Picututed above, The KCN team: back row left to right: Sheila Leatherdale, Steven Blake, Claire Darby, Partner at Pearson Hards Solicitors and category sponsor, Rachael Stokes, Amanda Simner. Front row: Klaire Osuji and Tony Woods
The Kingston Borough Business Awards took place on 23 April at the DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston, bringing together organisations from across the borough to celebrate the people and work shaping Kingston’s economy and community today.
Winning Community Impact of the Year means a lot to us. It recognises the work we do alongside unpaid carers across Kingston, making sure carers are recognised, valued and enabled to live and care well. Being highly commended in Outstanding Young Futures also demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting young carers and amplifying their voices.
Reflecting on the evening, our CEO Rachael Stokes said: “As a borough-based charity, our work is sustained by the generosity of Kingston residents who volunteer with us, by community organisations who partner with us and by local businesses who gift their services or sponsor our work. This award is for all of you as we could not exist without you!”
Our Young Carers Project (YCP) Manager, Klaire Osuji said: "We see incredible resilience in children as young as five years old, and being Highly Commended for Outstanding Young Futures helps celebrate them and encourage the bright futures they deserve. I’m incredibly proud of our YCP team for the passion they bring to supporting our young people, through their own lived experience. We will continue striving to create brighter futures for young carers."
Forbes Low, CEO of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, congratulated all winners and finalists on the night, commenting: “A very big well done to our Winners; keep your inspiring work going. To our finalists, never forget how good your work is; how many people benefit from what you do. We should feel immense pride in these achievements. Kingston has an impressive strength and identity that many boroughs would dearly wish to have.”
We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us during this year’s awards, including those who took the time to vote for us.
Congratulations to all the other winners and finalists. A massive thank you to the award sponsors and to Kingston Chamber of Commerce for hosting a fabulous ceremony.