An Action for Children project manager from Nascot Wood has been presented with an award for her dedication in helping improve the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable children and families.

Zahida Fidahusein was presented with the charity’s Stephenson Award for her role in helping deliver an overhaul of the organisation’s IT equipment at its 650 services around the UK.

Ms Fidahusein said: “I couldn’t believe a person from the ‘back office’ could win.

“On reflection this award is clearly recognition of all my colleagues who have worked so hard to make the Digitally Enabling Action for Children project happen, and under such tight deadlines.

“All staff are now able to work far more productively and thereby deliver a much-improved service to the children, young people and families we support.”

Her manager, Janine Smedley, added: “Many would find the task of ensuring that frontline staff receive the correct IT equipment and have everything installed correctly daunting, dull and insurmountable.

“Zahida however tackled the task with passion, putting her heart and soul into ensuring everyone received what they needed, and that their problems were resolved promptly. She never gave up hope, even when her phone didn’t stop ringing and her mailbox overflowed.”