An 'outstanding' social worker who has provided crucial help to refugees, including families from Ukraine, to settle in Norfolk has won a top national award.
Aravind Satheesh, who works in Norfolk County Council’s People from Abroad Team, was named the Student Social Worker of the Year at an awards ceremony in London.
Mr Satheesh won the award for his work as a student social worker and development worker for the county council, where he supported families arriving under the refugee settlement programmes, as well as those under the Homes for Ukraine initiative.
Mr Satheesh, who studied for his MA in social work at the University of East Anglia, also worked one day a week with the Norwich charity the Matthew Project, supporting youngsters with vulnerabilities or substance misuse issues.
And he organised a fundraising event in Norwich which raised more than £5,000 for people affected by the Syrian and Turkish earthquakes.
Mr Satheesh, who was described as having "outstanding potential" by social work colleagues, said: "It’s an award for everyone. All the people who are involved in my life.
"This award is the result of a team effort, I dedicate this award to both my placement teams People from Abroad Team and the Matthew Project and to all the student social workers out there, who are managing their university work, placements and, sometimes, part-time jobs and working through all the adversities in pursuit of making this community a better place.
"I would also like to thank my professors at UEA for believing in me and always supporting me.
"This profession gives me the opportunity to make a positive change in people’s life, this motivates me to be social worker."
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Alison Thomas, cabinet member for adult social services congratulated Mr Satheesh for his award and said: "It was fantastic to hear how he had helped service users under various resettlement schemes to integrate into life in the UK, understand the community, and navigate the system."
Christine Cocker, head of school for social work at UEA, said: "We are very proud of Aravind and the contribution he made to his placements with Norfolk County Council whilst studying for his MA in Social Work at UEA."
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