UK Tamil School wins prestigious King’s Award

A Tamil community project in the South of England has received the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK, and regarded as the equivalent of an MBE.

In 2024, after a series of rigorous examinations, the Tamil Learning Centre Crawley (TLCC) received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) for their outstanding contributions to communities in Crawley.

The  TLCC  was started in 2006 by Sivaseelan Sellakandu. Established as a school to teach the Tamil language, art and culture, the organisation has grown over the years to include a number of other initiatives to serve the elderly, young people and women in Crawley.

On Tuesday, volunteers, supporters and distinguished guests were invited to a ceremony at the Crown Plaza Hotel to mark the special award and celebrate all involved.

In attendance was Lady Emma Barnard, Deputy Lieutenants Mrs Olivia Pinkney and Mrs Shelagh Legrave, and West Sussex Lieutenancy Officer Mr Paul Legrave, Television personality Shanthy Ranganthan, alongside several local councillors.

The ceremony opened with an introduction by Lady Emma Barnard, HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, followed by a 3-minute TLCC video and the award presentation to Sivaseelan Sellakandu, Managing Director.

The venue and refreshments was sponsored by the @crowneplazacrawley, who were thanked for their generous contribution.