Two residents who regularly attend Merton Council’s All Saints Centre for people with physical disabilities have won top awards for their management and leadership skills.
Chris Bull and Marcia Brown, who both have physical disabilities, scooped UK Skills National Training awards (UK SNT awards) when they took part in a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) course at Level 3 in Leadership and Management Skills. Overall seven people from All Saints took part in the course and both Chris and Marcia were then put forward for the prestigious UK SNT awards.
David Morris, Senior Policy Adviser to the Mayor of London on disabilities, will be visiting the All Saints Centre on Friday 21 November to present Chris and Marcia with their awards.
Mr Morris said: ” As a disabled person, I am both proud and delighted to be handing out these awards to Chris and Marcia. Their achievement, and that of all those from All Saints who took the NVQ course, proves that as we all know disabled people can and should achieve exactly the same goals as non-disabled people. The example of Chris and Marcia provides positive role models, which will help us deliver equality for disabled people and put a stop to discrimination.”
Merton Council’s cabinet member for Housing, Adult Care and Health, Councillor Linda Scott said: “Winning these awards is a great accomplishment for Chris and Marcia, who worked so hard for them. It is also a huge testament to all the hard work carried out by the staff at All Saints. Staff member, Aden Ahmed, found out about the course on the internet and then helped those taking part with their studies.
“We are determined to put the needs of all our residents first and the work carried out by All Saints staff is vitally important in helping those with physical disabilities to make the most of their skills and excel, as Chris and Marcia have done.”
Chris said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the course and winning this extra award on top of the NVQ has given me the confidence to try out my new-found skills in the workplace.”
Marcia said: “It is fantastic to be recognised in this way. The course was fairly challenging but I really enjoyed it and I am very proud of having won the UK SNT award.”
Both students expressed their thanks to staff at All Saints and to Marigold Training for all their support and help in the completion of their courses.
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Notes for editors
The NVQ course was sponsored by the New Partnership for Unemployed Disabled People (NEWPUD) under the European Social Fund Objective 3. Partners included the Chartered Management Institute, Hackney Disability (lead partner for NEWPUD), Job Centre Plus (London East) and Marigold Training as a delivery partner.
The All Saints Centre is a resource centre in South Wimbledon for adults with physical disabilities. The centre provides various onsite activities and outreach opportunities and works closely with other professionals, agencies and community groups to look at back to work opportunities, retraining, accessing education, leisure and recreation opportunities to improve quality of life.