Luton's Best Awards

Luton’s Best Awards

The Luton’s Best Awards, in partnership with Love Luton, celebrate the achievements of truly remarkable individuals and organisations who make Luton a better place.

On Friday, January 17th, 2025, Love Luton hosted its 15th Luton’s Best Awards. During this time, more than 1,200 individuals and organisations were recognised.

The nominees, representing all walks of life, ages, and areas of the town, are a true reflection of Luton’s diverse community. Their awe-inspiring achievements, often considered extraordinary, serve as a lesson to us all.

The event was hosted by the Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa and began with a drinks reception and a performance from Luton Music Service. Guests were then invited to dinner, with the Chair of Love Luton, Linsey Sweet formally welcoming the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, the Mayor of Luton, the local MPs, councillors, shortlisted nominees and sponsors.

The compere for the evening was Andrew Castle, a former British tennis player and TV and Radio Broadcaster, who was back for his 11th year to host an evening celebrating everything great about Luton. Our sponsors, who make up Love Luton, played a crucial role in the event by presenting to each of the worthy winners. The keynote speaker for the evening was Paul Kehoe, Chair of Luton Rising. The evening concluded with fireworks sponsored by Aegis Support Services and a disco to conclude a fantastic evening of celebrations.

View the Winners & Runner Ups

View the Categories

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Luton’s Best 2024 Winners

We are delighted to announce the Winners of the 2024 Luton’s Best Awards. Congratulations to you all!

Adult Achiever of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Nat Gentle King

Runner up

Saffiyyah Umar

Young Achiever of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Maryam Khalil

Runner up

Zoubair Aouam

Child of Courage

Sponsored by

Winner

Haresh Sivalingam

Runner up

Luton Youth Council

Best Volunteer of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Dorothy Llewellyn-Lewis

Runner up

Carole Young

Care in the Community

Sponsored by

Winner

Bridge House

Runner up

Kath Gardner

Best Fundraiser of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Maidenhall PTA

Runner up

Lianne Crisp

Keeping Luton Safe

Sponsored by

Winner

Muddasar Hussain

Runner up

Jayne Sinclair

Environmental Achievement

Sponsored by

Winner

Penrose Roots

Runner up

Paul Hammond

Luton in Harmony

Sponsored by

Winner

Energise Luton

Runner up

Pastor Trevor Adams

Community Project
of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Hangout Luton

Runner up

Music 24

Leisure, Culture
and Heritage

Sponsored by

Winner

Luton Library Theatre

Runner up

Paul Hammond

Entrepreneur of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Qadeer Qureshi

Runner up

Mahfuz Rahman

Health Hero of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

The Lewis Foundation

Runner up

Jean Anderson

Inspirational Female Leader

Sponsored by

Winner

Danya Ahmed

Runner up

Jo Mylles

Lucie Moore
Posthumous Special Recognition Award

Lucie moved to Luton in the early 2000s and very quickly established herself as a force for good. In 2015, working at Youthscape, she launched the Centre for Research which introduced a robust, deep-thinking approach to youth work.

In 2016, Lucie played an instrumental role in founding FACES, Faiths Against Child Sex Exploitation, which is a collaboration of Luton’s Muslim and Christian communities to stand against CSE, grooming and abuse and to challenge how racism and prejudice inform the discourse around safeguarding.

In 2023, she became Chief Executive of CEASE (the Centre to End all Sexual Exploitation), where, in a short time, she challenged both the public and political arena, calling for changes in policies that exploit children.

Sadly, Lucie died suddenly on 22nd November 2024, and during the evening, we recognised the profound difference she made to so many lives in Luton and beyond.

