Brent was recently named ‘Council of the Year’ at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards presented at an online ceremony on 28^th October.

The judges award the Council of the Year title to the local authority that “demonstrates a level of excellence and innovation that takes its work well beyond basic service provision”.

Receiving the award on behalf of the council, Leader of Brent Council, Cllr. Muhammed Butt, said that, “The challenge of working in local government is ever changing as we respond to crises, central Government funding cuts and the fast-changing world around us. Councils are not just here to pick up the bins, we know and love our communities and provide not just a safety net but also a springboard and opportunities for residents to improve their own lives”.

CVS Brent congratulates Brent Council wholeheartedly. It is with pride we have worked in partnership with the council, including to serve the community during the recent pandemic and lockdown. CVS Brent handled 594 initial calls from struggling residents, and worked with the council and many other voluntary sector agencies to, for example:

• Provide shopping and food deliveries
• Get help for people experiencing loneliness and isolation
• Refer on for specialist support those facing financial hardship, mental health challenges and needing advice
• Support people to get prescriptions and medication

We also supported volunteers and groups needing volunteers, through the council’s scheme to match volunteering where it was most needed; and we provided support to several new Mutual Aid groups that responded to the needs of local communities during the crisis, including supporting them to apply for much needed grant funding from Brent Council.

CVS Brent is particularly proud of how its member organisations rose to the challenge, increasing and/or diverting the activities they undertook in the community, smoothing referral paths and cooperating across the borough. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Brent’s voluntary sector has been part of making Brent a borough deserving of the award, “Brent the Borough of the Year 2020”.

Read more about the award and achievements at Brent Best Borough 2020