Tang Hall Community Centre
1464. Stephen Collins
Stephen Collins, from York, is the founder of ‘Tang Hall Community Centre’, which has cooked and distributed 4,000 meals to vulnerable people in the city since the start of the pandemic.
Tang Hall Community Centre provides support to those in need across York and runs a local food cooperative, which focuses on minimising food waste. With the centre’s doors unable to open during lockdown, Stephen and his team of 70 volunteers have continued to provide local residents with access to food through their ‘Grub Club’ scheme, as well as running a virtual youth club providing activities and support for young people unable to meet in person.
In a personal letter to Stephen, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Throughout our battle with Coronavirus I have been uplifted to hear of the many acts of kindness that have united our communities and shown the very best of Britain to the world.
“So I want to thank you for all that you have done to support thousands of people in York, from the delivery of healthy meals for vulnerable residents to your virtual youth clubs.
“Your ‘Tang Hall Community Centre’ has truly been the lifeblood of your community and continued to provide a safe haven for those in need.”
Stephen said:
“As the manager of Tang Hall Community Centre I am very pleased to receive this reward on behalf of the amazing team of volunteers that have run the Tang Hall Food Distribution Hub for the past five and a half months. The reward is in recognition of a community coming together to look after its most vulnerable if difficult times, putting others welfare before their own.”