The council recognised 40 exceptional local people and organisations with Civic Awards, for their outstanding contributions to Royal Greenwich. 

The winners received their awards at a special ceremony at Woolwich Town Hall on Thursday 7 March. 

The 2024 Civic Award winners are: 

Act of courage | For someone who has shown remarkable courage or bravery 

• Choman Nasradin Abdullah – For providing life-saving first aid to a member of the public who had been stabbed on 10 November 2023 

Arts and Entertainment | For a person or group who have made an outstanding contribution to arts, culture and entertainment in the borough 

• Greenwich Exchange Ltd - For publishing acclaimed educational and artistic books in Greenwich for over 20 years 

• Groove 101 Band - For continuing to support community events,, such as the Together festival, Sparkle in the Park and Woolwich Carnival 

• Sushil Prajapati – For organising traditional drumming classes, dances and cultural programmes to celebrate Nepalese traditions. 

Community | For a person or group who make an extra effort to give back to their community 

• Brenda Taggart – For her work as a committee member of the Charlton Central Residents Association, co-ordinator of the local neighbourhood watch and reinvigorating the Safer Neighbourhood Panel 

• Calestock Estate Resident Association – For their voluntary work with residents to build a thriving community on the estate 

• Eltham Knitters – For providing a social space for local people and supporting local causes through donations, such as Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, Demelza and the Simba Charity by donating handmade knitted items 

• Jean and Alan Mahy – For setting up Friends of Southwood Park and their work on community projects in New Eltham 

• Latifi Adjao Amoussa – For community work including supporting the Dad Club of Brookhill Children Centre and establishing the Woolwich Common Residents Association football and cycling clubs and during pandemic 

• Oksana Kalala – For founding the Ukrainian Support Greenwich Project, supporting over 500 Ukrainians on the resettlement scheme 

• Roots4Life – For operating a community fridge, a warm bank with hot food, community meals and a weekly gardening club 

• Sarah Harper - For engaging the community in art by helping local children create mural art in Plumstead, organising Plumstead Make Merry and running workshops at Greenwich Together festival 

• Somali Parents Network - For being a cornerstone of support for the East African community for over two decades 

• Spencer Johnson – For organising free events such as a Halloween show and New Eltham Christmas lights and fundraising for Wyborne Primary School 

• Woolwich Service Users Project – For providing emotional and practical support to local people experiencing life challenges 

Environment | For someone who has shown great commitment to improving the environment and tackling climate change 

• Bostall Gardens Friends Group - For improving the environment of Bostall Gardens, making it a welcoming, relaxing and safe place for Abbey Wood residents and surrounding areas. 

Good Neighbour | For a person who is helping their neighbours and making their community a happier and safer place 

• Michelle Beaumont - For being a ‘first class neighbour’, putting those around her first to be helpful and supportive 

• Robert Hames - For being a ‘truly wonderful neighbour’, always providing a helping hand, taking in parcels, looking after pets and houses when owners are away, giving gardening tips and providing a greater sense of security in the community 

Leader’s Award | Awarded by the Leader of the Council to someone who shows outstanding commitment to and leadership in the borough   

• Carmel Britto - For being an inspirational leader in the community, a passionate educator and director of LPF Kiddies Club, a non-profit out of school club, as well as founding Jeans and Heels Divas Club, a successful social enterprise that supports women to thrive as mothers and business owners 

• Erika Podmore - For being an inspirational leader as Head Teacher at Eltham Hill School, transforming outcomes for the school and her hard work to provide the best education for all students 

• Teresa Cox - For being an inspirational leader in your role as office manager and receptionist at the Recovery College for Mental Health, supporting good mental health for the service users 

Lifetime Achievement | For an individual or organisation who has made a significant impact in Royal Greenwich over the last 20 years or more 

• Alan Stevens - For providing safe and affordable financial service to low income Greenwich residents over 22 years, including as President of the Greenwich and Bexley Credit Union until retirement in 2022 

• David Waite - For providing safe and affordable financial services to Greenwich residents over 24 years, David was instrumental in setting up Greenwich and Bexley Credit Union in 1998 

• Dolly Baldeo - For her service to the community as a nurse, through Greenwich Hindu Temple and as a school governor 

• Irene Taylor - For her contribution to the 54th Greenwich Scout Group Scouting over 50 years 

• Jean Shiels - For continuing service as a nurse for the last 51 years, training hundreds of others, as well as fundraising and volunteering to support isolated older adults in her community 

• Jeremy James - For 21 years’ service as CEO and Artistic Director, transforming Tramshed for local people 

• Marilyn Severin - For 20 years’ dedicated service to Oxleas NHS and voluntary work 

Sporting Achievement | To recognise a person who has achieved success through playing, coaching or organising sport in the borough 

• Binod Gyanwali - For leading the establishment of volleyball for young people in the borough 

• Hayley Openshaw - For representing Great Britian at the 10th World Crossbow Championships in India, winning four gold medals and breaking five world records 

Teacher or Teaching Assistant of the Year | For someone who is making a daily difference to the children or young people they work with 

• Joyce Robinson - For being an outstanding teaching assistant for 21 years at Waterside Primary School, supporting pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties 

• Kelly Olney - For being an exceptional teaching assistant at Kidbrooke Park Primary School, whose unwavering commitment and dedication goes above and beyond 

Volunteer | For a person who goes out of their way to help others 

• Ahmed Mohamoud - For educating young people about the dangers of getting involved in illegal activities and supporting them to find employment 

• Alan Harris - For supporting the community as an active member of Sidcup Active Retirement Association and the Community Association of New Eltham 

• Judith Akhidenor - For supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families at Willow Dene School and the Javan Coker Foundation 

• Margaret Fordham - For running the Avery Hill Foodbank to help vulnerable people and families 

• Reach Out Volunteers at Mycenae House - For offering a safe and welcoming environment for those experiencing bereavement, loneliness, social isolation, poor mental or physical health 

Young Persons Outstanding Achievement | For a person under 25 years of age who has gone above and beyond in their community 

• Catherine Oke - For her outstanding contribution to the You’re Welcome programme, which aims to make health services more young people friendly 

• Madeleine Kendall - For helping out at Charlton Park Riding for the Disabled