Tottenham local up for award for work in the community

Jacqui Livingston founded JaZanne Arts which supports Caribbean elders and people living with dementia, reports Olivia Opara

A Tottenham resident and charity founder has been nominated for a national award for her work in the local community.

Jacqui Livingston, founder of JaZanne Arts, has been shortlisted in the arts, culture and film category after being nominated in the outstanding individuals’ section of the 2023 National Lottery Awards. Jacqui received her nomination following her community work dedicated to Caribbean elders and people living with dementia.

JaZanne Arts is a charity based in Edmonton Green that creates multi-sensory, interactive productions and participatory projects for older people in care homes, at memory and luncheon clubs and in day centres across London and the South East. The charity was founded in 2016 by Jacqui and her friend Annie Smol, hoping to use the power of the arts and their experience of diversity to give a voice to older people.

The charity aims to reduce isolation by building positive relationships between older people, their families, support staff and peers, and to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of older people through boosting their confidence and sharing moments of joy.

Jacqui, who has worked in education for more than 20 years, said: “This is work I’m passionate about doing, and I feel truly honoured to work with older people and to be involved in their lives. It’s a privilege to hear their incredible stories and to do the work we do, so to be nominated for a National Lottery Award in recognition of something I love to do is just amazing.”

Since 2018, JaZanne Arts has received more than £69,000 of National Lottery funding from Arts Council England to further its work. This year, Jacqui is one of 3,780 people and projects nominated for the work they have carried out with support from The National Lottery.

The National Lottery Awards is an annual celebration of the individuals and organisations who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding. 

Over the summer, a panel made up of representatives from The National Lottery and partners will decide the winners in each of the individual categories. The winners will be announced in the autumn and receive a £5,000 cash prize for their organisation and a National Lottery Awards trophy.  

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, said: “The National Lottery Awards honour those who have stepped up and have gone the extra mile to make a difference in their communities, especially during these challenging times.

“Thanks to National Lottery players and the £30 million raised each week for good causes, thousands of individuals and projects throughout the UK have been making an incredible difference in their areas, and this is our chance to highlight and celebrate the exceptional work of these selfless local heroes.” 

In addition to the outstanding individuals’ category, an online public vote will be held this year to find The National Lottery UK Project of the Year. The list of nominees will be cut down to 17 finalists, with a UK-wide public vote in September deciding the winner.

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