Surrey Councillor receives National Recognition
Harry Boparai of Spelthorne council was awarded the community champion award earlier this week
A Surrey councillor has been given a national award in recognition for his work across the community over the last year
Harry Boparai of Spelthorne council was awarded the community champion award earlier this week.
Boparai has been a Liberal Democrat Councillor on Spelthorne Borough Council since 2022 and was elected to Surrey County Council in 2023.
He has worked for Heathrow airport for 26 years. Volunteering at a local foodbank during the pandemic inspired Boparai to start his own business promoting the virtues of sustainability, a sense of community and healthy living.
He says told us about the work he did that he was most proud of
"I would say well the the the one I'm most proud of would be the upgrading of all the community buildings.
They're all getting a a visual makeover and a lot of a lot of good stuff that will bring a new crowd of person in, preferably a lot of lot more young people as well.
But to tell you the truth, there's several that I'm really proud of, but that's the top one."
He however describes taking the award as taking all the reward for himself and credited everyone around him
"It's been fantastic really. I mean I to receive the award isn't it's me taking all the glory really
This is everyone who's supposed to take interest and do the correct things within the local authorities doing what they're supposed to do and that powered with a load of residents passion means we're getting fantastic results."
Boparai says that he sympathises with pressure families are facing today and is making it his next goal to do whatever he can to better the next generation's experience growing up in his area
"I feel so sorry for the kids are today. It's so bad where I grew up in in snooker clubs and you know, it wasn't too hard for mum and dad to give me a bit of money to go out for the day and have fun
You're a product of your own environment and there's a lot of kids out there that are are really suffering and going down the wrong path and for that's my priority at the moment to try to get more things for them to do and we have we have done lots.
There's still a load more to do and working alongside the authority and Surrey police, I want to. It's a domino effect. We'll get things sorted."