On Thursday 5 December, Haringey came alive with celebration, connection, and recognition as the Haringey Community Showcase 2024 took place at Tottenham Town Hall, N15. The event brought together over 250 people, including local residents, voluntary groups and organisations, and prominent community leaders, to honor the remarkable achievements of individuals, groups and organisations driving positive change across the borough.
The Showcase, organised by the Haringey Community Collaborative – a joint initiative between Public Voice and Mind in Haringey, in partnership with Haringey Council and NHS – marked a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and highlighting the vibrant spirit of Haringey’s voluntary and community sector. This year’s event was supported by generous contributions from local businesses and sponsors.
Celebrating achievement and building connection
The event featured over 50 stalls from community organisations, live performances by local artists, and discussions about Haringey’s future. Attendees explored various services and initiatives, from mental health programmes to sustainability projects, showcasing the borough’s innovative community empowerment efforts.
Key highlights included:
The Community Showcase Awards 2024: Winners were honoured in nine categories, recognising exceptional contributions to health and wellbeing, community safety, arts and culture, sustainability and inclusion, as well as the prestigious Outstanding Community Organisation of the Year award, decided by a public vote.
The award winners were:
Health and Wellbeing
- Assisted Accommodation (winner)
- Ubele Initiative – Black Rootz Project (highly commended)
Children and Young People
- Streets Ahead – Elizabeth Lahav (winner)
- St Francis at The Engine Room – Obi Onyido (highly commended)
Green and Sustainability
- Go Green Eco Urban Festival (winner)
- PramDepot (highly commended)
Employment, Training and Education
- Wave Hub – project with the Harington Scheme and TreeHouse school (winner)
- Twining Enterprise – Individual Placement Support (IPS) Employment Team (highly commended)
Community Safety
- Ark Resettlement Services (winner)
- Thru Life (highly commended)
Art, Culture and Heritage
- Groundswell Arts (winner)
- RISE Projects (highly commended)
Inclusion and Equalities
- Haringey Shed (winner)
- OLDALONE UK (highly commended)
Hero Volunteer or Team of the year
- Wheely Tots – Moselle Community Project and Foodbank volunteers: Andrew, Angie, Gloria, Martin, Nalko, Neve, Nina, Renata, Sasha, Sylvia, Yvonne (winner)
- Jessica Edmund – Women and the Well of Living Waters and Cllr for Northumberland Park (highly commended)
Outstanding Organisation of the year
- The Daughters United (winner)
Grant awards
The much-anticipated announcement of the Voluntary and Community Sector ‘Challenge Fund’ round one awardees provided support to projects addressing the cost-of-living crisis, further empowering grassroots initiatives.
The award recipients were:
- Bounds Green Food Bank
- PramDepot
- A Fairer Chance CIC
- TLC (Tender Love and Care)
- Wave Muswell Hill CIO (Wave Hub)
- The Cheer-Up Squad
- Haringey Over 50’s Forum
- Women at the Well of Living Waters
Performances and inspiration
Live music performances from PopArts and New River Shanty Crew, and speeches from key community figures, including Mayor of Haringey Cllr Sue Jameson, celebrated the borough’s creativity and unity.
Lynette Charles, CEO of Mind in Haringey and Chair of Mind in London, said: “The first Haringey Community Showcase exhibited the borough’s vibrant and diverse voluntary and community sector. I would like to give a huge thank you to Cllr Ajda Ovat for opening the event, and to the Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Sue Jameson, who helped us honour those individuals and organisations that won awards for their work serving our community, nominated by their peers and community members. Thank you also to all the 50+ organisations who joined us on the day to celebrate and recognise our achievements working together.”
Dan Rogers, CEO of Public Voice, said: “The impressive quality and variety of projects applying for our Cost of Living Challenge Fund underlines the vibrancy of Haringey’s voluntary sector. We are excited to provide much-needed funding and capacity building support to the awarded projects, as well as showcasing their impact to future funders and partners. More Challenge Fund opportunities will be available in the coming months, as the Haringey Community Collaborative continues to support the borough’s voluntary sector.”
Looking Ahead
As the curtain falls on this year’s Showcase, the Haringey Community Collaborative remains committed to strengthening bonds across the borough and supporting the invaluable work of local groups. Plans for next year’s event are already underway, promising even more opportunities to connect, celebrate, and inspire action.
For more information about the Haringey Community Collaborative or to get involved in future events, visit the website.