Streatham’s Community Heroes honoured by Prime Minister
Two of Streatham’s leading community figures have been honoured by the Prime Minister at a Community Heroes Reception at Number 10 Downing Street.
Raj Acharya of Lambeth Asian Centre and Gloria Bailey MBE, who runs the Make a Difference Group, met Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah at Number 10 Downing Street accompanied by Chuka Umunna, Labour’s
Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham.
Those invited to the reception were chosen in consultation with local parliamentary candidates and Members of Parliament. Mr Umunna invited Raj and Gloria to the event in recognition of the contribution they and their
organizations have made to lives of senior citizens in Streatham.
Both Lambeth Asian Centre and Make a Difference Group are based at Streatham Darby & Joan Club at the Woodlawns Centre on Leigham Court Road.
Raj Achaya was one of the founders of Lambeth Asian Centre in 1998, operating a day centre for elderly people alongside offering support to promote independence, health and well-being. He has been Vice-Chair of Streatham Darby & Joan Club since 2001 and is currently its acting chair.
Gloria Bailey is the founder and Chair of the Make a Difference Group. After joining Streatham Darby and Joan Club in 2002, Gloria realised that the club had very few members from the black community.
She founded the Make a Difference Group, which has helped revitalize Streatham Darby and Joan Club. It runs events such as keep fit sessions for seniors and social gatherings, as well as volunteering projects including mentoring for young people.
Having also run recruitment drives for foster parents and launched the Godparents initiative to provide opportunities for local youngsters, she was made an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List earlier this year for services to the community.
The Woodlawns Centre on Leigham Court Road, where the Streatham Darby and Joan Club, Lambeth Asian Centre and Make a Difference Group are based, received £1 million from the government’s Community Assets Programme to refurbish its building. It provides a wide range of activities and services for diverse groups of older people, in conjunction with its community partners.
The Prime Minister said:
“Sarah and I were delighted to welcome Raj and Gloria to Number 10 in recognition of the great work of the Make A Difference Group and Lambeth Asian Centre, based at the excellent Streatham Darby & Joan Club.
“Chuka has told me about the work they do and I am glad, through the government’s Community Assets Fund, that the work renovating the Club’s building is well under way.”
Chuka Umunna said:
“I was proud to have the opportunity to honour Gloria and Raj and tell the Prime Minister about their work.
“They and their organisations make an invaluable contribution to Streatham. Lambeth Asian Centre and Make a Difference Group have a major impact every day on the lives of senior citizens in our local area.”
