COMMUNITY heroes from across Redditch borough were named and celebrated during a special ceremony last week.

The Community Heroes Awards winners were announced at Bromsgrove Rugby Club last Thursday.

The event was well attended by community groups and representatives from West Mercia Police, the Safer Redditch Group, and Redditch Borough Council’s Community Safety team.

The awards were debuted this year to celebrate those in the community going above and beyond to combat anti-social behaviour and the negative impacts it can have.

The categories and winners

There were four categories: Youth Award, Communities Award, Business Award, and Extra Mile Award.

Winners included Delroy Thomas and Jade Parker in the Youth category alongside Kingfisher Security in the Business section.

For the Community category Your Ideas were crowned winners, with Batchley Support Group, Wallop Boxing Club, and Reach CIC all recognised for their hard work in the community.

Pete Martin’s dedication to reducing knife crime and its impacts was recognised as he was awarded the Community Heroes Extra Mile Award.

The team received more than 85 nominations across the four categories in the Redditch area.

Bromsgrove and Redditch Councils’ head of community and housing services, Judith Willis, said reducing anti-social behaviour and the impacts it has on communities was a really important mission for those gathered on the evening.

“It was a real privilege to be able to see the people behind the excellent initiatives that the Community Heroes Awards celebrated and to be able to give them the recognition they deserve,” she added.

Redditch Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community services and regulatory services, Coun Monica Stringfellow, said: “Reducing anti-social behaviour and the impact it can have on our community is a really important endeavour.

“I want to say a massive well done to all those who were nominated and won an award at the presentation evening last week.”

Judith added: “A massive congratulations to all those who were nominated and won an award.

“The projects which were showcased as part of the Community Heroes Award Ceremony were all of outstanding quality.”

Redditch Borough Council leader, Coun Joe Baker, said: “Recognising the hard work of individuals in the community going above and beyond to make our town a better place to live, work, and spend their time was the goal of these awards and I believe they achieved that. I thank and celebrate all those who were nominated for the work they are doing.”

Visit redditchbc.gov.uk/communityheroawards for more on the awards and full details about the winners.