Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) Chief Executive Gurvinder Sandher is the recipient of the prestigious Kent County Council (KCC) Kent Invicta Award for 2022.

KCC Chairman Lesley Game with 2022’s Kent Invicta Award recipient, Gurvinder Sandher

Mr Sandher received the award for outstanding work to promote positive community relations from KCC Chairman Lesley Game at the full County Council meeting on Thursday (10 March 2022).

Speaking in the Chamber at County Hall, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services Mike Hill paid tribute. Mike Hill said: “Gurvinder has made an amazing contribution for many years to community relations and racial harmony in Kent. The breadth of his activities is quite extraordinary.

“He is an enormous force for good in the county and a great friend to this Council. I am pleased and proud to support his nomination for the Invicta Award.”

A tireless organiser and supporter of culturally diverse arts events in and around North and West Kent, ranging from the Maidstone Mela to St George’s Day celebrations, Mr Sandher was a former County Chair of the Kent Police Independent Advisory Group for eight years. He is currently the Independent Vice-Chairman of the Kent Police and Crime Panel.

In addition to his work with Kent Police around County Lines and domestic violence, Mr Sandher has also delivered events to tackle issues such as forced marriages, honour-based violence and mental health stigma.

Heavily involved in the voluntary sector for over two decades, Mr Sandher sits on a number of strategic boards focusing on Equality and Diversity, Faith, Mental Health, Migration, Community Cohesion and Young People and Policing Issues.