WCP SPONSOR’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING

SUE WINS THE WCP SPONSORED LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 

The Lifetime Achievement Award represents a person who has made a sustained effort to champion a cause or community over many years. All three finalists had impressed the judges with the dedication they had shown to their causes over the years.

When Sue Torr was announced as the winner she was stunned; “I’m absolutely shocked and very honoured to have won. When you get a call to say you’ve been shortlisted you think you might be in with a chance but you can never say for sure. “It was such a fantastic night, full of energy and with such a warm atmosphere”

Sue began an incredible journey when she admitted her illiteracy in 1991 and learnt to read at the age of 38. Sue wrote notes on the experience, which were turned into a play, titled ‘Shout It Out!’ and performed at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in 1992 and on BBC Radio Devon in 1993.

Sue is now an ambassador to encourage adults with reading difficulties to get help, going all over the UK to spread the word in schools, colleges, prisons, young offender units and community centres. She has even given talks for UNESCO around the world, and was awarded an MBE in 2001, for service to the community.

Her work provokes strong reactions and Sue even had people approach her with illiteracy problems at the awards night; “I had people coming up to me crying saying they were so touched by my video – people in their seventies saying they couldn’t read,” Sue said, “to have people approach you even at a ceremony like the Pride of Plymouth shows you how big an issue illiteracy is.”

“To know that Shout it Out is helping fight this issue puts such a smile on my face.”

Sue says the reaction to her award win has been overwhelming; “I’ve had so many emails and message of support after winning the award. I can’t thank people enough. To even be a part of that night was really an honour.”

The Shout it Out Project are in need of sponsors and fundraisers for 2015 so they can maintain their premises in Devonport and Sue is keen to hear from anyone who can help. Commended for their years of dedication were Councillor David Stark and John and Betty Insley.

“We are delighted to be able to give something back to the community which we serve through the sponsorship of this award, which acknowledges the outstanding commitment of a local person” said Stephen Ware MD.