Forward

We all know the need for and importance of celebrations and more so to our health and wellbeing. Celebrating each other and oneself is one thing we don’t do so well and especially the grassroot communities. However, in an effort to building resilience for our health and wellbeing, James Momoh from the Talking Therapy service of Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust took the grassroot communities through a series of four sessions on the need of celebrations and especially self-celebration. In this, he challenged everyone to celebrate themselves at least once a week even When no one else celebrates them. Following on that, it was only fitting that we honour grassroot communities with awards giving on different categories as we celebrate Black History—perfect timing. As you open the pages of this booklet, you will come across men and women, young and seniors who have been honoured with awards and certificates for the impact they continue to make in our communities. They may never know or even be told how much difference they make in supporting people better manage their health & wellbeing, but all that does not go unnoticed hence the awards they receive this evening. Thank you to Connect Reading for reaching out to the wider community for sponsors of the different categories being presented this evening which includes; Bringing communities Together, Volunteering, Positively Integrating Young People Young People In The Community, Positively Integrating Seniors In The Community, Promoting Health & Wellbeing Through Art, Lifetime Achievement, Inspirational Young People, Community Education For Health & Wellbeing. The sponsors include; Business International Network (BNI), Connect Reading, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, Libera Voice, Holybrook Associates, Reading Borough Council, Fearless Youth Association (FYA), Utulivu Women’s Group, Alliance For Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE), Utulivu Women’s Group. Thank you to the Reading Mayor, Cllr Rachel Eden for continuing to positively amplify grassroot communities’ voices through many different and innovative ways. This includes but not limited to; sponsored walks and inspiring talks. Thank you too to Reading Borough Council and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust for the continued initiative of connecting with the grassroot community in order to make the greatest impact on Health & Wellbeing of the communities they serve. Lastly, thanks to Evangeline Karanja for leading the team running the Wellbeing Hub under ACRE, Utulivu and Mojatu in compiling this booklet and making the awards giving evening for the grassroot communities in celebrating the BHM a reality. We hope to do this bigger and better next year and the years to come. Cecily Mwaniki.