The Outstanding Contribution to the Earliest Years of Life Award celebrates people positively influencing the life of babies, young children and their families.

The finalists are Bowling Park Allotments and Gardens Society, a group of mums running Better Start Bradford’s Parent in the Lead sessions, and Yuma and Mariama, two key figures from the city’s Gambian community.

Bowling Park Allotments and Gardens Society has been busy developing a safe, sensory rich educational space at the allotments.

The nominator said: “They showed parents and young children how to look afteer plants and flowers, how to grow things and how to play with natural resources. They are kind, passionate and enthusiastic and a joy to be around with the children and parents.

“They have delivered over 60 sessions of grow your own and play sessions at the allotments, giving up so much of their own time to share their enthusiasm and love of being outside.

“They also welcomed over 80 families into the allotments as part of the Jubilee celebrations.”

Volunteer David Mitchell said: “Bowling Allotment and Garden Society are elated to have been nominated. It is an honour that all the hard work and effort the dedicated committee and supportive community have been recognised. We feel very privileged to have been nominated and will continue to support the wider community.”

A group of five mums are behind some of Better Start Bradford’s popular Parent in the Lead (PIL) sessions.

The activities reach parents, expectant parents and grandparents with 0-4 year olds in the BD3, BD4 and BD5 postcode areas.

This includes Olga Dolganiuc, Valerie Florea, Zeynep Iciger, Michaela Sutcliffe and Rozina Akhtar.

Their nominator said: “These ladies are amazing in the work they have done through PIL to support parents and young families. But what makes them even more special is how they have all supported each other on this journey.

“There is so much more involved with leading a session than people sometimes realise.

“Zeynep managed to successfully lead a group of parents to the safari park, Valeria led baby massage tasters as well as proving lots of other lovely activities for young babies. I’ve run out of words to say how good and amazing these ladies are and how privileged we have been as a group of workers supporting their journey. I know this is only the beginning.”

Yuma and Mariama have been offering a warm welcome to newly arrived members of the Gambian community in Bradford.

Their nominator said: “Yuma and Mariama are very supportive, encouraging to many and make sure everyone is included.

“Yuma and Mariama are the anchor of the large Gambian Community. They have done an outstanding job in supporting, interpreting and acting as role models for this community as they have initiated services and groups for this community to attend around the BD3 area.

“These two not only have large young families of their own but still find the time to make the sure the whole Gambian community are included.”

The pair recently partnered up with the Laisterdyke Centre to run an ESOL class, while helping families benefit from several Better Start projects.

Finalists for Bradford's Community Star Awards revealed

For 2022’s Community Stars Awards, there are nine categories in total.

Click the category to find out more about each finalist

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