2024’s awards recognised heroic young people, coaches, volunteers, parents and funding partners
Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) has recognised the heroic young people, coaches, volunteers, parents and funding partners who have contributed to the charity’s success supporting young people with their mental health, safety and personal development while giving them the opportunity to play basketball and gain sports coaching and officiating qualifications.
The NASSA Recognition Awards 2024 were hosted by the Novotel London ExCeL, and the event was attended by 50 guests, including Sir Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, London Assembly Member for City and East, Unmesh Desai and Jeremy Rees, CEO of London ExCeL.
The event featured a number of cultural performances which reflect the cultural diversity within NASSA whose members speak a total of 151 different languages and dialects.
The awards were presented by Sir Stephen, who is also the NASSA Patron.
Among the individual winners were:
NASSA Coach of the Year: Sahara Wilson, Volunteer of the Year: Brandon Paolillo, Young Leader of the Year: Kemal Mamedov, and Parent Volunteer of the Award: Guljahan Annamuhammedova.
The NASSA Partnership of the Year went to London Sport Academy, while NASSA also recognised its long standing local partners Tate & Lyle Sugars, London ExCeL, London City Airport and the Mercers Company with special NASSA Inspirational Partner Awards. Special Gold Awards were presented to Sir Stephen Timms and Jeremy Rees.
NASSA Founder and Chief Executive Natasha Hart MBE said: “Words are not enough to recognise the contributions that all of the winners have made over the past year. The young people, parents, volunteers and coaches all play such a vital role in NASSA’s success. Without its wonderful people, we wouldn’t be able to support hundreds of local disadvantaged young people every year through our mentoring programmes.”.
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