THE Tilbury-based One Community Development Trust has been honoured at the recent national Locality Awards.

The award was presented at a ceremony in Sheffield and the organisation, which received a Queen's Voluntary Service Award in 2018, was presented with the Transforming Lives award and received a trophy and £1,000 cash prize to invest into the local community.

The Locality Awards recognise and celebrate the impact and innovation shown by local community organisations and charities across the country and a citation about One Community says: "The trust not only deliver essential frontline services but aim to provide their community with a sense of togetherness and aspiration.

The transforming Lives award celebrates a community organisation whose support has had a significant impact on changing local people's lives.

One Community Development Trust was born out of the recession in 2008, as a means to meet the needs of local residents. It delivers a range of employment programmes, money advice, and much more.

Its broadening horizons project has enabled local people and families to visit places, sites and events outside of Tilbury, building their confidence and improving aspirations.

Yewande Kannike, CEO of One Community Development Trust said: "All the years I've been coming to locality, I would listen to other people winning the awards and think - could it ever be us? A small, locally based organisation? Today it's our turn. We're delighted. It's going to increase morale among our staff, our volunteers and mean a lot to Tilbury.

"It will be such a wonderful thing for the local people, for me to come back and say we won".

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Locality said: "Congratulations to One Community Development Trust for winning the Transforming Lives Award.

"At Locality, we passionately believe in the power of community to transform lives and create a fairer world. Local community organisations like One Community are the very embodiment of this vision. These organisations have shown incredible leadership, energy, and creativity, stepping up in what have been extraordinarily challenging times."

In August this year One Community was awarded a community grant from Amazon's fulfilment centre in the town.