EX-HOMELESS STUDENT SCOOPS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Liam Rodgers claiming his award

A Sheffield Hallam creative writing student has turned his life around to be named Student Volunteer of the Year at an awards ceremony in London.

Liam Rodgers, 36, from Nottingham spent much of his teenage years in trouble with the police. As well as, drinking, smoking and doing drugs.

“My lowest point was ending up in a young offenders’ institution. I spiralled out of control to a point where I was left with nothing, no family, no friends, no life,” he said.

But, whilst serving his sentence, Liam realised he needed to change or face being in and out of prison for the rest of his life.

After his release he went back into education, became a volunteer and went on to train as a youth worker for Nottingham City Council.

“Throughout my journey I've always wanted to give back to people,” Liam said, “I took too much when I was younger to give nothing back.”

Father-of-two Liam then came to Sheffield as a mature student and set up Upscribe, a project that helps vulnerable people have a voice through creative writing.

His organisation caught the eye of the National Union of Students who then short-listed him for the Student Volunteer of the Year Award.

​They then invited him down to London City Hall for the big reveal.

“I only went and won it, I couldn’t believe it, it means so much to me. I’m splitting the £1000 prize money between three charities,

“Some will go to the homeless charity I first volunteered with, some will go to a refugee charity that I'm currently working with and the rest will go to my fellow nominee Kathleen Murray's charity Back to School Bank.”

Richard Brooks, Vice President of the National Union of Students said, “I'm so glad that Liam is being recognised for his amazing work. With homelessness growing in the UK each year, people like Liam are so important in helping make a difference towards improving their lives.”