On Thursday (23 October) evening we came together to celebrate the amazing people who make Easton and Lawrence Hill such special places to live. The Thank You Awards 2025 was full of warmth, laughter and stories of kindness and connection.
Hosted by Pat Hart and Sherrie Eugene-Hart, with a guest appearance from Bristol actor Joe Sims, the night shone a light on neighbours, volunteers and friends who give their time and energy to support others.
We recognised incredible work across three categories: 1. Community Empowerment and Inclusion 2. Youth Engagement and Education 3. Grassroots Groups and Volunteering
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Your creativity, compassion and commitment bring East Bristol to life. Thank you for everything you do to make our community stronger and more connected.
Scroll down to see photos of the winners from each category.
Category 1: Community Empowerment and Inclusion
Dionne McClean with Joe Sims – Crossroadz Community VenueAzmina Mitha – Education and Inclusion AdvocateRachel Hodgson – Super Supper ClubSheetal Jetwha – BCfm RadioScott ‘Diggz’ Cridland-Smith – BCfm RadioAmel Abdelmalak and Abdul Alim – Bristol Refugee RightsBristol Refugee RightsDan Green – Bridges for CommunitiesLouise Betts – Winter Lights EventJaldeep Katwala for Priyanka Raval – The Bristol CableDaisy Rajput, Abiir Shirdoon, Angel Brady, and Muna Ismail – Stapleton Road Women’s Walking GroupRaul Vasile – Roma Community ChampionHinda Hassan – Somali KitchenSadiya Ibrahim – Somali KitchenDanielle Malone – Barton Hill Food ClubAbsar Saleh, Alan Welsman, Alex Ansbro, Ufot Afia, Grace Bayley, Fatou Toure and Naomi Deutsch – Citizens Advice
Category 2: Youth Engagement and Education
Abdi Barud with Manu Maunganidze – Bristol Somali Interactive MediaAmanda Simpson – Wellspring SettlementAyan Hassan – Artist and MusicianAbdiqafar Farah Hussien, Abdisamad Ali, Jamal Ahmed, Mohamed Kaise Abdi and Muntazar Omer – Bristol Somali Youth VoiceNatasha Benjamin – Mentor and ChoreographerMounira Osman – Mentor and Foster ParentIllyas and Habby Amin – Volunteers and TeachersJesse Wilby and Keira Perfeito – VolunteersShaniem Biggs – Youth WorkerTyreke Morgan – Mentor and VolunteerInaz Hussain – Artist and Producer
Category 3: Grassroots Groups and Volunteering
Hazel Bennum – Bloy Street Garden ChampionMushtaq Ahmed – Cultural ConnectorNabil Amimi – Community HeroKit Connell – Sustainability and Community LeaderSaada Jamal – Community Hero Juliet Harwood and Rachel Risdale – St Luke’s ChurchSabina Zillul – Women’s Sport AdvocateLee Allen and Carlton Miles – Boxing MentorsRamsa Sugulle and Jo Knight – Bannerman Road School PTANick Reading, Mike Croning and Tanya Combrinck – Bristol Bike ProjectAnne French, Annette Conway, Lesley Cornock, Liz Harris, Paul Cook, Suzanne Creighton Kelly and Wendy Gardner – Cuppa 2 ConnectCharles Attwell, Sid Collings Minton, Liam Garrigan, Adam Corner, Adam Killey, Joff Charters, Keir McGuffog, Jerry Birch, Dani Adey and Drew Rose – The Packers Football Club
