Community Heroes winners and nominees

In early 2025, we received over 150 nominations, highlighting the many local people, groups, organisations and businesses who have selflessly volunteered their time and efforts - often under the radar - going above and beyond to improve their communities and people’s lives throughout 2024.

Award categories

• Business Contribution in the Community
• Communities Together
• Community Group of the Year
• Community Project of the Year
• Community Spirit Award
• Environmental Award
• Lifetime Achievement
• Outstanding Volunteer
• Trustee of the Year
• Young Person Achievement

View our virtual event programme for the 2024-25 Community Heroes Awards to meet all our shortlisted nominees.

2024-25 winners and shortlisted nominees

The winners and shortlisted nominees for each category can be found below.

Business Contribution in the Community

Winner: WR-AP

Shortlisted:

• Kevin Jones (High Tide Festival)
• Thai upon Thames
• Visiting Angels South Middlesex

Communities Together

Winner: Cocoon - Care After Care

Shortlisted:

• The People Hive
• Vineyard Community Centre Homelessness Health
• Visually Impaired Society of Richmond (VISOR)

Community Group of the Year

Winner: Richmond Soup Kitchen

Shortlisted:

• SW Kinship Carers
• Teddington Theatre Club
• Whitton Woolies

Community Project of the Year

Winner: Vine Road Community Growing Project

Shortlisted:

• Mulberry Centre Soul Midwives
• Nutkhut at Marble Hill
• Ruils Creative Writing Group

Community Sprit Award

Winner: Jamie Toma

Shortlisted:

• 6th Cross Road Allotment Committee
• Katie Abbott
• Pamela Fleming (Richmond May Fair)

Environmental Award

Winner: Surplus to Supper

Shortlisted:

• Art Gelling
• Barnes Common Limited
• Louisa Carradine

Lifetime Achievement

Winner: Sue Garner

Posthumous award: Wendy Salmon

Shortlisted:

• Amanda Harker
• Barbara Biles
• Cora Phillips 
• Flick Roper
• Grace Gibbs
• Jude Watts
• Laurie Coombs
• Maggie Pope
• Mark Rice Oxley
• Peter and Ann Boyle
• Philip Beal

Outstanding Volunteer

Winner: Shane Forrester

Shortlisted:

• Bridget Hynard 
• Carol Webster 
• Caroline Cooke
• Christina von Cramm
• Ernie Hoare 
• Eyasu Abate Abebe
• Fiona Firth
• Hugh Smith
• James Williams 
• Leonora Ndreu
• Maia Lewis 
• Marilene Berryman
• Mary Carr 
• Mike Stone 
• Paula Brackenridge 
• Richard Hillman 
• Sara Gunn
• Sharon Mehta 
• Stephen Prentice 
• Val Dean
• Will Warner

Trustee of the Year

Winner: Kate McCormack (Cambrian Community Centre)

Shortlisted:

• Jennifer Peters (Skylarks Charity)
• Nigel Cole (Teddington Theatre Club)
• Sue Howes (ETNA Community Centre)

Young Person Achievement

Winner: Eliza Downes

Shortlisted:

• Amy Moore
• Connor McColl-Finucane
• Elli Clifford
• Habitats & Heritage Youth Volunteers
• Reggie Perry

Leaders Award

This year, the Leader of Richmond Council, Cllr Gareth Roberts, announced a special Leader’s Award, to recognise the dedication of another group of Community Heroes - our local foster carers. To find out more about fostering locally, visit the Achieving for Children website.

Winner: Sue Richards