Barnet gives major award to deaf association CEO
V AN NHS dietitian from North London whose cookery initiative has distributed more than 25,000 meals during the pandemic is among the latest recipients of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award, recognising those making a difference to their communities.
Hannah Style set up Feast (Feeding and Empowering All Sustainably Together) within the Jewish community in 2015 to counter food poverty and food waste in her locality of Kilburn.
Its meals are normally prepared in homeless shelters from surplus food collected from retailers. Volunteers and residents cook and eat together.
But when Covid restrictions prevented communal dining, Ms Style responded to a huge increase in demand for nutritional meals for the vulnerable, saving in excess of 11,000 kilograms of food waste in the process.
Supported by a team of hundreds of volunteers and eight new staff since the beginning of the pandemic, it now operates across multiple boroughs. It expects to deliver some 80,000 meals this year.
In a letter of congratulation, Boris Johnson wrote that Feast “epitomises the uplifting spirit of community we have seen so much of over the last year”.
Ms Style praised her army of helpers for their “remarkable dedication and compassion throughout this enormously challenging time. They have helped so many.”
V JEWISH DEAF Association chief executive Sue Cipin has received the Barnet Civic Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of her services to the deaf.
Nominated by local MP Mike Freer, Edgware Synagogue’s Rabbi David Lister and a number of clients, Ms Cipin was presented with the award by Barnet Deputy Mayor Councillor Lachhya Bahadur Gurung.
The award is given to one person each year in respect of exceptional and continued commitment to Barnet life.
Since joining the charity in 1999, Ms Cipin has revolutionised its services, fulfilling its mission of a world without barriers to communication between deaf and hearing people.
Lead nominator Neil Kaufman, who is deaf, said she had “improved the lives of so many people who, through lack of communication, can often feel left out of society. She goes the extra mile to ensure that the JDA caters for us all.
“Although she must be under a great
Highly prized: Sue Cipin receives the award from the Deputy Mayor
deal of pressure, especially with the restrictions caused by the pandemic, she always comes out smiling. Sue is truly a selfless and remarkable lady.”
Mr Freer acknowledged Ms Cipin’s “tireless” efforts on behalf of the JDA, adding that she had made “a real difference in all sorts of ways to those living with hearing loss”.
Ms Cipin said she felt honoured to
have been chosen. “But even more than that, I am so proud of the incredible work all our staff have done, keeping so many vulnerable deaf and deafblind people safe, well and mentally stable.
“Being a part of the JDA community is not only crucial to our clients. It feeds the souls of all of us who are lucky enough to work here. I feel truly blessed to be a part of the JDA family.”