An inspirational student at City of Wolverhampton College is celebrating after being honoured with a special award from the Rotary Clubs of Wolverhampton.
Eva Abley, aged 17, received a Special Recognition Award at the Rotary Wolverhampton Young Citizen Awards 2025 at the University of Wolverhampton on Friday, 19 September.
Eva, who has cerebral palsy, was given the honour in recognition of her work to highlight the challenges faced by young people with a disability and taking her message to a national level by writing a book and taking part in a BAFTA-winning documentary
As part of her work, Eva delivers motivational talks to share her experiences of feeling excluded because of her health condition and her a book – titled The Good, The Bad and the Wobbly: The Shaky Memoirs of a Cerebral Palsy Warrior – details how she lives with her condition and has overcame her struggles with depression.
As part of the Sky documentary – FYI investigates: Disability and Me – she questioned Gillian Keegan, the then Secretary of State for Education, about why the necessary support for disabled children is lacking in schools and where funding is allocated.
Eva, who won the Wolverhampton Young Citizen Award in 2023, is studying for a health and social care Level 3 extended diploma at the college and has applied to university to train to become an occupational therapist after being inspired by the occupational therapy sessions she benefits from every week.
She said: “I am absolutely honoured to have received this award.
“When I was younger, I struggled with accepting my disability because I didn’t fit in. I don’t want any other young person to go through what I went through which is why I deliver motivational talks in schools about how being different is ok.
“Going to college has been one of the best things I’ve ever done – I never had friends before, but now I’m learning alongside a group of people who treat me just as me, not someone with a disability which is just how it should be.
“I combine studying with promoting the importance of diversity and inclusion, as well as raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and if what I do makes a difference in just one person’s life, I’ll be happy.”
Louise Fall, principal and chief executive of the college, said: “We are extremely proud of Eva. She is determined to change perceptions so that other young people with disabilities don’t have to face the challenges she has overcome.
“Her resilience, ambition, and positivity – combined with her humour and wit – make her a role model for all, and we are delighted that she has been recognised in this way.”
The Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year Awards is run by the city’s four Rotary clubs in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolves Foundation.
Rotarian Mel Eves, chairman of the awards, said: “It was a privilege to lead the organising committee for the first time this year and, on behalf of the judging panel, I would like to congratulate Eva again on taking her message to a national level which we felt was deserving of a Special Recognition Award.”
The Rotary Club award came in the same week that Eva was notified that she is one of three finalists in the national Association of Colleges’ Young Student of the Year Awards which take place in Birmingham in November.
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