More than 250 women gathered for the Tower Hamlets Women’s Awards, recognising local champions tackling inequality and empowering communities. Winners included advocates, youth leaders, carers, and volunteers making lasting change.
Tower Hamlets paid tribute to the remarkable women shaping its communities through the annual Tower Hamlets Women’s Awards. More than 250 women from all walks of life gathered in celebration of local champions who dedicate themselves to equality, empowerment, and social change.
Hosted by Tower Hamlets Council, the event served as both a recognition and a rallying call. While it spotlighted powerful stories of triumph, service and leadership, it also acknowledged the persistent inequalities faced by women in the borough.
Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, who attended the event, said: “It is inspiring to see the camaraderie, support and sisterhood in this borough. While significant progress has been made, women in Tower Hamlets continue to face unequal outcomes compared to their male counterparts. We know that women in our borough and across the country still experience barriers to equality in work, public life, social settings, and within their families. That’s why we established the Women’s Commission—to confront these challenges head-on and work toward lasting, meaningful change.”
The awards drew more than 140 nominations across several categories, each celebrating a unique facet of women’s contribution to public life. Seven awards were handed out, alongside commendations and a special Mayor’s Award.
The awards drew more than 140 nominations across several categories, each celebrating a unique facet of women’s contribution to public life. Seven awards were handed out, alongside commendations and a special Mayor’s Award.
Among the evening’s most powerful moments was the recognition of Sarah Withers as Women’s Advocate of the Year. Sarah is a passionate campaigner for gender equality, whose advocacy is rooted in personal experience. As a survivor of domestic abuse and a disabled single mother, she has channelled adversity into action—delivering leadership coaching for women navigating male-dominated environments, pushing for stronger protections against gender-based violence, and campaigning for better access to women’s health rights. “I am really proud to have won this award and it really does mean a lot,” said Sarah. “I will continue to work with the community to safeguard women’s rights and ensure our voices are heard.”
Equally moving was the award for Best Volunteer of the Year, which went to Mabel Chan. With 25 years of youth work under her belt, Mabel has long championed girls’ football and delivered a range of after-school activities, sports camps and community events. “It is important to break down barriers in sports and give girls equal access to activities so they can choose their own path,” she said. “I love working with young people and look forward to inspiring more female sports coaches, footballers and youth workers from the borough.”
The Outstanding Young Person of the Year award was presented to 16-year-old Maira Khatun, a police cadet who has overcome numerous personal challenges. Maira has already achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, the Jack Petchey Award, and the Safer Neighbourhood Award. She has also participated in fundraising events like the London Winter Run and campaigns to reduce violence against women and girls. “I love the community work I do and being of service to others. Being a police cadet is such a great experience,” Maira said. “I am looking forward to doing my silver DofE award and would encourage all young people to take part in the scheme.”
Councillor Abdul Wahid, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Social Inclusion, praised all the nominees and winners, describing their stories as both humbling and motivating. “Over the next couple of months, our Women’s Commission will be holding a series of engagement sessions with our residents and meeting with partners to help develop actions to support better outcomes for women across the borough,” he said. “Please do get involved and tell us how we can make the borough a fairer place for women to thrive.”
While the evening was full of applause and accolades, the message was clear: recognition is only the beginning. Tower Hamlets continues to commit itself to challenging gender disparities and creating a more inclusive borough where every woman—regardless of background—can thrive, lead, and be heard.
