A kind-hearted Newham woman has been named the Age UK Befriending Volunteer of the Year.

Kala Mehra runs a centre for elderly people in the borough’s Asian community, organising trips, GP visits and health awareness sessions for 50 people.

She also runs reminiscence projects, encouraging elders to keep cultural traditions alive through folk songs, drama and dance.

Kala was nominated for the award by Ramesh Verma, the chief executive officer of Action for Asian Elders and Carers.

She said: “Kala supports her community and delivers her friendship to those less fortunate than her regardless of how she is feeling - and whatever the weather.

“In fact, when the rest of us are enjoying festivities, this is the time when Kala particularly goes out of her way to contact her clients ,making sure that they are safe, and to give them a chance to talk to someone at a time when they might be really grateful for a chat.”