New London Awards 2021 Winner - Sadia Ur-Rehman

Winner of the Hidden Hero prize

Sadia Ur-Rehman, Community Engagement Coordinator, Be First has worked tirelessly day and night on the Phoenix Park project, which was shortlisted in the MEANWHILE category.

The park sits within a larger picture of Gascoigne West neighbourhood regeneration being carried out by Be First on behalf of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. ‘Phoenix Park’ is a temporary outdoor community space co-designed with the residents providing 995m2 of play, exercise, growing and performance space. The Park will operate for a 3-5 year period, was built with supply chain generosity and a volunteer workforce and is a testament to the genuine co-design between residents and all other stakeholders fostering lasting relationships.

Sadia brought together the resident's forum that contributed massively to the success of the park. She has gone above and beyond her role and continues to do so as she helps facilitate residents launch party. Needless to say, this project would not have happened without her. She is humble and oozing with passion for engaging residents, and would rarely give credit to herself. I see this prize as a way of recognising the unconditional effort and energy she has poured into this project. She is truly the hidden hero of this project and in fact many others.

Amandeep Singh Kalra, Associate Architect, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (and Be First)

Winner images