Cardiff Met student wins Pride of Britain award for her work with eating disorder patients

A Cardiff Metropolitan student has won a Pride of Britain award for her work helping people suffering from eating disorders.

Molly Leonard, 26, from Cardiff, won the King’s Trust Young Achiever award last week in recognition of her self-made crafting business, while facing a long-term battle with an eating disorder and subsequently spending years in and out of hospital.

During her time in the hospital, Molly discovered a love for crafting and organised and led arts and crafts classes for her fellow patients, bringing people together to build skills and a sense of community.

Molly continued these classes when she left the hospital, visiting primary schools, museums and other groups across Cardiff, with support and funding provided by the King’s Trust, an organisation centred around supporting young people and their businesses, where Molly recently became a young ambassador.

Speaking with Wales 247, Molly said: “I spent six years in and out of hospitals across the UK. It was during my last admission two years ago that one of the staff suggested I get in touch with the King’s Trust. I actually contacted them from my hospital bed!

“I had no job and no money, just an idea and need to get out of the downward spiral I was in. They’ve supported me from the very beginning and even encouraged me to do the teaching course at Cardiff Met and further my studies.

She then continued by saying: “The King’s Trust has done a huge amount more for me than just helping me start my business, they’ve helped me gain confidence and believe in myself, something I didn’t have for a very long time.”

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The Pride of Britain Awards have celebrated and recognised the nation’s unsung heroes since 1999. Molly was recognised for her contributions to the community in the face of great personal adversity.

On winning the award, she said: “I’m honoured to have been nominated for a Pride of Britain award, let alone win one. It’s beyond anything I could have imagined.”

Molly went on to study the preparing to teach in PCET course at Cardiff Met, after discovering her passion for teaching and now hopes to grow her business further.

“The PCET course at Cardiff Met really helped boost my confidence and believe in my own ability. After leaving an undergraduate course in 2017 due to my mental health, I never thought I would go back to studying,” she said.

“There was a point during the course at Cardiff Met when I didn’t think I could continue, but my course leader spent time with me and helped me realise I could do it. The tutor’s commitment really made a difference.

“Now that I’ve completed it, I’m so happy I stuck with it. The course gave me valuable teaching experience in a judgment-free environment and made me consider returning to education to study further.”

Leanne Davies, a Senior Lecturer in the PGCE PCET and programme director for preparing to teach PCET at the university, said: “Molly never gave up. As an entrepreneur, starting her own business, gaining teaching skills and sharing best practice to others, as well as overcoming physical and mental challenges along the way, Molly has come so far… A totally inspirational young learner!”

Featured image credit: YouTube