Melissa McGuire was referred onto the programme by Blackpool Tiggers, which is a well-recognised trampolining group for children with autism where she volunteered on a regular basis. She has contributed over 300 voluntary hours to Blackpool Tiggers within the past year through caring for and supporting these children.
This has been a fantastic achievement for Melissa especially when you take into consideration that she originally set out to find a group offering activity opportunities to children with disability that she could help. She had particular interest in sport and autism and therefore approached Blackpool Tiggers off her own bat.
With regular and consistent attendance to the club, in just six months she developed from a shy, quiet young person with no knowledge of trampolining or practical experience of autism, to be responsible for trampoline skill development assessment and awarding for 2-16 year olds. Melissa undertook training and qualified as a British Gymnastics Level 1 trampolining coach and has already been implementing the learning from the course, under the guidance of the club coach, in her coaching of children, who respond to her patient but clear instruction very well. This includes being lead coach for sessions in Blackpool, Fleetwood and Preston. She has undertaken all of this work, not for the recognition, but for the good of the children and enabling more children to access more sport. She has recently produced a leaflet on 'the benefits of rebound therapy' that has been widely circulated, including within the DfES SEN North West partnership. As a result of her experience at Tiggers, she is now working with young adults on the autistic spectrum in residential settings.
All of Melissa's achievements have earned her praise from across Lancashire. She won at the Blackpool Sports Awards 2006 was put forward to Lancashire Sport partnership Sports Awards for 'Volunteer of the Year' and triumphed here. She was then entered as a one of five nominees in the 'Care and Support' category at the Millennium Volunteer of the Year 2007. All this work was rightly rewarded as Melissa won this category! Now Melissa will go forth to the National MV of the Year Awards which is due to take place this summer, in her home town of Blackpool.