A Belfast woman has been recognised for her dedication to volunteering as she works with young people with complex disabilities to build bonds and friendships to help reduce social isolation.
Eden Byrne, 20, was named Volunteer of the Year at the 21st annual Sense Awards for her work with young people with complex needs over the past two years as part of the charity's virtual buddy programme. She has done this despite a Long Covid diagnosis in March 2022, which had a huge impact on her physical and mental health.
Eden, who works as a youth advisor for the charity Ambitious About Autism, works with two buddies as part of the programme, Esther and Felicity, and has been praised by Sense staff for the creativity she brings to each sessions.
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Esther, aged 10, from Kettering, has been having virtual buddying sessions with Eden since February 2023. The pair have enjoyed many activities together, from making bouncy balls, to doing quizzes and crosswords. Eden says that Esther, who has autism, has grown in confidence hugely since the pair began meeting, and that Esther really cheers her up when Eden’s had a bad day. Eden, who would like to do social or youth work in the future, is just starting to learn British Sign Language (BSL) with Esther.
Eden’s other buddy is Felicity, aged 9, from Oxfordshire, who loves playing games, doing word searches and making bracelets with Eden. Felicity’s mum says the pair are very comfortable together and that Felicity, who is autistic and has ADHD, loves speaking to Eden and can be herself around her. Mum Stephanie also says that because Felicity is homeschooled, her virtual buddying sessions are a great source of social interaction for her.
The two young girls were delighted to be the ones who broke the news to Eden that she had won the award.
Eden Byrne said: “I’m so honoured and delighted to win this award. I really love being a virtual buddy – it’s one of the things that I look forward to every week. I want to say thank you too to the staff at Sense for being so supportive over the last year and a half – you're all amazing! As well as my virtual buddies for bringing me lots of joy.”
Sense, the national charity that supports people with complex disabilities, received more than 100 nominations for its awards this year. It was down to a team of disabled judges to review the nominations and decide the winners. These judges were: author Lisette Auton, playwright Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, influencer Shelby Lynch, activist Paige Barnes, singer-songwriter Joe Kenny, Drag King Crip Ladywood, and the first blind female fitness instructor Jaina Mistry. You can find out more about them here: www.sense.org.uk/sense-awards/judges/
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