Hackney’s community heroes were honoured at an annual awards ceremony in Dalston.

Six prizes went to the some of the borough’s best voluntary organisations at the third Adiaha Antigua Community Acheievement Awards, organised by HCVS (Hackney Council for Voluntary Service), announced on Tuesday September 7 at Springfield House in Tyssen Street.

Social justice group Hackney Unites collected a new award for the organisation which has been most enterprising to adapting to current challenges.

Play scheme Step by Step in Oldhill Street, Stamford Hill, and Hackney Family Backup in Ashwin Street, Dalston, jointly won the award for children and young people’s wellbeing, while therapy network Talking Matters in Stamford Hill Library, Portland Avenue, was recognised for its work with Hackney’s orthodox Jewish residents.

Mental health group City and Hackney Mind in Tudor Road, South Hackney, went home with the award for raising equality.

And picking up the award for service to older people was North London Bikur Cholim, based in Clapton Common, Upper Clapton, which provides care to the Charedi community.

HCVS chief executive Jake Ferguson said: “This year it was particularly hard to choose the winners, when reading so many nominations about groups who are working tirelessly to get the best for local people.

“The sense of people being there for one another, at the end of a phone, is what really came across.”