Middlesbrough Achievers Celebrate Success

When Middlesbrough mum Mandie Savvery was in the depths of despair unable even to set foot outside her front door she never dreamed one day she would be going out to work and holding her head up high again.

Your reporter and photographer are invited to attend:
The New Ways to Opportunities Recognition Awards
Where: The Thistle Hotel, Middlesbrough
When: Tuesday March 4th
From: 12 ­- 2pm

When Middlesbrough mum Mandie Savvery was in the depths of despair unable even to set foot outside her front door she never dreamed one day she would be going out to work and holding her head up high again.

But thanks to national charity Shaw Trust Mandie is one of hundreds of Middlesbrough people who have turned their lives around and she will celebrate with them at a special awards ceremony on March 4th.

Mum of two Mandie found her life falling apart when her partner Andrew was killed in a motorcycle accident in September 2004. Unable to cope she fell into depression and became housebound.

"For three years I suffered depression, panic attacks and agoraphobia," said Mandie 39, mum to Joseph 15 and Jade 16.

"I wanted to change my life, get a job, get out in the world again but I didn't know how or where to turn.

"Eventually I heard about Shaw Trust and in sheer desperation wrote to them, I knew I needed to turn my life around, get my self esteem back and I wanted my children to be proud of me," she said.

With the Trust's help Mandie gradually built up her fragile confidence, taking taxis to the Trust's Middlesbrough project every week, taking computer skills courses and confidence building until she felt ready to take on a full time job.

Now she gets up at 3am to walk to her cleaning job at Tesco and has never looked back.

"It feels so good to be earning money and be back out in the world, it's been amazing. I'm still not 100 per cent, I still have bad days but knowing Shaw Trust is there to help me means so much.

"When I think back I wouldn't have dreamed I'd be where I am now. I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel but thanks to Shaw Trust I've got my life back," she said.

BBC Radio Tees presenter Mark Turnbull, who will present the awards at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough on Tuesday March 4th, knows all about struggling against the odds as he has been registered blind since birth.

"Shaw Trust does such an important job if they can help remove barriers to people working - then all power to them," said Mark 44, who has worked as a journalist since he left school 28 years ago.

"I always wanted to be a journalist and was told 'you'll never do it' but that just made me more determined. Now I just couldn't imagine not getting up in the morning and going off to the job I want to do.

"It is still a struggle sometimes, but disabled people don't want favours just fair opportunities. I hope in a small way I can be seen as a role model for others trying to achieve their ambitions," he said.

The New Ways To Opportunities project which has been operating in Middlesbrough for the past two years has engaged with some 400 local people and supported some 280, who have been out of work through health problems for an average of ten years or more.

In the unique New Ways project Shaw Trust works in partnership with national charities Mental Health Matters and DISC with funds provided by the Northern Way.

"We have helped more than 50 of these people back into full-time employment, making a huge difference to their lives," said Project Manager Kendale Eason.

"Many feel they have had a new beginning, many of the rest are carrying out voluntary work as a first step towards being ready for employment in the future.

"We have seen clients making incredible journeys through the project and achieving their individual goals, we wanted to celebrate this and that's what the Recognition Awards are all about," he said.

Editors Notes

Awards programme:
12pm refreshments
12.30pm welcome and opening address from Project Manager Kendale Eason. Followed by presentation of the awards by BBC Radio Tees presenter Mark Turnbull.
Lunch 1.15pm

1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Communication Manager Helen Durnion on 18002 01642 371791 or Becky Gammon on 07779 784901 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk

2 . Shaw Trust is a national charity which for 25 years has helped people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.

3. Across the UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

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