Selfless Matt’s award for volunteering
STUDENT HAS CLOCKED UP 300 HOURS IN ONE YEAR
A selfless student who has clocked up more than three hundred hours’ volunteering with the disabled has been given an award for his efforts.
Matt Harris, from Washington, has worked to support those with a disability improve their lives through sport and exercise.
The dedication of the 19-year-old Sports Development student has led to him achieving a Sunderland Caring for Carers Award.
It follows on from a previous accolade, Volunteer of theYear,awardedlastyearby Sunderland University.
“I certainly don’t do this for the awards,” Matt said. “But I was very flattered to be recognised because you’re nominated through those people you’re supporting.
“It made it more special, coming from their appreciation of the work you do with them.
“I just hope it encourages others to do the same. There needs to be more young people volunteering to support those who need it most.”
Matt became hooked on helping others when he was required to include 10 hours of volunteering time as part ofhisdegreecourseinhisfirst year.
The experience fuelled his passion for volunteering and he continued coaching a group of adults with varying degrees of disabilities, through Headway, the Brain Injury Association, in CitySpace, the University’s sports and social centre. Matt said: “I had never volunteered before, butknewIalwayswanted to help others so I started with adult disability, completed my 10 hours and loved it.
“I kept it going and began tailoring programmes for people who had varying degreesofabilities,bothmental and physical.
“It’s an hour in the gym and an hour football, you tailor the programme to fit around their ability level.
“This has now led to me supportingchildrenwithspecialneedsfromSunderland’s PortlandAcademyschool,it’s hugely satisfying.”
This year’s awards ceremony took place at the Stadium of Light as part of The Carers Rights Day celebrations.
The ceremony celebrated 21 individuals or organisations, including Matt, for their day-to-day support and recognition of carers.
Mattvolunteersalongside Matthew Lyons, the Head Community Coach at the University and works in the areaofadultdisability,which includes Headway Wearside Brain Injury Group, as well as various groups including youth offending, probation and the homeless.
The coach said: “Matt brings a vibrancy to our groups that I have not had for many years, his selfless devotion to those who he helps shinesthroughandhisability toadapttotheclients’individual needs is fantastic.
“Nothing is too much for him and he is a credit to this university and a very special person indeed.”
DrIanWhyte,TeamLeader and Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise, added: “This is a fabulous award for Matt as it recognises work in the community that often goes unsung.
“Sport and Exercise Sciences courses at the University of Sunderland strive to ensure that our students get asmanyopportunitiesaspossible to apply their course work to real-life situations.
“Volunteering is one key way that we achieve this. Matt’s achievements in this area have been outstanding and attests to his work ethic and commitment allied with the support that he has received from University staff.”
With a love of sport Matt, a footballer, kickboxer and long-distance runner, joined the University from Sunderland College, to study Sports Development and has never looked back.
He added: “I thought initiallyaboutjoiningthepolice, and had also been looking around for apprenticeships, butreallylikedthelookofthe course at Sunderland, as I’m interested in all aspects of sport,coachingandteaching.
“I’m so glad I made that decision, as I have achieved so much since starting the course.”