Of the 33 projects nominated, the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) Senior Citizens Home Care Project qualified as a runner-up in the category of Health and Wellbeing for the Barnet Faith and Belief Awards 2022. "Projects in this category create specialized services for the health and wellbeing of residents. They reduce social isolation and improve the quality of life by supporting vulnerable people from different backgrounds,” noted the organizers from the London borough of Barnet.
The virtual awards ceremony on January 26, 2022 that was hosted by the Barnet Multi Faith Forum in partnership with The Faith and Belief Forum and Middlesex University recognized the efforts of diverse organizations in five areas: health and wellbeing, interfaith relations, inspiring youth, outstanding initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and environmental sustainability. These newly instituted awards "celebrate outstanding contributions of faith and belief groups that, through social action or community engagement, have had a positive impact on Barnet and improved the lives of its residents and communities,” noted their website faithbeliefforum.org
Volunteers of the ZTFE Senior Citizens Home and Caring for the Zoroastrian Community "have been a lifeline for many of our senior citizens during Covid-19 with their regular phone calls and assistance. This has given so much assurance to everybody,” noted an email from ZTFE president Malcolm Deboo appreciating the team’s "excellent work.”
The Awards brochure that introduced the nominees mentioned that the ZTFE project was set up in 2018 "to arrange transportation for some isolated elders to the Zoroastrian Centre in Rayners Lane, for religious and social gatherings. Thereafter they launched phone calls, with a group of volunteers calling elders at least twice a week. Bonds began to form as the calls resulted in happy chats, trust built up and some volunteers extended hot meals, friendly visits and also assistance with shopping and/or lifts to important appointments.”
Honored to be a part of the awards judging panel for one of the other categories, Deboo acknowledged that it gave him an opportunity to learn what is being done in Barnet to improve life for all. Their website quoted him as stating, "These Awards will raise the profile of the groups and individuals who converted challenges into opportunities to empower others and build an increased sense of wellbeing, while seeking to build fellowship based on taking the right action to increase sharing resources and building happiness for all in Barnet.”
According to the 2011 census, "Barnet had the highest recorded Zoroastrians in the UK — over 200,” conveyed Deboo who was grateful to the members residing there for nominating the ZTFE Project for the 2022 Awards.