotional support to isolated elderly residents in the city.
Coun Kamran Caan, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “I founded and launched these awards in 2019 to recognise community members who uplift our community through their work and to inspire others to get involved to support our work.
“These are the fifth awards that we have held. We had more than 90 nominations, and the range of awards are proof of the amazing work that has had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of local people.
“We wanted to recognise volunteers as well as organisations and senior figures – every recipient has played their part.
“It is important that we highlight all of their efforts and each one has their very own personal story to tell.”
Coventry’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Coun Roger Bailey, was among those who presented the awards.
He said: “I know only too well the importance of health and wellbeing and it was a privilege for me to meet so many deserving award winners.
“They are a credit to the city, and I hope their work can go from strength to strength.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/4eztwtt5 for the full list of recipients.
