Wandsworth’s Community Heroes Announced
On Friday evening Wandsworth Council’s Active Wandsworth Awards celebrated the 2022 sporting year and awarded sporting individuals, clubs, volunteers and coaches for all their hard work and exceptional achievements in 2022.
The event was hosted by Sky Sports News presenter, Emma Paton, who reflected on previous winners and successes from the evening, welcoming special guests, Beach Volleyball pair Javier and Joaquin Bello.
The standard of nominations were particularly high amongst the Sports Personality categories with guest brothers Javier and Joaquin Bello scooping the Sports Person of the Year Award, sponsored by Places Leisure, in a year where they won bronze for England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The Junior Sports Person of the Year Award was jointly won between Amalia Freeland who became a triple World Champion and broke two world records at the Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships and Julia Marczk following her Judo success at European and World level. Julia competed in Poland this weekend having recently finished 2nd place in Spain two weeks ago, Julia came first in last week’s English Open. She is now ranked 3rd place in the world for her category.
Not only was inspirational talent recognised but also the people and organisations that encourage people into activity. STORM Family Centre won the Physical Activity Project of the Year Award (sponsored by Enable) through their outreach work in the local community around the Doddington Estate. The organisation started as a self-help group for lone mothers but has expanded its services to now working with a wider range of people in and around the local community, providing a holistic service for all members of the family and using sport as a catalyst to engage and support young people with mentoring, training and opportunities into employment.
Spencer Lynx won the Sports Club / Organisation of the Year delivering a targeted Hockey programme in local state schools and increasing participation levels and links into local playing opportunities.
The inspirational Tunde Balogun won the Coach/Instructor of the Year Award (sponsored by Footy Addicts) for her amazing work to support LGBTQ+ young people to lead more active lives.
Volunteers were also recognised across a number of sports and organisations. The work of William Collins from Wandsworth Swimming Club and who initiated Wandsworth Amateur Swimming Association’s Disability Swimming, received a special recognition for their Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Physical Activity over a number of years of devotion.
A full list of winners from the evening can be found at www.enablelc.org/awa
The Active Wandsworth Awards are managed and delivered by Enable on behalf of Wandsworth Council.