Rob Wilson
Nominee Profile
Location: Leeds
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit this profile, I appreciate your consideration of support.
Throughout my life I've tried to use my lived experience to support and improve the experience of others in the community.
As someone who has always been active around the LGBT+ communities and bar scene it's no surprise that my main focus is in this area. Being conscious of the potential for exclusion and isolation from the wider community, whilst also not being able to relate to specific support services as someone in the mainstream it's been important to me to be visible, and to provide social and support opportunities.
Back in 2016 I founded The Leeds Hunters, the first active LGBT+ inclusive rugby team in Yorkshire whilst at the same time setting up The Bad Mittens as an LGBT+ inclusive social badminton group. Whilst I only stayed involved in the Hunters for the first year, I have continued to run the badminton group which currently has 1400 members.
Having stepped away from the rugby, in 2017 I set up The Angels of Freedom in order to coordinate improving community support, safety and social opportunities, which I continue to coordinate and deliver street engagement/safety in the evening economy, several social events each month, a football fitness session with Leeds United, partnership awareness events throughout the year and ongoing support for LGBT+ people within the asylum system.
Social opportunities away from the typical bar scene are important to me, having previously experienced substance addiction and understanding the impact of community connections playing a part in this - I'm very open about being sober in the community.
Having lived experience within the local authority care system as a child, domestic abuse as an adult and child, mental health challenges, youth homelessness and other issues have created the person I am today, so I have embedded compassionate values of using these to make a positive difference for others by my own actions.
Throughout my life I've tried to use my lived experience to support and improve the experience of others in the community.
As someone who has always been active around the LGBT+ communities and bar scene it's no surprise that my main focus is in this area. Being conscious of the potential for exclusion and isolation from the wider community, whilst also not being able to relate to specific support services as someone in the mainstream it's been important to me to be visible, and to provide social and support opportunities.
Back in 2016 I founded The Leeds Hunters, the first active LGBT+ inclusive rugby team in Yorkshire whilst at the same time setting up The Bad Mittens as an LGBT+ inclusive social badminton group. Whilst I only stayed involved in the Hunters for the first year, I have continued to run the badminton group which currently has 1400 members.
Having stepped away from the rugby, in 2017 I set up The Angels of Freedom in order to coordinate improving community support, safety and social opportunities, which I continue to coordinate and deliver street engagement/safety in the evening economy, several social events each month, a football fitness session with Leeds United, partnership awareness events throughout the year and ongoing support for LGBT+ people within the asylum system.
Social opportunities away from the typical bar scene are important to me, having previously experienced substance addiction and understanding the impact of community connections playing a part in this - I'm very open about being sober in the community.
Having lived experience within the local authority care system as a child, domestic abuse as an adult and child, mental health challenges, youth homelessness and other issues have created the person I am today, so I have embedded compassionate values of using these to make a positive difference for others by my own actions.