Annual Awards for Achievement 2008

Award_For_Personal_Achievement (25+)

Winner - Christopher Hughes

Christopher Hughes from Hastings, has won an Achievement Award from national employment charity Tomorrow's People.

The Tomorrow's People Annual Awards for Achievement pays tribute to those who have overcome significant barriers in their quest to get into work. Christopher attended the awards ceremony held at Plaisterers' Hall, London on Wednesday 12th November. He has won the category 'Award for Personal Achievement (25+) which recognises individuals who have overcome personal difficulties to get into employment, education or training.

Christopher joined the Tomorrow's People Programme Centre in Hastings in 2007 looking for support with his motivation and direction. At 19, he was the innocent victim of a horrific motor cycle accident which left him with severe injuries and he spent the next seven years undergoing a series of operations and recuperating in hospital.

Undaunted, Christopher returned to work and tried to complete his university studies, however, his injuries were too severe and he was not able to complete the course. He then took up a series of temporary positions, but by this time he had lost confidence in his abilities, lacked motivation and did not have any specific aims or targets in life.

After a series of one-to-one sessions with his Employment Adviser, Christopher began to build his self-esteem and to formulate plans for the future. He enrolled for a Certificate in Community Volunteering with 'Headway', a Sussex charity providing help and care to people disabled with head injuries. The programme was tailored to the work he had already undertaken and this helped Chris change his status from 'victim' to 'helper' and enabled him to move forward with his life.

Chris went on to volunteer for Tomorrow's People and was so impressive as part of the Hastings team, that he was offered a job as a Jobsearch Adviser with the charity, a position he thoroughly enjoyed. Chris says of his role, "The support from Tomorrow's People, my participation in the Certificate in Community Volunteering and my charity work, has provided me with a real sense of direction. I now realise that my communication and life skills could be of great benefit to others less fortunate than myself". Christopher has now moved on to a newly created role with the Shaw Trust, where he is responsible for helping disabled people into work in the Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne areas.

Runner Up - George Knight

Read his story here.