Photos by Carl Hudson
A whopping 48 individuals and organisations received awards during an event at the Sunken Gardens in Westbrook on Sunday (August 20).
The Mayor’s Community Awards were hosted by Margate mayor Rob Yates and director of Resort Studios Ayaan Bulale.
Attendees enjoyed a community picnic in the sunshine as the awards were given out to grassroots community groups and individuals.
The event featured performances from the Social Singing Choir and a raffle with prizes from local artists, authors, and restaurants.
Artist Tracey Emin and Margate councillors Jack Packman, Heather Keen, John Edwards, Leo Britcher and Elysa d’Abbro, county councillor Barry Lewis, Margate mayoress Iris Johnston and Ramsgate mayor Pat Moore were among the guests.
Cllr Yates said: “The Margate community is the backbone of our town and this is driven not by profit, but by kindness. The event was our way of saying thank you and giving some of these organisations a voice, so we can hear from them, look to solve their problems and make our town even stronger.
“Speakers from the organisations continually highlighted the kindness and talent within our community and the hard work of all the volunteers keeping these organisations going.
“I’d like to say a massive thanks to the Sunken Gardens Society for hosting, Clayspace for making the awards, all those businesses, artists and authors donating raffle prizes, the Sea Cadets for helping with raffle tickets, McDonalds for their donation of fruit and refreshments, Gina’s bakery for the pretzels, the Social Singing Choir for providing some beautiful singing and Carl Hudson for photographing the event.
“If you’re considering volunteering in Margate please get in contact with one of these great organisations.”
Ayaan added: “We worked really hard to make sure to identify groups that were grassroots, community minded and who would not instantly spring to mind when thinking of charitable work. The groups that were awarded are all at the frontline of dealing with issues such as dismantling systemic racism, ensuring that parents can feed their babies, that those facing the end of life leave with dignity, that marginalised groups feel safe and supported.
“Every hour these groups give to our community has a positive and long lasting impact.”
Following the event Tracey Emin said: “The mayor’s community awards was such a lovely event (with) people really appreciating each other and the community we live in.”
Award winners
| Category | Organisation |
| Feeding Margate | Thanet Foodlink |
| Feeding Margate | 101 Social |
| Feeding Margate | Mi Community Foodbank |
| Young People | Arts Education Exchange |
| Young People | OSE |
| Young People | Mama to Mama |
| Young People | Quarterdeck |
| Young People | Yo Street Zone (training held at St Anthony’s School) |
| Green Space | Garlinge Phoenix Project |
| Green Space | Windmill Community Gardens |
| Green Space | Wilderness to Wonderland |
| Green Space | Sunken Garden Society |
| Green Space | Garden Gate |
| Green Space | Thanet Coastal Project Officer |
| Green Space | DV Woods |
| Green Space | Rise Up Clean Up |
| Seniors | SEK – Ageless Thanet |
| Seniors | Pilgrims Hospice (volunteer scheme to support dying adults) |
| Health and Wellbeing | Speak Up CIC |
| Health and Wellbeing | Margate Park Run |
| Health and Wellbeing | East Kent Mencap |
| Health and Wellbeing | Margate Task Force |
| Health and Wellbeing | Porchlight Open Door |
| Health and Wellbeing | Social Singing Choir |
| Health and Wellbeing | Margate RNLI |
| Margate Legends | Eli Thompson (Soul Festival) |
| Margate Legends | Roxy (old Town Market) |
| Margate Legends | Sharon Goodyer (Summer Kitchen and Our Kitchen) |
| Safe Space | United Mothers / Beyond the Page |
| Safe Space | People Dem Collective |
| Safe Space | OASIS |
| Safe Space | Thanet Iceberg Project |
| Safe Space | Compas Charity |
| Safe Space | Margate Salvation Army |
| Community Space | Cliftonville Cultural Space |
| Community Space | St Paul’s church + Cliftonville Community Centre |
| Community Space | Al-Birr Community Centre and Mosque |
| Community Space | Holy Trinity Church |
| Community Space | Elsewhere |
| Community Space | Crab Museum |
| Community Space | Tom Thumb |
| Community Space | GRASS |
| Community Space | Margate School |
| LGBTQIA | Margate Black Pride |
| LGBTQIA | Sundowners |
| LGBTQIA | Camp |
| LGBTQIA | Margate Pride |
| LGBTQIA | Wildes |
Why on earth is there even such thing as a “Margate Black Pride” when there is also a “Margate Pride”?
It’s basically the same but for non-white people.
How to divide people with identity politics. Add another stripe to the virtue flag. 🌈 Light a candle and post some random comment supporting your cause on your social media account.
Ms.Pink, can you imagine the outcry, if there was a Margate White Pride.
We talk about cohesion, I see this as being divisive.
Because no one wants to be the a marginalised group within a marginalised group every minute of every day. The black and brown LGBTQAI+ experience has similarities and commonalities with the non-black/brown LGBTQAI+ community’s experiences but they are by no stretch identical hence there is Margate Black Pride chapter that is part of the Pride Movement. Margate Black Pride and Margate Pride work in solidarity and in partnership.
With the exception of a few really worthy causes,
like the Salvation Army, I am sorry I am at a loss.
I have never heard of most of them, have no idea what they have done for the community, that I am aware of.
Please can somebody
explain what mama to mama is all about? I am truly
at a loss.
It’s a charity for vulnerable pregnant 🤰 women.
A nice plastic star to go on your mantle …. Yay. 🌟 👏
Ceramic stars kindly donated by Clayspace
Mama to mama is a charity that donates essential goods to new borns and their parents. They have premises at Westwood cross. Fantastic project
Cllr. Lewis, you say this group Mama to Mama is a charity that donates essential goods to new borns and their parents and yes that is good. However, elsewhere it says it is a charity for vulnerable pregnant people.
Which is it?
Both
As the saying goes – can’t feed don’t breed- not all obviously but I bet the majority of these mamas should have known better.