REACHING SUCCESS AWARDS 2011

During the last month or so you had the chance to nominate networks for our REACHING SUCCESS AWARDS.

At our REACH conference yesterday, Cllr Jonathan McShane and Hackney CVS Chief Executive Jake Ferguson presented three of Hackney’s community networks with a Reaching Success Award, See below for the winners.

Most Influential Network

• Black & Ethnic Minority Arts Network (BEMA)

Earlier this year, BEMA ran a campaign which saw support from over 3,000 people world wide, succeed in getting the local authority to reverse its decision to rename the Dalston CLR James Library with a name that did not include CLR James.

Please contact: Ngoma Bishop Email:  bemaadmin@hcvs.org.uk Web: http://www.bemanetwork.org.uk/

Ngoma Bishop, BEMA Coordinator said: “BEMA ‘the arts in harmony network’ is honored to have received the Hackney Community Empowerment Network award for Most Influential Network. We see this as an acknowledgement of the tremendous work being done by Hackney artists and arts organisations, who continually strive to make the borough a more vibrant place for all who live and or work here. The organisation will continue to work in partnership with the Local Authority, Hackney CVS and others across the sectors for arts and culture to be incorporated into local policy and in strategy documents and programmes.”

Network which has overcome the most difficulties (Awarded to two networks)

• African Women’s Network

The African Women’s Network is inundated with requests for domestic violence support from local women from Hackney’s African communities who are among the borough’s most vulnerable.  In spite of lack of funding and support, this network continues to meet these needs and influence how wider services are delivered to account for these needs.

Please contact: Janet Murungi Email: janetbake@hotmail.com Web: http://www.hackneycen.org.uk/hackney-community-networks/awn/default.aspx

Janet Bake-Murungi from African Women’s Network said: “Receiving the CEN Award has been a big honour and is uplifting for the African Women's Network. It has been an opportunity for our work to be known.  The challenge ahead of us remains huge but despite all the hardships, we now feel more determined than ever to continue addressing issues affecting African women in our community . Many thanks to all those who nominated our Network."

• Disability BackUp (DBU)

Disability BackUp was established in 2008 and has grown to be a successful and dynamic forum with over 350 members. Its aim is to enable disabled people in Hackney to influence change in the borough and to be effectively consulted about current and relevant issues. Despite losing its host organisation in March 2011 and its funding, paid staff and premises, Disability BackUp members have kept the forum going; to serve the needs of fellow disabled residents.

Please contact: John Thornton: telephone/sms text: 077 57 47 89 53 Email: HackneyDisabilityBackup@Yahoo.com

DBU Team members said:
"News that our old Host was shutting down Disability BackUp was met, initially, with feelings of loss and helplessness, followed by anger and then defiance! Yet, by taking up the cudgel ourselves, we've shown that a user-led network is an effective way for the voices of disabled people to get heard in Hackney. It has been a struggle but we have achieved a lot and are grateful, both for the overwhelming goodwill and support we've received, and for this exceptional accolade.  With our new Host in place, we will begin a new chapter and we look forward to working with CEN, Team Hackney and everyone else, in our quest to gain equality for disabled people in Hackney."

Councillor McShane said: 

“I was delighted to be asked to present the network awards for 2011. Although there were three winners on the day, everyone present should congratulate themselves for making a real difference in their communities at a really difficult time.”

We would like to thank all of you that took part in voting and look forward to celebrating the success of more networks through our awards next year!

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