14/12/2011

Visit the Awards Gallery page for the event in pictures.

MOWLL Celebrates 13 years at the 2011 Annual Awards Ceremony

Tara and Pearl present a certificate in IT to James O'Hara

MOWLL celebrated becoming a teenager year in style with the 2011 Awards Ceremony, held at the Liverpool Marina in December.

An evening of food, wine and entertainment was the backdrop as MOWLL’s Self Advocates, Peer Advocates, volunteers and staff looked back on the achievements of 2011. Over 120 family, friends, supporters, sponsors and guests helped to celebrate the amazing and diverse achievements of MOWLL people.

Adele and Justine present a certificate in Adult Literacy to Keeley Whittaker

Tara and Pearl from Granby Toxteth Development Trust, and Adele and Justine from Liverpool Chamber of Commerce were also at the event to present certificates to all the MOWLL Self Advocates who have achieved through their learning programmes in IT, Adult Literacy and Numeracy.

New to the MOWLL Awards this year were the “MOWLL’s Got Talent!” awards, recognising outstanding achievement in the areas of Art, Music and IT. Stephen Bell won the award for outstanding achievement in art, developing a great talent for pottery and ceramics in 2011. John Monks won the Digital Champion award for excelling in IT with the help of Granby Toxteth Development Trust, who sponsored the award. Jenny Robinson won the Music award for the achievement of writing a song that was included on the soundtrack to the FACE film.

Self Advocates Margaret Lloyd and Ben Donovan were acknowledged by their friends at MOWLL who voted for the two people they would most like to receive an “I Care” Award, in recognition of their caring and supportive actions throughout the year.

David & Diane Robinson present the Gary Skelly Friendship Award to Lee Murphy

The Big Leap Award this year went to Lee Kavanagh in recognition of distance travelled in his learning and increased confidence and contribution to both MOWLL’s Jigsaw group and the Gentlemen Of MOWLL.

An emotional moment of the evening came with the presentation of the first annual Gary Skelly Friendship Award. This was introduced by Gary’s friends Jacqui and Stu, and by Gary’s sister Pat, who all stood up to say a few words about Gary. The Award itself was generously sponsored and presented by David and Diane Robinson, the parents of MOWLL Peer Advocate Jenny Robinson, and was awarded to Lee Murphy for his continual friendship and support of others throughout the year.

Diane Robinson receives the Bill Blunn Hope Award

Having presented this award, Diane Robinson herself was next to receive the Bill Blunn Hope Award. This was in recognition of her work this year to set up a Parent & Carer Support Group for MOWLL, which gives hope and support to parents and carers and allows them to share information and advice with each other.

The Friend of MOWLL Award this year went to the University of Liverpool’s School of Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology and was accepted by Professor Barry Goldson. This is the department which houses MOWLL and has supported us for 13 years, providing a friendly space for MOWLL’s activities to take place.

Keeley Whittaker was the deserving winner of this year’s Moving On With Learning Award. This year she has undertaken courses in BSL and attained her Level 1 NVQ in Nail Technology, as well as achieving certificates in IT and Adult Literacy.

Edward Rudd receives the Moving On With Life Award

The Moving on With Life Award went to Edward Rudd. Edward has overcome numerous barriers this year to move on in independence and move into independent living.

MOWLL’s Making A Difference Award recognises the impact an individual has made on their community, their peers and those around them. This year it went to Jacqueline Haslam in recognition of her support of the Women of MOWLL group, leading them in yoga workshops, as well as her hard work developing sessions for MOWLL’s Jigsaw group sharing her passion for design.

Billy Gandy receives the Citizenship Award

This year’s Citizenship Award went to Billy Gandy, in recognition of his work with the PACTT team in delivering the FACE Facts campaign’s message about disability hate crime and exclusion across Liverpool, to Crime Prosecution Service professionals. It was presented by Constable John Scott and Sergeant Bill McAdam of Merseyside Police, who sponsored the award.

Full list of Awards, sponsors and winners:

Visit the Awards Gallery page for more photographs of the event.

Photography: Ryan McGuinness

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