An Occupational Therapist has been nominated for an award to recognise her work to establish a project which utilises the transformative power of sport to help people experiencing significant mental health issues get their lives back on track.
Sonia Smith works for North East London Foundation Trust. She established a partnership between her trust, London Playing Fields Foundation and Leyton Orient Trust to deliver the ‘Coping through Football Project’. Together, they have developed a sustainable recovery model approach to engage with and improve the wellbeing of adults and young people.
The British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards were established by Sporting Equals to celebrate sporting excellence within BAME communities. Sonya is nominated in the Mind Wellbeing Award which is new this year. It is designed to recognise the contribution that either a project, programme or individual has made to improve people’s mental wellbeing through sport and physical activity.
Sonia has worked on the project for five years and her colleagues say that the positivity, compassion and total commitment that she brings to the role has greatly contributed to its success.
London Playing Fields Foundation’s CEO Alex Welsh said: "If anyone deserves to win this award it is Sonia Smith. Her compassion and generosity just shine through in everything she does and the way that she has helped others experiencing troubled times in their lives is a real inspiration".
The public are invited to vote for the people they think should win the awards.
The voting details can be found at the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards site.
The closing date for votes is 5th March with the ceremony taking place later in the month.
We wish Sonia and all the nominees the best of luck!