Hackney Council was awarded Beacon status for outstanding work in two areas: strategic commissioning and using the opportunity of hosting the 2012 Games to encourage communities to be more active. Presenting the awards at a prestigious event this week were Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and Minister for Children, Schools and Families Beverley Hughes.

The Beacon awards recognise local government’s excellence and innovation in improving quality of life for their residents and communities. Hackney will now share its best practice experience with local councils throughout the country, over the coming year.

Sadiq Khan, Communities Minister said: "My congratulations go out to Hackney Council and the local strategic partnership Team Hackney. The Beacons are about showcasing the very best in service delivery. Hackney is among the top performers in these two categories, setting the standard for innovation, service excellence and improvement.”

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney and Chair of Team Hackney said: “We are pleased to receive Beacon status for the Council’s innovative work, both in bringing real benefits from the Games to all our local residents and creating a strategic commissioning framework.

“The awards recognise the work of the council’s partners, such as the police, health services, local schools and colleges, business, the community and voluntary sector and others.”

The Council applied for Beacon status based on its Olympic and Paralympic work around increasing physical activity, boosting jobs training and volunteering, encouraging involvement in cultural programmes and developing community environmental projects.

Hackney’s Strategic Commissioning Framework uses good working relationships with partners to deliver innovative and continually improving services which measurably benefit local people.