29 Oct 2025, 18:40Pastor Jude JeanvileTottenham, Haringey, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
People Matter: Mayor and Deputy Mayor Honours Volunteers at Tottenham Lighthouse SDA Church
Tottenham, London – October 29, 2025
“People matter — In a world that measures worth by wealth, appearance, or productivity, it’s easy to forget that every person matters and every person deserves value, dignity and hope.”
Those words from Dr. Jude Jeanville, pastor of the Tottenham Lighthouse Seventh-day Adventist Church, captured the spirit of the recent Community Volunteer Recognition Service, in which the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Ahmed Mahbub, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Michelle Simmons-Safo honoured more than 30 local heroes for five years of outstanding service to the Tottenham community.
The inspiring event was attended by over 200 residents and church members, and 300 viewers online.
The volunteer team, led by Sophia Charles—recipient of the Mayor’s Hero Award 2024—was praised for its work through the Tottenham Lighthouse Community Hub, a project providing food, hope, warm spaces, and mental-health support five days a week.
In his sermon titled “People Matter,” Dr. Jeanville urged the community to value each person equally regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status.
Mayor Ahmed commended the church for spreading love in the community. “We are not judged upon the colour of our skin; our gender; nor upon the money we have in our pockets, no, we are judged on two things; 1. Is our faith towards God and 2. Our community spirit- how much we help our fellow person.” Deputy Mayor Simmons-Safo recognised the value the church in the community. Quoting the Old Testament she said, “Better To be dwelling in the House of the Lord than anywhere else... When you give to the poor, you lend to the Lord.”
The Hub supports over 300 residents weekly, benefits around 1,200 family members, and has distributed more than £20,000 in direct financial assistance. Its annual community impact now exceeds £150,000. Additionally, another outreach enterprise ran by the church is called “Sharing the Love” under the leadership of Maxine Donovan is committed to reaching residents on a one-to-one basis and assisting them with sim cards, legal advice and help to contact energy suppliers and other services offered by the council.
The church and civic leaders expressed gratitude to partners including 3Food4U (Pesh), Godwin Lawson Foundation, Stratford SDA Church, Luke and Reena, Hanwell SDA Church, Soho Sandwiches, Auldrea and Kingsley Onyemenem, and Movery Livingston for their ongoing contributions.
Volunteers Honoured
Ioan Vasileniuc • Kashif Mirza • Sorin Scutariu • Rory Nash • Hanane Lyetteft • Gylver Ismail • Selva Reid • Wayne Melbourne • Lois Akosua Ayisi • Leyla Ghanim • Merline Richards • Donneth Just • Joseph Awotwi • Doreen Greentyser • Aleen Lattie • Bernadette Fuller • Maxine Donovan • Sandra Mateley • George McGhan • Lenore Blake-Campbell • Michael Shields • Barry Morris • Noel Rodrigues • Cherry Williams Lee Chin • Maureen Awotwi • Marie Green-Dolan • Vivian Maxwell • Marie Cader • Geta Palmer • Pollock Family • Maria Haidara • Tony Montague
The afternoon closed with applause, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to community care — living proof that in Tottenham, people truly matter.
Tottenham, London – October 29, 2025
“People matter — In a world that measures worth by wealth, appearance, or productivity, it’s easy to forget that every person matters and every person deserves value, dignity and hope.”
Those words from Dr. Jude Jeanville, pastor of the Tottenham Lighthouse Seventh-day Adventist Church, captured the spirit of the recent Community Volunteer Recognition Service, in which the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Ahmed Mahbub, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Michelle Simmons-Safo honoured more than 30 local heroes for five years of outstanding service to the Tottenham community.
The inspiring event was attended by over 200 residents and church members, and 300 viewers online.
The volunteer team, led by Sophia Charles—recipient of the Mayor’s Hero Award 2024—was praised for its work through the Tottenham Lighthouse Community Hub, a project providing food, hope, warm spaces, and mental-health support five days a week.
In his sermon titled “People Matter,” Dr. Jeanville urged the community to value each person equally regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status.
Mayor Ahmed commended the church for spreading love in the community. “We are not judged upon the colour of our skin; our gender; nor upon the money we have in our pockets, no, we are judged on two things; 1. Is our faith towards God and 2. Our community spirit- how much we help our fellow person.” Deputy Mayor Simmons-Safo recognised the value the church in the community. Quoting the Old Testament she said, “Better To be dwelling in the House of the Lord than anywhere else... When you give to the poor, you lend to the Lord.”
The Hub supports over 300 residents weekly, benefits around 1,200 family members, and has distributed more than £20,000 in direct financial assistance. Its annual community impact now exceeds £150,000. Additionally, another outreach enterprise ran by the church is called “Sharing the Love” under the leadership of Maxine Donovan is committed to reaching residents on a one-to-one basis and assisting them with sim cards, legal advice and help to contact energy suppliers and other services offered by the council.
The church and civic leaders expressed gratitude to partners including 3Food4U (Pesh), Godwin Lawson Foundation, Stratford SDA Church, Luke and Reena, Hanwell SDA Church, Soho Sandwiches, Auldrea and Kingsley Onyemenem, and Movery Livingston for their ongoing contributions.
Volunteers Honoured
Ioan Vasileniuc • Kashif Mirza • Sorin Scutariu • Rory Nash • Hanane Lyetteft • Gylver Ismail • Selva Reid • Wayne Melbourne • Lois Akosua Ayisi • Leyla Ghanim • Merline Richards • Donneth Just • Joseph Awotwi • Doreen Greentyser • Aleen Lattie • Bernadette Fuller • Maxine Donovan • Sandra Mateley • George McGhan • Lenore Blake-Campbell • Michael Shields • Barry Morris • Noel Rodrigues • Cherry Williams Lee Chin • Maureen Awotwi • Marie Green-Dolan • Vivian Maxwell • Marie Cader • Geta Palmer • Pollock Family • Maria Haidara • Tony Montague
The afternoon closed with applause, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to community care — living proof that in Tottenham, people truly matter.
