NELFT award for Coping Through Football

Staff nominated in NELFT award

The London Playing Fields Foundation was delighted to hear that Coping Through Football has been recognised with two nominations at the North East London NHS Foundation Trust’s 2011 staff awards. Barbara Armstrong, the Joint Borough Lead Occupational Therapist, has played a key role in the delivery of the project in Waltham Forest and she was recipient of the Improvement and Innovation Award. Jason Kelvin, a project participant, received the runner up award for his contribution as a volunteer with the project.

Barbara said: “I was really surprised and pleased to win, not just for my myself personally as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist, but also for the project to be recognised for the contribution it has made to the lives of some of the people with mental health problems in the borough. I have been part of the project since its beginning and in the current climate it is reassuring to know that the agenda is still firmly focussed on working with individuals in away that makes a real difference to their lives.

The project is not only successfully locally, but has achieved national recognition. It is not unique, but its success is down to a number of people working together towards the common goal of helping people with mental health problems to more fully meet their aspirations, and how the power of sport, especially football can play a key part in their recovery.

It is a real privilege for me to work with such enthusiastic and committed individuals from the London Playing Fields Foundation, Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme, our volunteers, service users and my mental health colleagues. So in my winning the award I hope they feel recognised and valued too”.