Award winner Joey has the recipe for success

0
158

IT’S often said you can do almost anything in life when you put your mind to it.

Joey Crawford is a shining example of that.

This resilient, and effervescent, local man has proven that you can succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

The former Newcastle man, who now lives in supported housing in Downpatrick, was recently honoured for his involvement with Harry’s Place.

Joey was named as the 2024 Young Person of the Year at the NI Social Enterprise Awards.

The awards showcase the very best of the sector, highlighting the active role social enterprises play in building places, supporting communities, and making a positive impact on our environment and wellbeing.

Harry’s Place started out as a social hub for young people with learning disabilities.

 It’s a place where friendships are formed and confidence and skills grown.

 And in the four years since its inception, thanks to founders Gareth Little and David English, it has evolved and expanded to offer so much more.

Now based at Ballynahinch Market House, where its plant-based bakery and café serve up delicious food, it also has a social hub, which connects people in a way which, until then, was missing in the town.

It is named in memory of Gareth’s late uncle, Mr Harry Dunn, who had a learning disability, but to the Little family he was “just uncle Harry, and we knew no different”.

 Joey first got involved with Harry’s three years ago, when he walked through the café’s doors with his then Mencap officer.

His initial goal was to volunteer there, so he could work, learn and train, with the ultimate goal of getting a job at some stage in life.

And that’s exactly what happened earlier this year, when he impressed Gareth and David so much they knew he was the perfect person to hire.

Whether you’ve known him for years or you’re meeting for the first time his ebullient character quickly shines through.

He is seen as a ‘big brother’ to many of his peers at Harry’s, who trust him and turn to him for advice and help in various aspects of their own lives.

Looking back on how their paths first crossed and why he felt Joey was a worthy nominee for this award, Gareth said: “Three years ago, our Joey walked through our café doors, having heard about Harry’s through a friend. He was more than keen to get involved.

“Joey’s initial ambition was to secure a voluntary placement within the café, so he could work, learn and train in catering and hospitality, with the end goal of paid employment. With our first interaction with Joey, we could tell what sort of character he was straight away.

“Joey has a personality bursting with joy, fun and charisma. The type of infectious personality that can disarm the shyest of people.

“Joey’s heart is soft and welcoming. He accepts all who cross his path, without exception. Joey really does encapsulate the true spirit of Harry’s – one of acceptance, equality, love and kindness to all.”

Joey took to Harry’s like, as Gareth put it, “a duck to water”, committing himself to three working days in the café, a routine he has kept to this day.

“He wanted to do it all. Cooking, baking, front of house – the lot! While Joey’s drive to learn and develop throughout the café was incredibly admirable, we always knew where Joey’s strengths lay in the business and that was customer-facing, at the front of the café.

“With his larger-than-life personality and cheeky wit, Joey has our customers laughing hysterically and hanging off his every word.

 “It is not an exaggeration when we say Joey brings in the customers.

“As good as our food is, we know that people would travel to Harry’s just for the craic that our Joey provides,” he admitted.

“Joey very quickly understood Harry’s ethos of helping those like himself – adults with learning disabilities and autism. He knew that to continue with our mission, we needed our café to be a success.

“Joey has been instrumental in our café’s success over the past three years.”

Joey’s work within Harry’s has evolved over time and in the last year, he has grown and developed in ways that have even surprised the team at Harry’s.

Gareth went on to explain that Joey is someone “his peers respect and look up to,” with “the less able members of Harry’s drawn to him; wanting to interact, learn and play, as if he was their big brother”.

Joey’s patient and gentle nature has seen him develop beautiful relationships with those who struggle most, leading him to take up further voluntary positions in the affiliated day opportunity service, Harry’s Hangout, plus its social clubs, Harry’s Mates and The Geek Out.                           

And, Gareth explained, Joey, “without direction, will identify those that might need that extra little bit of help” and will kindly offer a hand, or some guidance, or simply a joke to make them feel better in that moment.

“When we took over a café on Belfast’s Ormeau Road this time last year, Joey wanted to be involved. Joey wanted a new Harry’s café experience and to show what he had learned over the years, in a much busier and more demanding café environment. So, Joey helped get ‘Harry’s at 387’ up and running.”

He helped train the newcomers and ensured that Harry’s ethos was replicated in this new space.

“Joey’s dedication to our new venture in Belfast was plain for all to see and we owe him a lot for his contribution to what has turned out to be a very successful business,” Gareth added.

However, Ballynahinch still needed Joey.

Twelve months ago Harry’s Place, which is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and its other services, moved across the road to its new base at the Market House.

This new set-up meant food being served at the front, giving Joey the chance to show all the catering and hospitality skills that he had learned and became the new deli boss – a role that he has thrived in, and which has led to his goal of paid employment.

Summing up why the judges got it absolutely right in selecting Joey as the award winner, Gareth concluded: “This is very much deserved. We are thrilled for our Joey.

“He may have come to Harry’s because of his learning disability, but his abilities to be thoughtful, funny, accepting and kind are what really define him, and that is why he is the Young Person of the Year.”

Listening intently to this, Joey modestly shrugged his shoulders and admitted the nomination “was a big shock”.

“It was such a big night, and I could not believe what was happening. It was all a bit of a blur, my name was called out and everyone was clapping and cheering.

“Gareth was crying, and then I was handed this big award,” he recalled.

However, whilst winning this accolade is a huge achievement for him and the Harry’s Place CIC team, Joey remains grounded.

His greater pride is what happens with this community-based initiative, all the things that have been achieved, plus what lies ahead.

“I love it here,” he said, before acknowledging how Harry’s is “like a family” in itself.

“There are great people here.

“I have made friendships for life and love all the customers who come here.”

Joey added: “I just love what I am able to do here, and so many other people love being here too. It’s just a very special place.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here