The winners of the 2008 London Health Commission Awards are:

Use the internal links links for more information on the groups and to read quotes from the peopel that collected the awards at the ceremony.

Myatt's Field North Youth Forum (MFNYF) - Borough of Lambeth - (winner of the Cohesive Communities category)

Joy of Sound - Borough of Lambeth - (winner of the Mental well-being category)

Rushey Green Time Bank - Borough of Lewisham - (winner of the Partnership achievement with the NHS category)

Combination Dance Company - Borough of Richmond (winner of the Partnership achievement with local government category)

Educational Alliance Africa - Borough of Southwark (winner of the Community campaigning and advocacy category)

Take a look at all 15 short listed groups

In announcing the winners Elizabeth Manero, Chair of the London Health Commission's Community Development Forum and Director of Health Link said, "The five successful groups illustrate the incredible contribution made by London's voluntary and community sector.

Myatt's Field North Youth Forum (MFNYF) - Borough of Lambeth - (winner of the Cohesive Communities category)
The MFNYF were successful in this category that rewards activities that brings different communities or people together in achieving a common goal. They promote and encourage the young people on the Myatt's Field North Estate to be more active and participate positively on the Estate.

Denise Rutherford, Voluntary Outreach Youth Worker said: "Winning this award is a significant achievement and it is testament to all the young people involved in the project. Their views have helped to shape a community of young people with shared interests and aspirations which helps to significantly improve their confidence and self-esteem."

Joy of Sound - Borough of Lambeth - (winner of the Mental well-being category)
This category rewards activities that either improves people's confidence or reduces their levels of stress, worry or depression. Joy of Sound addresses the difficulty encountered by people with severe disabilities in accessing music and creative activities.

Will Longden: "The Joy of Sound recognises the creative input of all participants, service users, students, carers, staff members, and volunteers at its centre. The award recognises the eight years of voluntary input which Joy of Sound has given to London. To be honoured in this way, together with other such incredibly inspiring projects, is a great achievement. We now look forward with renewed enthusiasm to developing and improving the work we do."

Rushey Green Time Bank - Borough of Lewisham - (winner of the Partnership achievement with the NHS category)
Rushey Green Time Bank were rewarded for their activities that bring communities together to work with NHS staff to improve health and well-being. The Time Bank seeks to alleviate isolation and raise wellbeing in an area of social and health need.

Philippe Granger, Development Manager, said: "This is real recognition of the difference that people can make when working together and sharing skills. The Time Bank Initiative isn't about delivering a service, it is about people helping each other. The transformational impact of the project in terms of creating a sense of belonging and community has delivered real physical and mental health benefits."

Combination Dance Company - Borough of Richmond (winner of the Partnership achievement with local government category)
The Combination Dance Company won the award for bringing communities together to work with local councils. This group works with young people and their families who live or study in one of the borough's most deprived wards and as such would not normally have access to leisure and arts projects due to poverty and lack of opportunities. In the year from April 2007 to April 2008, over 2,000 local people benefited from the project.

Anne-Marie Smalldon, Artistic Director, said: "It is so important to recognise the contribution that dance can make to community health. It brings communities together and is an excellent way to improve fitness and well-being. The award will allow us to increase awareness of Combination Dance projects and get more people dancing."

Educational Alliance Africa - Borough of Southwark (winner of the Community campaigning and advocacy category)
This group, which assists lupus sufferers in the UK, were rewarded for their activity in raising awareness of this issue among a wide audience. There are 30,000 lupus sufferers in the UK of which two-thirds live in London. A large majority of the sufferers are African / Caribbean women, but due to the fact that they face two major inequality factors - ethnicity and gender - it does not receive the recognition and support it should.

Yvonne Robinson-Smith, Founder, said: "It is a major achievement us as we have for many years been trying to raise awareness of Lupus in communities affected. Our objective is to make people more aware of this condition and empower those with it to reach their true potential and not become isolated and despondent. We want to open a walk-in centre where people with Lupus can feel supported and motivated. This award will help us to realise this goal."

The LHC Awards are supported by:

Greater London Authority

Regional Public Health Group, London (Department of Health)

London Food

Arts Council England, London

London Development Agency

Metropolitan Police Authority

Transport for London

London Health Observatory

The 2008 Community Action on Health and Well-being Awards have been developed and supported by the LHC Community Development Forum