News article
Gardener scoops top prize at national awards ceremony
Alastair Kirkhope, a 56-year-old gardener from Scotland, was voted as the overall winner at this year’s Crisis Changing Lives Champions Awards ceremony. Supported by Barclays, the national award scheme helps vulnerable homeless people back into education, training and employment.
Alastair Kirkhope, a 56-year-old gardener from Scotland, was voted as the overall winner at this year’s Crisis Changing Lives Champions Awards ceremony. Supported by Barclays, the national award scheme helps vulnerable homeless people back into education, training and employment.
Alastair, a formerly homeless man from Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders, was presented with the Barclays Achiever of the Year Award by John Varley, Barclays Group Chief Executive. Alastair also won the Long-term Achiever Award, in recognition of his success overcoming homelessness, alcoholism and unemployment to set up his own thriving gardening business.
The awards were presented by Caroline Spelman MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Caroline said: “It’s inspiring to hear how people have managed to overcome their barriers and turn their lives around. For those with clear goals, who just need some financial help, Crisis Changing Lives can make a huge difference. A relatively small amount of money and the right support at the right time can make all the difference between dreams just out of reach and dreams realised. It was a great pleasure to be involved in this year’s Awards ceremony and hear such remarkable stories of achievement.”
Having experienced difficult times whilst he was homeless, Alastair is keen to help other people who are thinking of starting up their own business. Sharing his three top tips, Alastair said: “The most important thing about self-employment is to take any work you can find, however little you are bringing in it's more than doing nothing. You are also talking to people to get leads. Secondly, use every source of help in the way of agencies that you possibly can. It may not give you a financial leg-up but you are never too old to think you know everything. There are many organisations designed to help you with every aspect of your business from technical, administration and accounting advice, to selling and marketing. Finally, be prepared to be flexible in everything you do.”
There were five categories at this year’s awards: Business; Education and Training; Long-term Achiever; New Talent and Support Worker of the Year. Each winner received a cash prize, a certificate of recognition and a memento from the day. Four other category winners were announced at the awards ceremony:
- Malcolm Ricks, a formerly homeless man from Bath, who built on his love of nature to set up a thriving gardening business to scoop the ‘Business’ award
- Marie Campbell, who overcame drug addiction and homelessness to pursue her career ambitions in the social sector and won the ‘Education and Training’ award
- Scott Perry, a 21-year-old from Plymouth, who won the ‘New Talent’ award having pursued his love of the ocean to develop a new career in marine management
- Wendy Collins, from Carr Gomm Domestic Abuse Service in Darlington, who has worked tirelessly to support her clients and won the ‘Support Worker of the Year’ award
The awards ceremony was held in Canary Wharf, London, on 19 October 2009.
