The Michael Rosen Award winners 2010/2011

We are delighted to announce the winners and runners up of the Michael Rosen Award. Michael Rosen was Chair of Support for Living and the Award was set up by his wife Sheila after Michael’s death in 2008. Michael was energetic in his support and encouragement of our work, and effusive in his praise for our staff. Certitude felt the Michael Rosen Award was a fitting way to honour Michael’s memory and celebrate the exceptional staff who work for us.

Throughout the year we received 64 nominations under the three categories (Best Colleague, Community Champion and Making a Difference). Our eventual winners were chosen by a judging panel consisting of a mixture of Board members, an Ambassador, Sheila Rosen and Aisling Duffy, Chief Executive. The panel were thoroughly impressed by the nomination stories and had a tough decision choosing the final winners.

You can now view our video of the 2011 Awards Ceremony:

Winners of the Michael Rosen Award:
The Somali Tenancy Support Service

Originally nominated for the MAKING A DIFFERENCE Award

Since the project was established it has reached out and helped hundreds of people from the Somali community in Lambeth.  Most of its customers have multiple needs as well facing other issues such as language and cultural barriers, racism, lack of service provision from other providers, including statutory agencies. The Somali Tenancy Support Service consists of Maryan Ahmed  and Idris Ahmed who have led the way and shown real expertise by supporting a community that had the most need but were most cut off from service provision. Consequently, they have proved wrong the myth that the Somali community is generally a hard to reach group in Lambeth.   Maryan and Idris have always gone the extra mile to support their customers either in housing, benefits and other issues. They voluntarily work outside of their normal hours due to the high demand and need for their service and their success rates are some of the highest in the organisation due to their dedication, hard work and their in-depth experience within the Somali community.   Customers have shown the highest satisfaction with how this unique service in Lambeth has helped them more than they could imagine.

Runner up of the Michael Rosen Award:
John Keaveny

Originally nominated for the BEST COLLEAGUE Award

John works as a trainer for the Treat Me Right! project continually motivating and inspiring the people he comes into contact with through his work. He has spoken up about his personal experiences when using the local hospital telling a multitude of health professionals the things they need to know when supporting people with learning disabilities.   The impact of him retelling his experience is often emotional and profound, with health professionals feeding back that, through John’s openness and honesty about himself, they will actively do things differently back in their work places, feeling more confident in being able to communicate more effectively with people who have learning disabilities.   In addition to this, John recently made a presentation at the Royal College of Nursing – Vulnerable Adults Conference where he talked about the work of the Treat Me Right! project.   John also spreads the word about the work of Treat Me Right! and Support for Living wherever he goes. In recent months this has helped John to gain votes to become Ealing Partners Health rep, where he is able to speak up even more effectively on behalf of people with learning disabilities across the Ealing Borough.

Runner up of the Michael Rosen Award:
Terry O’Neill

Originally nominated for the BEST COLLEAGUE and COMMUNITY CHAMPION Awards

Terry was nominated for Best Colleague after quietly battling away with a local Council to secure parking permits for the staff who were busy organising the closure of one property and the refurbishment and move to the new one. Parking restrictions were in force and Terry made staff’s lives a lot easier by melting the cold hearts of the Parking Department!

Terry was also nominated for Community Champion because, after an urgent referral from care management, he supported a customer, who previously received no support outside his family, to get his own allotment. This customer is in the early days of allotment ownership and is planning what he is going to grow in his plot and whether he needs a shed! His family is delighted with the allotment and really pleased at the support he’s now getting.   This customer also loves anything to do with London Underground and tube trains. Terry negotiated with London Underground for this person to see where their drivers train, have a go on the simulator and see a mock up station.