Pictured above: Chief Superintendant Surjeet Singh Manku (left) presents Vijay Singh Gola (Right) with Good Citizen Award

A unique charity project in Birmingham is celebrating after winning two awards. 

The Saffron Centre - in the Sparkbrook area of the city - is a not-for-profit social enterprise, which has been providing community services since 2005. 

The centres continued good work has seen it win two awards recently in recognition of its contribution to the local community. 

West Midlands Police have awarded the Saffron Centre with a Good Citizens Award.

This award is for the centres help in providing a venue for a charity fundraiser in 2010, which netted £6,000 for a Sparkbrook Boxing Club.

The Saffron Centre provided the use of a suite and catering. It helped the boxing club increase its profile and improve police links with the community. 

Now, Executive manager of the Saffron Centre, Vijay Singh Gola, has been named as Outstanding Business Person of The Year 2011 - awarded by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Asian Business. 

This award recognises an individual who has achieved significant growth and profitability in their business pursuits. 

The Saffron Centre is helping to build a stronger community in the heart of Birmingham. It is run by the Bhat Singh Sabha charity - an organisation formed by the Sikh community to deliver much needed services to Sparkbrook and wider Birmingham residents. 

The charity bought a former disused industrial unit in Moseley Road, Highgate, and transformed it into an award-winning £2.14 million community resource centre. 

It has become a focal point for local people, offering an ofsted approved full time day care nursery with 65 places, a 500 capacity conference and banqueting suite, NVQ training, an advice centre and computer suite offering training for residents.

There is also office space available to not-for-profit organisations. The centre has secure on-site parking for up to 100 vehicles, and disabled access. 

To find out more about the Saffron Centre and its services, call 0121 446 3029.