The Pride of Waltham Forest 2025

The winners of the 2025 Pride of Waltham Forest awards have been announced. 

Eleven awards were presented to recognise people who are doing amazing work in the community. The winners were celebrated at the awards ceremony, which took place in the Council Chamber at Waltham Forest Town Hall on Tuesday 16 September. 

The winners are:

Monwara Ali - Leader's Special Recognition Award

Monwara is a trailblazer in community leadership who has been the CEO of Waltham Forest Community Hub for over 15 years. The Hub is a welcoming home for everyone with its offer ranging from mindfulness and wellbeing sessions to employment support and housing advice. 

Monwara also chairs the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, as well as being a coach and mentor for women to step into leadership roles through her Trailblazer Leadership Programme.

John Struthers - Mayor's Civic Award

In the midst of a housing crisis, John took on the challenge of empowering a group of individuals in Walthamstow to build their own home, learning how to do so at night school. 

John also championed the ‘Time to Grow’ campaign in Cathall, an initiative which transforms discarded spaces into vibrant community gardens, providing access to fresh food and bringing people together. 

He is the co-chair of the ward panel to ensure a local voice of young people is prioritised, as well as being a leader in the Community Good Share.

Courtney Pemble - Young Trailblazer Award

Courtney is a 15-year-old who has used her own experience to help others in the world of boxing. 

She is a three-time national boxing champion who volunteers three evenings a week at her local boxing club, dedicating her time to help others, particularly those with additional needs or low confidence. 

Courtney is particularly passionate about helping other neurodivergent young people, having had to leave mainstream school earlier this year due to her own struggles with anxiety and being under assessment for ADHD and autism.

Mile Rainbow CIC - Enterprise for All Award

Mile Rainbow is a social enterprise tackling health in equalities in global majority communities through its innovative Preventive Emotional Vaccine model, combining Western and Eastern physical and creative practices with health education. 

They have delivered 36 projects, reaching 3,500 people in Waltham Forest with 90 per cent reporting improved wellbeing and reduced anxiety and isolation. 

Over 70 per cent of its workforce comes from the communities it serves, such as former participants, international students and neurodivergent individuals.

The Snug - Health and Wellbeing Champion of the Year

The Snug is a community based at Greenleaf Road, offering free membership to a non-judgmental environment to share mental health struggles and find support, connection or activities. 

It helps to combat loneliness and encourages people to live independently, as well as offering a safe space to share lived experiences of mental illness and make friends.

The Re-Loved Club - Greener Futures Award

The Re-Loved Club has facilitated the rehoming of over 10,000 garments, directly tackling one of the world’s most polluting industries through their community-focused preloved fashion markets and textile education. 

Their model has prevented thousands of items unnecessarily entering the waste stream, turning Waltham Forest into a greener community with measurable action.

Justine Anderson - Safer Neighbourhoods Champion Award

Justine is an anti-social behaviour officer who goes above and beyond. 

When people take a problem to hear, it will be dealt with. She has consistently given solid support to the community, she is proactive in seeking to prevent problems and tenacious when one needs solving. And she does all this with a smile on her face.

Sajida Ahmed - Community Champion Award

Sajida is the founder and chair of the Oak Foundation – a Walthamstow-based charity that supports local children and adults with disabilities, and their families. 

Using her own experience of being a retired social worker and having a 53-year-old autistic son, Sajida advocates for people with disabilities, including opening a day centre for adults with disabilities.

Åsa Eriksson – Volunteer of the Year 

Åsa heads up the Friends of Davies Lane and has raised thousands of pounds for the primary school in Leytonstone. 

She has organised fun money-raising events including the Christmas, Easter and summer fairs, plus Valentine’s Day and Halloween discos and curry and quiz nights. She gives up hours of her own time despite having a family to care for, to help out the school that her children attended.

Soundcastle – Cultural Connections Award

Soundcastle brings together early years, their families and carers, and people agreed over 50 through singing and making music.

Their sessions use the power of music to reduce isolation and provide fun for adults and children with special educational needs.

Shqiponja Plaku – Carer of the Year

One of Shqiponja’s foster children said:

‘When I first came to this house in July 2024, I was totally different and I need to thank my carer who gave me so many opportunities in life – I'm really grateful for everything.  

Before I came here, I was scared to walk outside by myself, I was getting bullied a lot, I felt invisible.  

She helps me with my homework, she always tells me to put myself first. She set me up with a therapy painting session.  

I feel more confident in school now, I don’t get bullied and she gives me a routine which helps me.  

My carer is not only nice to me but to other foster children in the house – she's kind to everyone. She provides us with homemade Albanian and English tasty and healthy food.