Hove charity win Prime Minister award (From The Argus)

Hove charity win Prime Minister award

4:00pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News

A resident-run charity has been lauded by the Prime Minister.

Organisers behind The Hangleton and Knoll Project have become the latest winners in the Prime Minister’s Big Society Awards.

Founded in November 2010, the prize has been handed out to fewer than 50 charities across the UK.

The Hove-based charity follows in the footsteps of Bevendean Local Action Team as Sussex winners.

David Cameron said the charity was empowering local people to take action and making a real difference to their lives.

The Conservative’s “Big Society” was the flagship policy idea of the 2010 UK Conservative Party general election manifesto, and aims at taking power away from politicians by giving it to people.

The charity, which has been running for almost 30 years, supports more than 300 volunteers who play a key role in more than 30 local groups including Friends of Hangleton Park, The Multi Cultural Women’s Group , Hangleton and Knoll Community Action, Get Together Club and Youth Forum.

Every year, more than 1,000 residents, aged from eight to 108, directly benefit from the work of the organisation.

The Big Society Awards were set up by the Prime Minister in November 2010.

Mr Cameron said: “This is a project that is working with the community, for the community and that is exactly what the Big Society is all about.

“The work of the Hangleton and Knoll Project is empowering local people to take action and make a real difference to their lives.

“Whether it’s boosting IT skills, giving young people a voice or looking after vulnerable groups, the Hangleton and Knoll Project continues to play an important role in the community and I congratulate them on their success.”

Joanna Martindale, chief executive of the project, said: “This award is a fantastic recognition of the contributions of decades of volunteers and community activists in Hangleton and Knoll.

“We are very proud of our record in creating a better and more inclusive neigh- bourhood for all our residents to enjoy.”

Members of the project will visit Downing Street in December to collect the award from Mr Cameron.

The award is part of a month of success for the group which also saw chair- man Pat Weller receive a WRVS award for volunteering last week.