Charity Director Receives Honorary Fellowship From USW

Lynne Evans, Director of RCT People First, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship this week (Tuesday 12 July) from the University of South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Miss Evans received the award as part of the University’s Graduation ceremonies at the Treforest Campus, where graduates from the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education were awarded their degrees. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Born in Porth, Lynne started volunteering for People First as a young adult, and helped set up the Rhondda Cynon Taff branch as a way of reaching out to more people with learning disabilities in the local area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She has worked closely with the University of South Wales as a founding member of its Teaching and Research Advisory Committee, contributing to research projects and mentoring student nurses during their work placements. She continues to aid the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education to promote the importance of listening to people with learning disabilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On receiving her Honorary Fellowship, Lynne said: “This is one of the proudest moments of my life, and I am honoured to be recognised in this way for my work in the advocacy sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would encourage today’s graduates – whichever career path they take – to take time to listen to the individual and get to know them. So much can be achieved by appreciating and valuing your fellow members of society.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​