Certitude ‘Unsung Hero’ shortlisted for the Third Sector Awards

Congratulations to Hogarth who has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Unsung Hero’ category of the Third Sector Awards which will take place in London on the 20 September 2024.

Hogarth has been a mental health support worker at Certitude since 2018. He has been shortlisted for his work supporting somebody who he first met five years ago when he became his keyworker. The man (who we’re calling ‘T’) had previously spent ten years being supported in various places across London, however, not much was known about him. He had no form of identity or documentation and said he had no recollection about how he came to be supported by us.

Slowly, trust built between the two and thanks to Hogarth’s gentle and kind manner, T was supported to enrol in college and take part in various voluntary projects. Gradually, he started to open up to Hogarth about his home country and how he would like to visit again one day. As well as not knowing if he could trace his family, the major obstacle was that he had no birth certificate or passport.

Hogarth felt inspired to act, gathering clues and titbits of information at every opportunity. He explains that over a year and a half he contacted different projects, places and people that had been involved in T’s support over the ten years.

“This included the GP surgery, Social Workers, and Care Coordinators as well as a friend that came into the country at the same time. His friend was able to share vital information… he was going on holiday to their home country, and I asked if he could check to see if T’s family were still alive. He came back with good news – T’s mother and brother were still alive and could be contacted.”

Hogarth was then able to support T to take the necessary steps that would allow him to visit his family. This involved emailing various organisations and authorities, including the home office. Despite his calm dedication, persistent emails and many phone calls, Hogarth felt that the process was extremely slow, so he supported T to get a solicitor involved. Hogarth says

“the hardest part was getting people to sign the documents; most people didn’t want to put their address and phone number… but we got it done in the end.”

Eventually documentation was filed for T’s Nationalisation which took place in 2023, and Hogarth is now supporting him to take a trip this year to connect with his family.

Hogarth’s colleague Leonne says that “stories like this are the reason that support workers do what we do. Hogarth has been so determined and yet so patient in supporting a person to pursue the thing that was important to him. To have such good news and success, helps all of the team to keep going with what we do. It lifts us all.”