This award celebrates annually someone who has been an outstanding ambassador or inspiration for people with aphasia, or who has carried out exceptional research to benefit people with aphasia. Nominations are open to people with aphasia, family/whānau and friends, Speech Language Therapists and other people with an interest in aphasia. The award consists of $1000 and the recipient and runners-up are featured in our news and on our social media.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to put someone’s name forward for this award. We will send you a short form to complete to tell us why that person should be considered for the award. From 2024, we will open nominations in March on Emma’s birthday.
We will present the Emma Castle Award for Excellence in Aphasia at the end of Aphasia Awareness Month in June.
The inaugural recipient of the Emma Castle Award in 2023 is Kevin Bradshaw
Eleanor Maxwell, Christchurch Community Aphasia Advisor, says
“Congratulations to Kevin on being the first ever recipient of the Emma Castle Award. Kevin is an inspiration to many people with aphasia in the Christchurch community as he is an example of how social connection and a positive outlook on life results in a life well lived alongside aphasia.
“Kevin has been a valued member of the AphasiaNZ Kōrero Clubs in Christchurch since 2020. When I first met Kevin it was clear he has always been community-minded and had a talent for bringing out the best in people. Not long into joining the Kōrero Clubs Kevin connected and developed many friendships with other members and got them involved in the MenZshed where he had been a long-time member. This developed into the aphasia MenZshed group which now includes members who previously had no experience of woodwork. His talent as a teacher and championing others is clear. We love seeing and hearing about the latest projects from the menZshed members at Kōrero Club and best of all seeing the pride on their faces at the beautiful creations they have produced.
“Kevin’s involvement with AphasiaNZ and the MenZshed just scratches the surface of his community involvement which further reinforces why he is such a worthy winner of this award.”
