A SHINFIELD hero has been recognised for his work to put a stop to bullying.
Manu Dhaumya was recently nominated for the Pride of Reading Community Champion Award for his role in local anti-bullying campaign United Against Bullies.
Six years ago, Manu Dhaumya and his wife Deepa launched the campaign to help children in Wokingham borough who are dealing with intimidation at school.
“My wife and I wanted to eradicate the epidemic of bullying,” he explained.
“It all started when my son, Arnez, was in primary school and he and his two friends saved a younger pupil who was being bullied.
“When he told us the story, I thought we should do something as there is a lot of bullying happening out there.”
The Dhaumyas’ United Against Bullies campaign highlights what bullying is to help people understand how to spot the signs.
And Mr Dhaumya also works with teachers and parents to help them support students who are suffering.
Now, he is thrilled to have been nominated as a Community Champion for his anti-bullying work.
“Being nominated for the Pride of Reading Award is so amazing,” he said.
“It gives me and my wife both an opportunity to highlight our work on a bigger platform and through this exposure, we can reach more people who need our help.”
Mr Dhaumya has also been nominated for supporting the community throughout the pandemic by visiting hospitals, providing food and supplies to front line workers.
“My dad used to tell me there’s no better feeling than giving, so I’m just following that rule in life,” Mr Dhaumya added.
“Me and my wife do a lot of charity work and it’s the best feeling when you see someone happy because of our deeds.”
The Pride of Reading Awards seek to honour residents who have gone above and beyond in their support for the community every year.
The annual awards ceremony is due to take place in February 2021, but this could be subject to change as a result of the pandemic.
To find out more about the awards, visit: www.porawards.co.uk
