Together with the Mayor and another special guest, Catford born Guardian columnist and author Lucy Mangan, more than 80 representatives of the voluntary, community and faith sector celebrated with the GAVS staff and the newly elected Board of Trustees the first successful year of GAVS at the first Annual General Meeting on 23rd September at Charlton House.
After a welcome by Martyn Coe, GAVS Chair, the trustee report and financial statements for the accounting period ending March 31st 2009 were presented and accepted by all present representatives.
The election of GAVS Board of Trustees was concordantly accepted; consequently the board now consists of Isaac Attram, Balbir Singh Bains, Balbir Singh Bakhshi, Robert Brooks, Martyn Coe, William Ekinu, Martin Jenkins, Anthony Maduagwu, Hugh Ridsdill-Smith, Judy Smith and Adrian Tallett.
“Who is helping those who help?” asked Greenwich Mayor, Councillor Allan MacCarthy, in his speech. “Communities don’t just happen, they are made to happen”, he recognised and pointed out the significance of the voluntary sector and GAVS for and within the Greenwich Community. “The voluntary sector organisations and GAVS, which supported them, all have large workloads with high expectations. I thank them for all that they do and congratulate GAVS on its first year and hoped it continues to grow.”
Lucy Mangan interviewed GAVS new Chief Executive Naomi Goldberg about her experience in Vietnam, her plans as GAVS Chief Executive and the benefits of the 2012 Olympics for the community in Greenwich.
GAVS honoured the positive impact which its member organisations of the voluntary, community and faith sector had on the community in Greenwich with the 2009 GAVS Sector Awards.
In the category ‘Community Cohesion’ Lucy Mangan, the GAVS Chair Martyn Coe and a representative of the grant sponsor Unity Trust Bank congratulated the winner Greenwich West Community & Arts Centre which manages several community buildings providing a wide spectrum of activities and services.
The award for the category ‘Positive Impact on Young People’ went to the Samuel Montagu Youth Centre, where children and young adults can get together to relax and take courses to improve their skills.
The award for ‘Positive Impact on Health and Well-Being’ was awarded to Greenwich Volcare, an organisation that arranges breaks for carers.
Last but not least the ‘Significant Contribution to the Community, Individual’ award went to Kim Wallace from Greenwich Women’s Aid, a local charity working to end domestic violence against women and children.
GAVS would like to thank all its members, supporters and funders for a great first year.
We look forward to growing with you in the future.