Social Inclusion Award 2010
Sponsored by Shelter.
This award highlights campaigners working to break down social barriers and maximise the opportunities open to all members of society. The Social Inclusion Award is for campaigners who are tackling social disadvantage and inequality.
Winner
Ilena Day
‘Look Ok...Feel Crap?’ - Depression Alliance Scotland
Ilena is working with young people to provide support for those struggling with depression in Scotland. By launching a website to offer resources and emotional health courses, Ilena is creating awareness about depression so that people don’t feel alone. Her goal is for young adults to connect with the appropriate health organisations and seek support early on. Ilena is working to modernise current mental health messages in order to accurately support young adults with depression.
Finalists
Dermot O’Hara
‘Access to Citizenship’ - Destined Ltd
Dermot is working with people with learning disabilities to ensure they get the skills they need to participate in their community. By encouraging communities to facilitate this process of integration, Dermot is breaking the isolation barriers that come with learning disabilities. He has developed a program for people with learning disabilities that promotes social, personal, educational and employment support within communities. Dermot’s work is not only impacting people with learning disabilities, but facilitating cultural change within communities.
Ruth Breslin
‘Demand Change’ – Eaves
Working in partnership with OBJECT, this campaign is working to stop sexual exploitation of women and children. By working with the government to enforce criminal laws on human trafficking, Ruth wants to raise public awareness and institute support services for those who are affected by prostitution. Her understanding of the realities around prostitution has helped Ruth tackle the demand for trafficking and supply the resources for women to start afresh. Ruth’s goal is to promote gender equality and encourage socially excluded women to take part in their community.
Judges
Nigel Saxby-Soffe
Nigel is a member of the SMK Board and Finance Committee. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant who began working with KPMG before joining J. Henry Schroder as an Investment Banking Director. In 1994 Nigel joined ActionAid as Director of Finance. He oversaw the development and financial integrity of the ActionAid International Federation of International Development Organisations, operating in 50 countries. In addition, he was a Non-Executive Director of the Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust for ten years.
Lee Smith
Lee is currently a Candidate of the British Psycho-Analytical Society and an Honorary Clinical Staff member at the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis. He was previously Director at Mind, responsible for Mind's national network of people with experience of mental distress, as well as the 180 affiliated, independent local Mind associations. He has over 20 years of experience in voluntary sector, community mental health and homelessness provision.
Karen Stalbow
Karen is the National Campaigns Manager at Shelter. She began her career as a fundraiser with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf before moving to join the Economist to undertake a marketing and advertising role. Karen returned to the voluntary and community sector in a campaigning role with Oxfam. Later on, she joined the campaigns department at the NSPCC before assuming a position at Shelter as the London and South East Regional Campaign Officer.