Community Business Person
of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Noelette Hanley

Runner up

Tammy Treagus

Community Company
of the Year

Sponsored by

Winner

Aegis Support Services

Runner up

Community Training

Portal Luton

Service with a Smile

Sponsored by

Winner

Grow Your Potential

Runner up

Dorothy Green

Step Forward Luton Award

Sponsored by

Winner

Luton Rising Festival Makers

Runner up

Lullington Neighbours

Luton’s Most Outstanding Citizen 2024

Sponsored by

Winner

Jutsna Khan

Runner up

Kamal Hussain

Lifetime Achievement

Sponsored by

Winner

Jo Mylles

Runner up

Pastor Trevor Adams

Peoples Choice

Sponsored by

Winner

Mahfuz Rahman

2024 Award Categories

With special thanks to this year’s award category sponsors.

Child of Courage Award

Judges will seek to recognise any young person up to the age of 18 who has put themselves in danger to help or save the life of another or has battled against the odds and has overcome adversity in their personal life or made a stand to improve the lot of themselves or others.

Young Achiever Award

This award will seek to recognise an outstanding effort and levels of achievement by a young person aged 20 or under, either in their school lives, work lives, in a sporting context or within the wider community.

Adult Achiever Award

This award will seek to recognise an individual over the age of 21 who continues to achieve great things at work, in their profession, through arts and culture, in the field of education, sport, or a hobby or pastime.

Service with a Smile Award

This award is looking for an individual or team employed either in the public, private or voluntary sector that goes above and beyond when it comes to customer service. Their effort and enthusiasm should have a positive effect on its customers and the business/organisation.

Community Company of the Year Award

This award is looking for an individual or team employed either in the public, private or voluntary sector that goes above and beyond. Their effort and enthusiasm should have a positive effect on the community. We are really keen to hear from organisations who have signed up and delivering against their Luton 2040 pledge, or joined the
Good Business Charter.

Community Project of the Year Award

This Award will seek to recognise a Community-based Project which has been initiated by a local charity or voluntary organisation, community group, schools or by any other person or body. The Project must demonstrate a tangible community benefit, how it influenced the community, how many people it engaged and what will be the legacy impact and lasting benefits. Examples could include Projects which bring communities together, support the arts, environment, or promote community health.

In judging this award, the panel will be looking for quantified details of the project, outcomes, achievements and the effectiveness of what was delivered and the overall impact of the project.

Lifetime Achievement Award

To recognise an individual whose achievements have been far-reaching in the community. Examples can include a volunteer who has given up their time for many years, a local carer or a business person who has given many years to improving the lives of people in Luton.

Care in the Community Award

This award is for an individual or group from either a professional or voluntary capacity. Those eligible include relatives (including children), friends, doctors, nurses or care workers who care for someone or a group of people. We are looking for an individual or group who have really gone that extra mile to care for our most vulnerable often showing incredible patience and understanding. Judges are looking for those who have cared for others sometimes over many years without giving thought to themselves.

Keeping Luton Safe Award

The judges will be looking for individual members of the public or groups who have put themselves at risk and acted with bravery and courage to help save the life or protect the well-being of another. This could include tackling crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour. Another example could include individuals or groups which have made a positive community contribution in terms of improving the environment they live or work which improves the safety of others.

Environmental Achievement Award

An award to an individual or organisation demonstrating a commitment to enhancing and protecting our environment or a heritage site, introducing environmentally sustainable products or services and, in doing so, make a contribution to Luton’s environment or conservation areas. Examples could include an environmental community project; a school initiative involving children and parents or improving a conservation area to kick-start regeneration.

Best Volunteer Award

This award will recognise a volunteer(s) of any age who has made an outstanding contribution through giving up their own time to volunteer to help others, charities or initiatives across the town. We ask that entries are for individuals still active in their role but you can list all activities they have taken part in prior to 2023/2024.

Community Businessperson of the Year Award

An individual of any age working for an organisation or studying in the town who has shown a commitment and involvement with the local community and can demonstrate excellence in business which in turn enhances the image of the business community and Luton, locally or on a wider scale or someone who
has provided superior service to the community.

Best Fundraiser Award

This award will recognise a tireless charity fund raiser/s of any age who has made an outstanding contribution either through their fundraising initiatives, voluntary work or other support. We ask that entries are for individuals still active in their role but you can list all activities they have taken part in prior to 2023/2024.

