THE Community Stars Awards returned in person last night after a long Covid-enforced absence and it was an evening of reflection and celebration.
Hundreds turned out for the 2021 ceremony on Wednesday, after it was pushed back from December last year due to the effects of the pandemic.
The awards - which are run by Bradford Council and supported by The Telegraph and Argus - took place at The Bradford Hotel for their 11th year.
It was a welcome sight to see so many coming together to celebrate all that is good about Bradford, after the winners of the 2020 awards were revealed in The Telegraph and Argus, rather than at an event.
The night was hosted by Charles Dacres and Mahmood Mohammed, with Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Bev Mullaney opening by congratulating everyone who was in attendance.
Cllr Mullaney said: “All those people who have got nominated; you are all winners.”
She added: “It’s a great privilege to be here with you all today, celebrating Community Stars.
“There are thousands of people in our district who make a positive impact to their neighbours and communities.”
The Leader of the Council Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe then started her speech with a poignant message.
She said: “Today is a day of reflection. It’s actually two years since we had that first lockdown and at noon today there was a minute’s silence at City Hall to remember them.”
Cllr Hinchcliffe called for the room to stand and take a minute’s silence that evening to remember those we have lost to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: “The last two years have been hugely challenging and difficult for many families in the district and beyond.”
But the Leader of the Council spoke enthusiastically about the UK City of Culture 2025 competition, with Bradford having been named as one of four shortlisted places for the accolade last week.
Cllr Hinchcliffe said the city can “show the world” what Bradford is made of, if it wins.
She added: “Tonight is a microcosm of Bradford and just imagine if we amplify that.”
A surprise, prestigious award was then handed out to a stalwart of the city, for all the work this individual has put into Bradford, across a variety of sectors.
Sher Azam was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, after a video of a multitude of people singing their praises of the man was shown on the big screen at the front of room.
There was a rapturous response when the award-winner himself made his way onto the stage, indicative of the awe and respect held for him.
Mr Azam was part of the Bradford Mosque Association in 1959 and was influential in setting up the first mosque in Bradford.
He was also critical in introducing Halal meat in schools and later dietary requirements for other faiths and is a former magistrate.
Mr Azam said: “I’m greatly honoured to receive this award.
“Although I’m also embarrassed because I believe a lot more people in this Bradford city deserve this, but on behalf of all those people who are working and have worked in the bwcnt for many, many years without getting the acknowledgement, I’m very grateful to receive this award.
“All of Bradford it’s a great pleasure to live in and work for many years in this city.
“I came about 62 years ago and landed in this city right from London Airport, I came here and I’ve lived here ever since.
“It’s my city, it’s our city, it’s a city I’m really proud of.
“And it’s making a lot of headway towards the direction which I’m sure will lead us to the success.”
The community stalwart spoke of how the city has improved in each and every way thanks to people working together and voluntarily.
He added: “Every citizen in Bradford, the work you have done, directly or indirectly, has benefited from it.
“If one person has benefitted from the good work we are doing, I think we’ve achieved something.”
Mr Azam finished by stating the awards give encouragement to other people who are working tirelessly to make Bradford great, but that ultimately it is the internal pleasure and satisfaction from helping others that drives him.
It is a theme that continued throughout the night as the various awards – 12 in total - were handed out, with many recipients expressing their shock at even being nominated.
The evening was broken up into three main sections, with four awards (Volunteer of the Year, Fundraiser of the Year, Outstanding Student of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Earliest Years of Life) in the first part.
A break followed for the main meal and there was entertainment provided by a guitar-playing singer, belting out acoustic versions of well-loved tunes, such as tracks from Boyzone.
The final five normal awards came next (Business Making a Difference, Young Active Citizen, Good Neighbour of the Year, Shared Values in Action and Voluntary and Community Group), before three special awards were presented after dessert.
These awards specifically related to Covid and those who went above-and-beyond during the pandemic (Covid Business Star, Covid Community Star and Covid Public Service Star).
Here's a full list of those shortlisted and the winners:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sher Azam
Volunteer of the Year Award | 1,663 votes in total
Winner: Naz Kosar (1,142 votes)
Shortlisted: Gloria Heibron, Beryland and Roy Falkingham
Fundraiser of the Year Award | 1,525 votes
Winner: Shazuna Ali (608 votes)
Shortlisted: IWCUK (Indian Women's Community UK), St Anne's School Keighley
Outstanding Student of the Year Award | 1,241 votes
Winner: Hajra Bibi (563 votes)
Shortlisted: Ahseem Yousef, Gina Jovanovich
Outstanding Contribution to Earliest Years of Life Award (sponsored by Betterstart Bradford) | 1,310 votes
Winner: Tahire Zeneli (451 votes)
Shortlisted: Raymond Field and Maryiam Ahmed, Sam Thirkill
Business Making a Difference Award | 1,327 votes
1,327 votes in total
Winner: 2TShirtgang (516 votes)
Shortlisted: Dandelion Café, Core Gym (Greengates)
Young Active Citizen Award | 1,503 votes
Winner: Young in Covid (922 votes)
Shortlisted: Kody William, Ayran Rowe
Good Neighbour of the Year Award (sponsored by Incommunities) | 1,079 votes
Winner: Siobhan Dowling (586 votes)
Shortlisted: David Rhodes, Peter Walker
Shared Values in Action (sponsored by Bradford for Everyone) | 1,139 votes
Winner: Bradford for Everyone Ambassadors (780 votes)
Shortlisted: Ludmila Novosjolova, Colin Simmons
Voluntary and Community Group (sponsored by Volunteer Centre Bradford) | 1,582 votes
Winner: Helping Hands Bradford (773 votes)
Shortlisted: Bracken Bank & District Community Association, Save the Mothers
Covid Business Star Award | 2,121 votes
Winner: Graham Swain – Gravediggers (1,482 votes)
Shortlisted: Phylecia Sunderland, British India Radio Team
Covid Community Star Award | 2,099 votes
Winner: Mohammed Amin (1,338 votes)
Shortlisted: Shummell Uddin, Denholme Assist
Covid Public Service Star Award | 1,311 votes
Winner: Artwork Creative Community (640 votes)
Shortlisted: Louise Brown, Karen Regan
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