Caritas St Joseph’s was proud to be among the winners of this year’s London Dangoor Awards, hosted by the Faith & Belief Forum on 25 November.
Marking their ninth year, the London Dangoor Awards celebrate the vital work of London’s faith communities by bringing together local heroes and shining a light on their work. The Faith & Belief Forum is the country’s largest interfaith charity, making the awards a key moment in the London interfaith calendar.
The night honoured 82 faith-inspired charitable and community projects and outstanding individuals for their work, with each winner receiving £500 and a chance to connect with the Greater London Lieutenancy and other projects from across the city.
Caritas St Joseph’s was among 42 winners from across London in eight categories. Awarded in the ‘Health & Wellbeing’ category for their work with adults with intellectual disabilities, their lifelong learning centre in Hendon offers over 50 courses to more than 200 students, ranging from accredited creative arts courses to crafts, fitness and practical skills.
Gail Williams, Head of Caritas St Joseph’s, was pleased to represent the centre for the occasion, commenting:
We are delighted to be among so many incredible faith-based projects recognised at the London Dangoor Awards this year. It is wonderful to witness how faith continues to inspire people in our communities to serve others in such diverse ways; a fantastic reminder during this Jubilee Year that ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ of all faiths can be found right here in our midst.
This year, the ceremony welcomed Deputy Mayor of London for Communities & Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, who delivered a keynote speech honouring those who support their communities in countless ways. Addressing attendees, the Deputy Mayor also noted the common thread of hope:
All of you in this room give people hope for the future — especially those who feel excluded or uncertain. We’re here not just to celebrate you, but to remember the hope you offer, continuously, to communities across London.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, has been supporting interfaith work in the city for over a decade. He reflected:
Often people think about communities like London – a very multifaith community – and people think it’s divided because it’s so diverse. Perhaps that is the case in other parts of the world, but as we have witnessed today that most certainly is not the case in London. What we’re seeing is faith diversity promoting belonging and inclusion.
Images: Faith & Belief Forum; © Jeff Gilbert Photography
Caritas St Joseph’s helps people with intellectual disabilities to share their gifts and participate in their communities and the life of the Church. The lifelong learning centre in Hendon offers a variety of courses to over 200 students, ranging from creative arts programmes to practical skills for living independently. The team also run extensive outreach activities across the Diocese of Westminster.
