They are the leading lights in Southampton’s Asian and ethnic community.

Campaigners, charity fundraisers and even a former Southampton mayor - they are all community champions in their own right.

And now the great and the good find themselves nominated for a prestigious community award.

The group of 14 men and women have been put forward for the Unity 101 Community Award.

The award is aimed at inspiring other city residents to give their time for the benefit of the Southampton community.

The awards have been organised as part of Unity 101’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

The winner will be announced in public at a show on January 9, 2016.

Parvin Damani

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Gulzar Sharif, deputy chief executive of West Itchen Community Trust.

Parvin has been nominated for a lifelong commitment to her causes.

She was born and educated in Mombassa, Kenya, and has lived in Southampton since 1986 after moving to the UK 36 years ago.

She trained as a state registered nurse and state certified midwife at the Royal London Hospital in Mile End and has a master’s degree in health promotion.

Parvin was elected as a Labour councillor on Southampton City Council in 1996 and was the first black or ethnic minority female mayor in 2003 and 2004.

She received an MBE in July 2001 for her work in community development and race equality in the NHS.

Currently she is the chairman of the Southampton Muslim Women Network and was a founding member of the Muslim Council of Southampton and the Southampton Council of Faiths.

Gulzar Sharif said: “Parvin has been an active member of the BME community for more than 30 years and has worked tirelessly to address health and race equality issues across the city.

“Parvin is also a great champion for women’s rights and has campaigned for greater awareness around domestic violence and equal access.”

As a local activist and campaigner, Parvin continues to champion the needs of those who are underprivileged.

Nazrul Chaudhery

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Ahmed Sasso MBE, diverse community engagement officer at Hampshire Constabulary.

NAZRUL takes part in Oxfam door-to-door collections and fundraisers, and has distributed collection tins to local Indian restaurants.

In addition he acts as a volunteer for Muslim Aid, is a committee member for the Community Action Forum, and was a director at Arts Asia.

He is on the committee of the Muslim Council of Southampton, is former chairman of Clovelly Road Residents Association, and volunteered as a community health educator with the NHS.

Nazrul trained as young children’s mentor with Hampton Trust and is chairman of Charlotte Place Campaign group, which is concerned with student development in the area, and is part of the Newtown Youth Centre campaign group.

Ahmed Sasso said: “As a community activist Nazrul Chaudhery has, over the years, been at the front of working towards improving the quality of life for many in our minority communities. He is a regular volunteer, supporting many local groups.

“He is also an avid fundraiser for charities such as Oxfam and Muslim Aid.

“He finds the time to meet individuals on a one to one basis, to listen to and guide them.”

Daniela Burton

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Ram Kalyan Kelly, project and station manager at Unity 101 Community Radio.

Daniela Burton lives in Southampton, is married, and has a one-year-old son.

She is a choreographer of the Polish dance group Karpaty.

Karpaty started in 1965 and provides an enthusiastic traditional cultural experience for all age groups.

The atmosphere has always been that of enjoyment and pride, and everyone is keen to share the spirit of folklore.

Karpaty have performed at a variety of civic and social functions, charity events, and at ethnic or local festivals both in England and abroad.

Daniela has been nominated for this award because her contribution to community life within the local Polish and English communities has been exemplary.

She actively highlights and promotes the rich heritage of Polish culture and traditions to all.

Ram Kalyan Kelly said: “It gives me great pleasure to nominate Daniela.

“She has dedicated so much energy and enthusiasm to keep this unique cultural heritage here in Southampton.”

Alice Mowatt

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Don John, a race and diversity consultant.

Alice Mowatt is a founder member of Black Heritage.

She is an early pioneer of community and neighbourhood.

Alice worked in the Newtown and Nicholston area at a time when black and ethnic minority communities were reluctant to play a part due to difficulties in race relations.

Alice also played a key part in the early days of the Southampton Community Relations Council.

That evolved into the Southampton Council for Racial Equality and was an advocate for issues relating to black women.

She has been nominated by race and diversity consultant Don John.

He said: “She is an early pioneer of a style of community work that not only brought people together, but challenged practices that worked against the interests of black communities and specifically black women.”

Priti Dave

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Ravi Parmar, president of The Verdict Hindu Temple.

Priti believes in taking care of family, the wider community and the world at large. She volunteers on the scrutiny panel of the Crown Prosecution Service.

She is a committee member of the Vedic Society Hindu Temple, helping the priest with school and any other organisation visits to give talks and presentations on Hinduism.

Priti set up the Vedic Youth, the youth body of the Vedic Society Hindu Temple, and is a Hindu faith advisor for the Chaplaincy at the University of Southampton and Solent University.

Priti is a pastoral volunteer and faith advisor for the Chaplaincy at Southampton General Hospital where she visits patients as a Hindu Chaplain.

She is the treasurer and an active member of the Southampton Council of Faiths, and is the Hindu Representative on SACRE and does the morning thoughts on BBC Radio Solent, the Unity 101 daily thoughts, and the Faith on Sunday programmes.

She said: “I am honoured but equally embarrassed as I really don’t think I do as much as so many other people.”

Arzoo Iqbal

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Dahlia Jamil, and organiser of Women’s Education Association and chair of Art Asia Trust.

ARZOO has worked in adult and community learning for 25 years in Southampton, teaching English as a second language.

She currently works for Southampton City College and has worked for the Women’s Education Association.

Additionally, she is a director at Art Asia, a member of Al Nissa women’s organisation and a member of Southampton Women’s Forum.

Over the years Arzoo has given advice and practical support to women in vulnerable circumstances, particularly related to domestic abuse. She has offered her home, taken women to hospital, sat at hospital bedsides, supported families with young children and, in short, been the Good Samaritan for women, not only from black and ethnic minority communities, but for the wider community.

Dahlia Jamil said: “Arzoo Iqbal has been described by friends and colleagues as the ‘ever-ready battery’.

“She will drop everything at the drop of a hat to help a women or family with a particular need.”

Bharpoor Singh

Daily Echo:

Nominated by: Harjinder Singh Virdee, economics lecturer at Southampton Solent Business School.

Bharpoor Singh has been a volunteer for 33 years and is a Founder Member, alongside Reverend Stephen Barton, of the Southampton Council of Faiths, which is made up of seven local faiths.

Bharpoor, who is married and has six children, is a local priest and represents the Sikh faith at official meetings.

He has united Southampton’s four Sikh places of worship to communicate with each other, and helps to promote greater religious integration through his community work.

As well as volunteering in the Sikh community, Bharpoor helps to promote peace and tolerance through the Council of Faiths.

For 22 years, Bharpoor has aimed to bring communities to partake in Remembrance Day.

Mr Virdee said: “I have nominated Bharpoor Singh and Kulwinder Kaur for the Unity 101 Community Radio Award because they both have and are willing to put themselves out to help others in need.

"Their dedication to help others, to be the voice of those in need and above all to be there when help is needed issomething we can all learn from.”