Outstanding Achievement in Diversity award winner at this year’s Rochdale Diversity Awards
Congratulations to Your Trust Disability and Inclusion Advisor, Catherine Szymanskyj, who recently won the Outstanding Achievement in Diversity award at this year’s Rochdale Diversity Awards.
The awards, established in 2012, showcase the outstanding work undertaken by individuals across a variety of sectors and services, which support and advance inclusion, cohesion and diversity within the borough, as well as inspiring and motivating people to continue working to make Rochdale a place where everyone feels welcomed, valued and respected.
The Outstanding Achievement in Diversity award aims to recognise the work done by individuals who are going above and beyond to promote and encourage disadvantaged or underrepresented communities in the borough to aspire and achieve their goals.
Catherine was nominated for the fantastic work that she has done to make a difference to the quality of life for many residents across the borough. Her role as Disability and Inclusion Advisor has seen her obtain funding for adaptable bikes, develop new access guides for Your Trust leisure centres, create new Inclusion, Transgender and Carer Policies for Your Trust which she has also been able to share to support other localities with too. She has made a difference to leisure centres to make them more inclusive including hoists and adapting changing rooms, and most recently, she has included Disability & Inclusion into the new Sports Leadership course delivered by Your Trust.
Catherine is extremely passionate about supporting those with complex disabilities to ensure that those who are unable to access mainstream activities still have the opportunity to take part in activities to benefit their health and wellbeing. She spends a lot of time researching new ideas and initiatives to deliver activities of a high quality and these now include multi-sport sessions, yoga therapy, inclusive dance, inclusive cycling, inclusive rugby, inclusive yoga and inclusive socials.
Catherine puts a lot of work into the sessions to overcome barriers that may prevent people from attending. She has learnt BSL (British Sign Language) to support deaf people, has adapted sessions to support blind people, and has designed visual aids to support children with autism and learning disabilities to communicate with swimming teachers.
Catherine was presented with her award by Kate Green, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire.
On receiving it, Catherine said “I was in absolute shock to win, as there were so many amazing nominees and such fantastic work being undertaken within the borough.
“I feel very honoured and privileged to be recognised for my work, while also recognising that there is still so much more to be achieved.
“I often don’t feel like what I do is enough when I see so many gaps still existing, so it is nice to hear that others do feel that what I do is worth recognition.”