Morris wins Torch Trophy Trust Award
Morris Nelson, from Lambeth, South London is celebrating today after picking up a Torch Trophy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Inclusivity. The award was presented to Morris last night (7th March) at The Army and Navy Club in London by HRH Duke of Gloucester. The Award comes after his involvement in the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Peer Support programme, led by Disability Rights UK and supported by the English Federation of Disability Sport.
The Peer Support element of the GOGA programme trains active disabled people to become mentors. These trainees work one to one with other disabled people, who want to be active, but might be experiencing barriers for reasons like low confidence.
Morris, 49, has been a mentor to Stephen Wells. Morris experienced a breakdown a few years ago following the loss of his job. He felt he had lost his identity, was under pressure to support his family and really struggled to re-build his confidence. He has used volunteering through GOGA as a way to build his self-esteem and fulfil his love of supporting others. Morris has volunteered in more than five different roles over the past three years including setting up a football club, Furzedown United.
Following the ‘Making a Great Mentor’ training, Morris and Stephen started working together in June 2017 by taking up yoga- an activity new to both of them. Within three months they had both become more physically active, tried many new activities such as walking and aerobics, both reporting increased confidence and mental wellbeing.
I’m thrilled to have won this award- there are no words! Stephen’s journey has been amazing. He went from being this shy, unconfident person to someone who’s not afraid to get out there and try new things
He has started volunteering and has even come forward now to become a mentor himself. He motivates and teaches me new things, sometimes I forget who the mentor is! GOGA Peer Support has upskilled me, made me more employable and helped give me direction. This programme should be available to everyone
Morris (Peer Mentor)
Morris has now progressed to the role of Mentor Co-Ordinator helping Disability Rights UK to run the Peer Support Programme in Lambeth with local organisation Disability Advice Service Lambeth. Here, both he and Stephen share their story and experiences of mentoring. Their wish is to train and inspire new mentors, to encourage sign up and help with outreach, raising awareness of the project to professionals interested in peer support.
Stephen has a history of mental health problems and before working with Morris. He struggled even to get out of the house. He comments:
I felt low and I lacked motivation to do things. I knew I wanted to get active but it seemed so hard to take the first step. Joining GOGA and working with Morris has changed my life. He was alongside me when I attended yoga for the first time and slowly he helped me to set small goals, motivating me at each step. I now go to exercise classes six times a week and help Morris with his football club at the weekends! Morris has inspired me to become a mentor and help other disabled people to be active- something I never thought I would do
Stephen (Peer mentee)
This rewards Morris’ commitment to supporting others, his excellent achievement as a mentor and demonstrates the ways that peer support, sharing experiences and skills and physical activity can change someone’s life. Get Out Get Active is a great example of partnership working, bringing together expertise from EFDS and 10 other national partners of which Disability Rights UK is one.
Kate Pieroudis, Disability Rights UK’s GOGA Peer Support Lead
The Torch Trophy Trust was founded in 1962 commemorating the two 1948 Olympic torches made for the last leg of the Olympic relay, one presented to a Commander Collins, who presented it to the Torch Trophy Trust. He believed the Olympic ideal, symbolised by the torch, could also be an inspiration for men and women working quietly in their own small corners of the world of sport.
For press enquiries or more information, please contact: Kate Pieroudis, Peer Support Lead, Disability Rights UK on 07715 960710 or kate.pieroudis@disabilityrightsuk.org.uk
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