Three ‘community champions’ celebrated at Mayor’s Civic Awards

‘Heroes’: (l-r) Barbara Layne, Ngozi Headley-Fulani, Salmah Kansara with Mayor Glanville. Photograph: Hackney Council

Three “extraordinary” Hackney residents were recognised at the Mayor’s Civic Awards last night.

Retired nurse Barbara Layne, charity worker Salmah Kansara and Ngozi Headley-Fulani, founder of domestic violence shelter Sistah Space, were presented with certificates by Mayor Philip Glanville in a ceremony at the Town Hall.

The awards are now in their third year, and were created to celebrate the borough’s unsung heroes.

Layne, whose retirement has not stopped her volunteering, was honoured for her tireless community work.

She was the first volunteer for an over-50s dance social in 2001, and has supported the event ever since. It now welcomes over 160 guests a month.

A programme she started for the 2012 Olympics, to get older people into local leisure centres and taking part in sports, is still in use today.

Layne also volunteers for the St Paul’s Winter Night Shelter every year, providing food and shelter for homeless people.

Hackney Council paid tribute to her “compassion and cheery nature”.

After receiving her award, Layne urged others to get involved in volunteering to help the “many people in Hackney who need support”.

“Anything from a telephone call to a knock on the door can help someone,” she added.

Breaking down barriers

North London Muslim Community Centre worker Salmah Kansara was also recognised by the council for going “above and beyond” what is expected of her.

Kansara’s post at the Ihsan Children’s Centre involves finding support for women who are experiencing domestic abuse, or are homeless and vulnerable.

She also works with women struggling to speak English to help them develop their language skills.

Talking about her role, Kansara said: “I get to meet people from all backgrounds and to help them break down barriers so they can believe in themselves and do well.

“So many people in Hackney are doing wonderful work, which people don’t even know about, so it’s great that we can celebrate and shine a light on those services at these awards.”

Members of domestic violence campaign group Sistah Space. Photograph: Facebook

Ngozi Headley-Fulani received an award for her work at Sistah Space, a domestic violence charity she founded in 2015.

The shelter supports women and girls of African heritage, including those who have lost loved ones to domestic abuse.

Headley-Fulani has built up the organisation by bringing together a team of volunteers to provide lifesaving support, whilst recognising and responding to the impact of these issues on the wider community.

She has fundraised to provide toys and trips for affected children and families, and for a community car to help women who need to leave their home in an emergency.

Sistah Space also organises events to help women access council services, as well as broader get-togethers to celebrate African and Caribbean culture in the borough.

The council paid tribute to Headley-Fulani’s “lifesaving work”, and to her “true dedication and love for Hackney and its citizens”.

The Sistah Space founder said: “We believe the only way a community can thrive is if we understand and make time for each other.

“Through volunteering and supporting your community you can give voice to the voiceless, and bring people together to find out about each other’s cultures, to help Hackney grow as a community.”

Commenting on the awards, Mayor Glanville said: “It’s really important to celebrate the borough’s community champions, who go above and beyond to make Hackney the great place that it is today.

“These awards not only help us recognise the achievements and efforts of these extraordinary residents but will hopefully inspire more people to get involved with volunteering and community action to help make a lasting difference to Hackney.”

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering in Hackney, please visit hackney.gov.uk/volunteer