Today Richmond Council announced the winners of its Community Heroes Awards, celebrating local people who have made a difference in the borough.

Councillor Michael Wilson, lead member for Communities, Equality and the Voluntary Sector, took to YouTube to thank all those who have participated in the awards.

"2020 was a year like no other," he said. "We've seen residences, businesses and community groups step up to provide such a huge local response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Our winners over the last year have helped provide food and clothes for the homeless. They've helped look after the elderly, provided assistance and support for those who've been unable to leave their homes, they've helped to look after the local environment and they've helped to do so much more."

The council received 204 nominations for their 2020 Community Heroes Awards thanks to the additional roles that many people played in responding to the pandemic.

A judging committee made up of councillors, local voluntary sector leaders and council officers reviewed all the nominations and have selected their winners.

As we are still in lockdown, nominees will receive certificates and trophies in the mail, although the council hope to host an in-person celebratory event towards the end of this year.

Richmond's community hero award winners were:

• Business contribution in the community - The Angel & Crown
• Community group of the year - Richmond upon Thames Neighbourhood Care Groups
• Community project of the year - Spade gardening project
• Helping Hands - Ginny Spittle
• Environmental award - Ian George Andrews
• Lifetime achievement - Howard Greenwood
• Young person achievement - George Muderack
• Outstanding sporting achievement - Richmond parkrun organisers
• Trustee of the year - Robert Bollen

It was also agreed by the judging panel that no winner could be decided in the Outstanding Volunteer category due to the volume of outstanding nominations. Instead, all shortlisted nominees will receive a certificate of commendation.

Cllr Michael Wilson added: "It should be a badge of pride and honour for this borough that each year we seesuch astaggering breadth of workdone byour residents, expecting nothing in return, to make their communities a better place to in which to live.

"Whether you give of your time as an individual or a group,the time commitment and motivation is significant. This is a chance for us to show our gratitude to you for all that you do, especially during this year which has provided many challenges for us all.

"I hope to welcome our shortlisted nominees to a celebration event in person when we are able, but for now I want to warmly congratulate and thank you all for everything you have done and continue to do for our borough".

Full list of winners and nominees

Business contribution in the community

Winner: The Angel & Crown

Highly Commended: Richmond Rugby Club

Shortlisted:

Kew Convenience Store

Squire's Food & Wine

Meet and Deep Newsagents

Nominees:

Sidra Lebanese Restaurant

Haymarket Media Group

Start Up Richmond

The Sussex Arms

East Sheen Micro Bakery

Half Backs Rugby

The Waterman's Arms

Community group of the year

Winner: Richmond upon Thames Neighbourhood Care Groups

Highly Commended: Tag Youth Club for Disabled Young People

Shortlisted:

Crossroads Care COVID volunteer arm

Hampton & Richmond Borough Football Club

Mothers Against Muggings

Nominees:

Age UK Richmond

FISH

Hampton Helpers

Kew Neighbourhood Association

Leaving Care Team, AfC

Lynda Murray, Richmond Good Neighbours

Marble Hill Volunteers

Mylifefilms Charity

The Inspired Hub, Hampton

Teddington and Hampton Wick Voluntary Care Group

The Beavers Trust

Whitton network

Community project of the year

Winner: Spade gardening project

Highly Commended: Sheddington

Shortlisted:

Jackie Haigh, Share & Care Collective

Mark Jopling, Save Udney Park

Kew Sews Bags and Hats

Nominees:

Barnes Children's Literature Festival

Caitlin Limmer, Bearcat running club

Dan- The Tobacco Road Boys

Mark Jopling

Melissa Gillings, The Christmas Beaver Box campaign

Park Lane Stables, Pony visits

Queen's Road Art Project

Kew sewing project, Rosanda McGrath

Barnes Film Festival

Environmental award

Winner: Ian George Andrews

Highly Commended: Michael Hildesley

Shortlisted:

Let's go outside and learn

GoodGym Richmond

Helping Hands

Nominees:

Alison Henderson

Alison Jayne Macedo

Andrea Dodo

Bryony Duckitt

Charles (Chaz) Wiltshire

Jackie and neighbours

Charlie Jones

Clare McNeish

Dom Palacio

Gill Butler

Ginny Spittle

Hayley Merrett

Judith Emslie

Kelly Meadows

Mo Walker

Mrs Sharon Brewer

Nick Botting

Patti (No last name given)

Petra Sale

Rosa Marquez

Tamra Cave

Vanessa Clark

Lifetime achievement

Winner: Howard Greenwood

Highly Commended: Bunny Farnell-Watson

Shortlisted:

Paul Leonard

Angela Roberts

Perminder Singh Tamana

Nominees:

Giles Hobart

Jean Loveland

Paula and William Mortimer

Peter Davenport

Peter Willan

Sandra Sullivan

Mary Noyes

Outstanding sporting achievement

Winner: Richmond parkrun organisers - Andy Caie, with Francesca Creasy, Michael Glazebrook, David Pennell and Ally Pickard

Highly Commended: Simon Griffiths

Shortlisted:

Gavin Ainsby

Eamonn Newell

Outstanding volunteer

Nominees:

Abi Fisher

Alison & Kevin Sears

Andrew White

Anita Capewell

Barbara Lingle Elliott

Brenda and Keith Martin

Brian Garcia

Christine Walker

Colin Thih

David Linnette

Dr Rebecca Butler

Elizabeth Foster

Elliot Harding

Felicity Barkus

Firas Ali

Gary Williams

Hirsh Cashdan

Jacqueline Maceacharn

Lisa Ross

Jane Maxwell

John Burton

John Coles

Jon Porter

Joseph Moran

Judi Braddock (Kew neighbourhood Association)

Julia Westgarth

Kathy Bravery

Kay Day

Kris Millican

Lailah Kigozi

Laurence Presland

Louise Mathias

Mrs Barbara Lingle Elliott

Mrs Joan Gibson

Mrs Susan Nixon

Nity Raj

Penny Vegting

Peter and Ann Boyle

Rosemary Marston

Rosie Goodall

Rosie Taylor-Davis

Sally Long

Sarah Noble

Sophie-Lia White

Stephen Cunningham

Therese Rebeiz

Tony Weller

Tracey Bonsey

Ute Barclay

Sheila Treadaway

Lucy Arrowsmith

Margaret Saunders

Millie Spencer

Shailja Gulia

Trustee of the year

Winners: Robert Bollen

Highly commended: Sue Howes

Shortlisted:

Simon Danciger

Valerie Munro

Claudine McCreadie

Nominees:

Lisa Jones

Peter Willan

Young person achievement

Highly commended: The Kingston and Richmond Youth Council

Nominees:

Huyen Thi Phan

Jack and Ethan Weissenborn and Jack Lewis

Jayden Thomas

Saffron Elizabeth Cockerton-Rai

George Muderack

Josie O'Connell

Isabella Topley

Daralis Mavale

Kamran Ojeda-Haririan

James Hunter