Bringing communities together
Bringing communities together
The Bringing Communities Together award recognises people who have they brought people from different backgrounds together or come up with an exciting idea that has improved relationships in a community
Nisha Nath
Nisha Nath, 24, runs Bollywood dance classes to bring together different sections of the community in Derby
The things I get most out of volunteering are…
Seeing young people achieve their creative goals/ realise their creative potential, develop their talents, a sense of fulfilment because I’m going back to the organisation and communication who have helped shape me as a person and brought out my passion for the arts.
My volunteering has made an impact on the people I help by…
I feel that I’ve been a positive role model, enabled communities to come together through a common language of music and movement. Pushing young people to their creative limits and making them more confident, positive individuals.
Being nominated for a vInspired National Award makes me feel…
Honoured and happy.
If I were Prime Minister for the day, the one thing I would change would be…
Funding to the arts!!
My company has had all funding cut which means they will not be able to do the brilliant work they do to inspired young people.
Joanna Mayes
The things I get most out of volunteering are…
A sense of achievement and a distraction from my own personal issues. I get to see young people develop and grow into young adults, some starting in a similar position I was in.
My volunteering has made an impact on the people I help by…
Given young people an opportunity to find themselves as young people, to have a safe and controlled place to try new things. Given people the chance to talk to someone who can appreciate what they are going through.
Being nominated for a vInspired National Award makes me feel…
Sense of pride, happy although it fells quite surreal. I am able to share my journey with others, demonstrate that you don’t have to be confined by your own barriers.
If I were Prime Minister for the day, the one thing I would change would be…
To make mental health education part of the national curriculum.
Torron Lee Dewar
Torron - Lee Dewar, 19, set up Alliance Dance Unit to give young people on his estate in Brentford an opportunity to do something fun and positive with their time
The things I get most out of volunteering are…
Knowing that I have given a wide spectrum of individuals something interesting, fun and positive to work towards and seeing then develop for the better.
My volunteering has made an impact on the people I help by…
Helping them to focus on a hobby and pulling them away from anti- social behaviour on London’s streets. This gives people a sense of belonging and confidence from working as a team which are like their second family.
Being nominated for a vInspired National Award makes me feel…
Extremely happy knowing that I have been recognised for the work I carry out in my community. It’s a challenge to make people feel like they belong somewhere and not on the streets in gangs and hanging around after dark. So it really does feel heart-warming to know that there are people who care about these matters.
If I were Prime Minister for the day, the one thing I would change would be…
I would look into turning most abandoned/ unused buildings and properties into places of interest for both the youth and adults. A lot of the time taxpayer’s money gets wasted on random architecture and pointless works of art - for instance £335,000 was spent on a toadstool sculpture to mark the Olympics. Why not put that into a network of centres for London’s society and youth to come and learn a new skill or hobby?