Maureen Lewis has been crowned the Lifetime Achievement recipient at this year’s Multicultural Business & Community Champion (MBCC) Awards. Recognised for outstanding service to the voluntary sector and the community, Maureen has worked in the sector for over 20 years in Walsall.  There are not many people who do not know her or are connected through the work she has done. The CEO of Walsall Black Sisters Collective a local charity that has been provided services to the wider community for over 35 years.  Maureen Lewis took home the award at this weekend’s glitzy star-studded event.

“I am so thrilled to be awarded the MBCC Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021. I am honoured and humbled to even be nominated. This means so much to me, so thank you all who have supported me over the years and for even taking the time to vote.”

Taking place at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on 6 November, over 700 guests came together for the MBCC Awards to celebrate the unsung heroes who have gone above and beyond in corporate business and their local communities.

With a record-number of guests, 20 honourees, and live performances, this year’s MBCC Awards event proved to be a winner for all. As well as the award-winners, the event, hosted by famous faces Alex Beresford and Leah Charles-King, also saw industry legends take to the stage to entertain. From singers Lemar and Lurine Cato MBE; to Aston Performing Arts Academy: guests were treated to jaw-dropping acts throughout the night.

What’s more, in the spirit of the event, the MBCC Awards also collaborated with two charity partners: the Equality Council UK and First-Class Foundation. Chosen for their tireless commitment to the community and their shared mission of helping people to succeed together, both are passionate about increasing opportunities for marginalised groups, in particular people of colour. With this year’s event theme of ‘Anti-Racism’, the MBCC Awards was proud to raise vital funds and awareness for the causes, shining a light on how much more needs to be done.

Tru Powell, the organiser of this year’s MBCC Awards, was hugely proud of the event’s success. He commented:

“It was a dream come true to bring back the MBCC Awards for 2021 and I cannot thank everyone who was part of it – from our hosts, judges, and ambassadors; through to our winners and guests – enough for making it the success it was. The stories of our winners are incredibly humbling and their tireless work to improving the world we all live in is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

“It is truly an honour to be able to pay tribute to their commitment and achievements through the MBCC Awards and give these heroes the recognition they so truly deserve. To have over 700 people in one place, celebrating these sensational people together, was incredible and I want to say a final ‘well done’ from all of us at the MBCC Awards to our winners.”

The full list of categories and winners was:

• Charity of the Year – Digbeth Dining Club
• Community Unsung Hero of the Year – CJ Lloyd Webley
• Community Unsung She-ro of the Year – Liz Pemberton
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Oyinkansola Adebayo, Niya Enterprise
• Frontline Worker of the Year – Neelam Dhansey
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Maureen Lewis
• Lockdown Hero of the Year – Claire Goodwin-Fee (Highly Commended: DJ Silk)
• Mentor of the Year – Beth Mabey
• Most Influential Business Person of the Year – Rosie Ginday, Miss Macaroon
• Most Inspirational Person of the Year – Kieran Quinlan
• Networker of the Year – Michelle Raymond
• Outstanding Business of the Year – Free Train
• Role Model of the Year – Casey Bailey (Highly Commended: Alexandra Wilson)
• Social Activist of the Year – Kelechi Okafor
• Inspirational Honorary Award – Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee
• Lifetime Achievement Honorary – Kanya King CBE
• Special Recognition Award – Hon. Stuart Lawrence

To learn more about the awards, head over to: https://mbccawards.com/