Paul Hope Award
House of Lords Wednesday 22nd of May 2012
Paul Hope Winners 2011 – Adrian and Julia Giles – Epsom & Ewell Phab
Adrian & Julia Giles from Epsom & Ewell Phab with Lord Morris of Manchester
A special award is given each year for outstanding work and achievement in fulfilling Phab’s aims.
This award, made annually, together with a bursary of £1000, is in memory of the late Paul Hope.
Paul was Club Services and Development Officer at Phab during the 80’s and early 90’s.
Adrian and Julia Giles Epsom & Ewell Phab who together have been responsible for the outstanding success of Epsom & Ewell Phab club and have tirelessly contributed to the Phab movement for nearly 30 years.
Below is what was said about them at the House of Lords on 16th May 2011
In the early days, Julia and Adrian’s huge commitment and enthusiasm quickly increased membership from 8 to 120 and they now manage a waiting list; such is the popularity of the club today.
There are far too many big highlights to include here, as every week (sometimes every day) Epsom and Ewell Phab makes a difference to people’s lives.
Trips and adventures ensure that activities are happening throughout the year and nothing is impossible - visits from Alton Towers to Thorpe Park and trips to concerts and big events, sometimes to watch and increasingly now to join in on stages where their talented young people enjoy performing!
Over 20 years ago Epsom & Ewell Phab began running annual holidays. First to Blaen Wern Farm in Wales and more recently to the Calvert Trust and Bendrigg Lodge.
At that time, for many transport was difficult, so fundraising for a vehicle to get members to the club and beyond was achieved. As well as running the bigger vehicle, members built an accessible go-kart too.
As the success of the club has grown showing that inclusion really does work, Epsom & Ewell Phab’s good practice and success has been widely recognised. In 2002, Epsom and Ewell Phab received the Queen’s Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service and Adrian and Julia have continued to strive to expand the activities of the club forging the way for inclusion within the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, helping many young people succeed at bronze, silver & gold and also young people succeeding with the Youth Achievement Awards.
Every Friday night during the last year up to 100 young people have been able to take part in a wide range of sporting and artistic activities and have the chance to chat and catch up with their Phab friends. The club held a family fun day and rock festival “Phabfest 32” last summer which was a tremendous success, the members have just put on a highly praised show at a local theatre and and enjoyed an annual activity holiday over the Easter weekend.
None of this would be possible without Adrian and Julia’s commitment. They give up a huge amount of their personal time to support others and are nearly always the first to arrive and the last to leave any event to ensure that it runs smoothly.
Their support for the Phab movement goes well beyond the role they play at Epsom and Ewell Phab. They are active in supporting regional and national initiatives and provide an inspiration to so many.
They have dedicated their lives to Phab in fact the whole family are immersed in all things Phab. Helpers and leaders are motivated by their passion and direction, and Julia & Adrian have had a strong team alongside them, many who have been involved for over 20 years. This demonstrates the great leadership and friendship that they bring.
But most importantly it is the 100’s (possibly thousands) of young people, who have fun, learn and play together, and grow into adulthood understanding disability issues who now have even richer lives for knowing Julia and Adrian.
Other nominees for the award for their dedication to Phab were:
- Barrie Ames – Woking Phab
- Kathy Bryan OBE – Central London Phab
- Margaret Shaw – Halton Phab
- Peter Daubney – Ricks Phab Club ( Chichester)
- Liz Ash – Chippenham Phab
- Clare Millington – formed two groups in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
- Brian Love – Nene Valley Phab
- Valerie Conway – Aberconwy Phab
- Dr Simon Brown-Lamont – Chelmsford Phab
- Sandra Amiss – Lynch Mob Phab Club (Clacton)
- Carol Jaggers – Lynch Mob Phab Club ( Clacton)
- William Ralph – Sevenoaks Phab Club
- Stephen Archer – Poole Phab Club
- Mike Macve – Uckfield Phab Club
- Geoff Brown, John Sturgess, Ian Laundon – Northampton Phab
- Lynda Hesketh, Janette Marsland, Sarah Jones – Chester Phab