SUTTY IN AN INSPIRATIONAL INFLUENCER
Foundation personal trainer ‘Sutty’ has been crowned Inspirational Influencer of the Year at the National Social Media Awards.
James Sutliff, known as ‘Sutty’ to everyone at the Get Busy Living Centre, uses his social media platforms to celebrate the progress of Matt Hampson Foundation beneficiaries he works with each day and to raise awareness of disability and inclusion issues.
Working as a plumber and playing rugby for his local club, Sutty’s life changed when he experienced distorted and slurred speech, followed by issues with his hands. He was eventually diagnosed with Dystonia, a condition which affects the muscles.
He retrained in a new career as a personal trainer and started working daily with beneficiaries soon after the Get Busy Living Centre opened in 2018 to support young people seriously injured through sporting activity.
Sutty also raises awareness of the Foundation by participating in physical challenges including the London Marathon and cross-fit competition.
Inspiration
His @james_sutliff Instagram account has more than 175,000 followers while his posts on TikTok have collected 17 million views as Sutty tells the story of his own journey while providing support and advice for others.
Matt Hampson OBE said: “The word ‘inspiration’ is used far too often, but Sutty is the definition of inspiration.
“He brings incredible life and energy into the Centre and all the beneficiaries enjoy working with him, no matter how hard he makes them work in the gym.
“Sutty is extremely dedicated to helping people after life-changing injuries and to help them, as we say, ‘get busy living’. He inspires people within the Foundation every single day and everyone in the team is delighted that he has been recognised for how he provides inspiration and motivation to others through his social media.”
Award presentations were made in London after Sutty’s nomination in the Inspirational Influencer category and then consideration of online support and the views of a judging panel.
People like me
“Becoming a disability fitness trainer is the best thing I ever did,” he said.
“I love what I do – working with people, being involved in Matt’s Foundation, being at the Centre every day, it’s great.
“Like on my social media, I want to show people what they can do, help people like me, people with a disability or with a life-changing injury, and just show them what they can do.”
Sutty is a previous winner of the Positive Role Model – Disability category at the National Diversity Awards and on the honours board of the Diversity Power List in 2022/23.
