Campaigner up for award
ANTHONY Evans, from Cwmbach, whose efforts saw the first day college for people with severe learning difficulties, has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.
A CAMPAIGNING Cynon Valley father, whose efforts saw the first day college for people with severe learning difficulties in Wales, has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.
Anthony Evans, from Cwmbach, Aberdare, has worked tirelessly on behalf of teenage son Arwel – who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and who uses a powered chair – and others like him.
After Arwel, now 19, left school, he wanted to continue learning, just like his able-bodied twin brother Owain was able to.
But the nearest college for post-19 education for those with learning difficulties was in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire – and there wasn’t a single such facility in Wales.
Although Anthony said the Cheltenham college, the National Star, would have been perfect for his son, he did not think that Arwel should join the college on a residential basis.
And so the full-time carer decided to channel all of his efforts into persuading the Welsh Government that it should provide funding for something similar to be set up in South Wales.
Now his campaigning – which culminated in National Star opening a day college for severely disabled adults in Mamhilad near Pontypool in September – have been recognised by Anthony having been shortlisted for a St David Award.
The 52-year-old is one of three finalists in the citizenship category. The final shortlist for the awards, the highest accolade the Welsh Government confers on its citizens, was unveiled by First Minister Carwyn Jones at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay on Thursday.
“It is nice to be recognised, but I don’t feel like I have done anything special. It’s just something I’ve done for my son and others like him,” Anthony said.
“Arwel has got the abil- ity to learn and he wants to learn.
“It was important to get a day college into Wales for our learners.”
While Anthony remains modest, he also hopes that by being shortlisted he can help more families.
“The profile you get from being nominated gives you the opportunity to open more doors in the future,” he added. “We will continue to campaign and to give awareness that the college is now here.”
Speaking about Arwel’s development since starting at the college in September, Anthony said: “He’s learning new things all the time.
“We’ve already seen improvements in his communication, his laptop skills are far exceeding what he’s done previously and his appetite to change his diet, to feed himself, has increased.
“He’s a very happy, positive young man.”