We are winners

We are winners of the brilliant Middlesbrough Council Civic Awards for Improving Our Neighbourhood and were highly commended for Making People Happier!

The Civic Community Awards are held by Middlesbrough Council as a ‘celebration of our amazing communities’ and the extraordinary people who make a difference to them. We are so proud to be nominated alongside the amazing people and organisations who achieve this for Middlesbrough, let alone to win an award, is hugely rewarding.

The awards were established in 2019 and this year, they focus on celebrating the incredible community spirit that has been witnessed over the last 12 months, which has seen residents and organisations collaborating to perform extraordinary acts of kindness through some of the toughest times we have experienced. This is our second year being nominated and never has that community spirit been so important than through the pandemic, especially for the vulnerable communities we work with.

We have worked hard to ‘provide ongoing support throughout the lockdown with a particular focus on people's mental health and wellbeing. The hub has become a lifeline to many members of the community and makes a big difference to their quality of life knowing they can go into the community centre weekly and meet up with new friends and have support from staff. Sessions ranging from therapeutic art, sport, tapestry, gardening and poetry have helped the community both during and after the lockdown.’

We’d like to thank everyone who nominated us along with Middlesbrough Council and various sponsors for enabling this event to happen. A huge well done to all the other fantastic community heroes who were nominated and our fellow winners!

Awards:

Improving our Neighbourhoods, Business

Winner - Community Ventures

Runners up:

  • Middlesbrough Environment City

  • Step Forward Tees Valley

‘Community Ventures have made a visible difference to the outside spaces in Thorntree, especially around its community centre on the Greenway. They have carried out several litter picks and painted over graffiti in the area. They encourage residents to go out and take pride in their local environment. In addition to this Community Ventures run outdoor activities that people of all ages can be involved in ranging from Boro Active Explorers for families to Progress and the outdoor learning project. Community Ventures play a vital role in keeping the community in Thorntree connected and happy.’

Making People Happier, Business

Winner - Sag Hussein

Runners up:

  • Community Ventures

  • Youth Focus North East

CVL