Luton in Harmony Award

An individual or organisation who has pro-actively promoted community cohesion and celebrated diversity in the town through their initiatives which have helped to improve the public image of Luton.
Examples include: hosting events, talks, running training programmes or other community based initiatives focused on celebrating the town’s rich diversity and bringing communities together.

Sporting Inspiration Award

We are looking for an individual over the age of 18 who is a true sporting inspiration who has either excelled at their sport and/or helped others and is a positive role model. The entry should include:

A sports man or woman who has excelled in their chosen sport. Rankings and achievements made during the eligibility period must be given.
Have demonstrated considerable commitment.
Are an inspiration and positive role model to others.
Have used their achievements and experiences to make a positive impact on their community and/or club.
Special qualities that set them apart from others.

Leisure, Culture and Heritage Award

The judges will be looking to award an individual or
organisation which has excelled and inspired either as a professional or amateur in the areas of sport, arts, leisure, culture and heritage. The individual or organisation will need to demonstrate the support, commitment and success they have provided to the development and promotion of these areas within the boundaries of Luton.

Inspirational Female Leader Award

From standing up for our local community, to running our most important organisations, women continue to shape our great town of Luton through their cool head: warm heart leadership. This award celebrates the huge wealth of outstanding contributions women have made to Luton and the surrounding area. We would love to receive nominations for women who live in our diverse and thriving community. For a few moments, we can set aside their usual humility to showcase extraordinary examples of courage, triumph, kindness, compassion, transformation, skills and success. We want to hear where they’ve gone above and beyond in the course of their professional or personal life.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award

This award is open to any individual over the age of 16 studying or working in Luton. Entrepreneurs make a huge difference locally, nationally and internationally. They not only have great ideas, but also the drive to make them a reality. They use their fresh thinking and hard work to create positive social change — bringing new concepts and products to market, and creating jobs and wealth.

The award will go to the outstanding entrepreneur who can best demonstrate the following:

Exceptional visionary and inspirational leadership
Identification of a market opportunity
How employees and resources were applied to optimise the opportunity
Strong commercial performance, financial results and demonstrable growth
Potential and plan for sustained growth
Innovation in products, services or processes
Customer engagement and loyalty
An ethical approach to business

Luton's Most Outstanding Citizen 2024 Award

This award seeks to recognise an outstanding citizen of any age group or walk of life who has excelled or gone above and beyond in 2024. For example, this person could be a member of the business or community sector and anyone who has benefited the people of Luton. This could be in a professional capacity, volunteering or local charity work. It could be a neighbour a relative or anyone who, in your view, typifies the very best of Luton. This will be a highly contested award that seeks to recognise Luton’s Most Outstanding Citizen in 2024.

Step Forward Luton Award

This award seeks to recognise an individual or organisation’s outstanding achievements in
promoting Luton as a town to be proud of. Judges will be looking for: Examples of how the work has helped to gain local and national media coverage for the town and where their work has significantly contributed to the overall image to visitors and those living outside the town as well as significantly improving the lives of local people and supporting civic pride. Another example is those who may have significantly contributed to Step Forward Luton and helped to deliver towards Luton 2040.

Health Hero Award

This award seeks to recognise and honour the hard work of an individual or group of healthcare staff, in roles vital to the provision of patient care across Luton and the surrounding areas.

We want to recognise the amazing work of healthcare workers in these challenging times for the system and to ensure we celebrate all the amazing people who work across the health service going above
and beyond every day for patients and their colleagues.

This can be an individual, group or organisation providing healthcare services across Luton and Bedfordshire.

The People's Choice Award

The readers of the Luton News and Herald & Post will
have the opportunity to pick the winner they feel is most deserving. On the week of 9th December the newspaper will announce the short listed candidates.

You will have until Friday 10th January to pick your worthy winner.

You can do this by visiting: http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/

Additional Sponsors

With thanks to our partners who are supporting this year’s event by sponsoring other aspects of the evening:

Treacle Factory, Think. Design. Print. Digital.

Sponsoring the table favours at the glittering Award Ceremony