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.

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