Best and Simplyhealth Community Awards 2011

The Best and Simplyhealth Community Awards 2011 were held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on October 3rd 2011.

Best editor Jackie Hatton says: 'The Awards came about as a direct result of the troubled economic times we find ourselves in. When it is hard enough to provide for your family, we thought it was particularly appropriate to recognise people who selflessly volunteer for the benefit of their wider communities.

The riots across the country in August only served to highlight what happens when individuals disconnect from their neighbourhoods. Our awards celebrate the very real benefits that occur when the complete reverse happens and people come together. A star studded lunch was attended by celebrities including This Morning's Coleen Nolan, BBC Watchdog's consumer champion Matt Allwright and Loose Women's Andrea McLean.

The overall winning project was the Rhondda Foodbank, which received a £6,000 cash prize. The group helps to deliver food parcels to needy families in Wales. Other recipients included the Parkinson's Self Help group from Airdrie, Scotland, Bespoke, which works with adults with learning difficulties in North Somerset and The Dowlais Engine House Youth Club from Merthyr Tydfil.

Awards presenter Nadia Sawalha paid tribute to this year's winners saying: 'They truly represent the best of human nature and are making an enormous impact in their local communities by going the extra mile for people in need'.

Our congratulations extend to the four runners-up who each received £1,000 for their community project...

Best Community Long term achievement project
A diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease can be devastating, not least because there is so much misinformation about the disease. The Parkinson's Self Help Group in North Lanarkshire was set up in 1989 to give sufferers advice and support. On average the group helps 80 people each week, from those who attend the social events, to others requiring benefits advice, treatments or support.

Best Company Helping in the Community
In today's tough times, it is rare to find a big business that is happy to share its profits, but Waitrose and its partners have been doing just that. The Waitrose Community Matters Scheme is designed to ensure local charities and community groups in each area benefit from charitable donations from the supermarket. Since its launch in 2008 the scheme has donated more than £6 million to over 20,000 charities.

Best Green Community Project
Run by the well-respected Brandon Trust in Nailsea - North Somerset, Bespoke is a scheme aimed at providing opportunities for people with learning disabilities to make a positive contribution to their local communities and the environment. Under the scheme youngsters aged 16 and over are given the chance to take part in various conservation projects, such as planting, litter picking and gardening.

Best Schools or Youth Community Programme
A hot topic in the news lately is the lack of fun and useful activities for youngsters these days, especially in deprived areas, but thanks to the Dowlais Engine House, young people in Merthyr Tydfil need never be bored again. Dowlais Engine House has been dubbed the biggest youth club in the country.