SUTTY SELECTED AMONG THIS YEAR’S DISABILITY POWER 100
Matt Hampson Foundation personal trainer James Sutliff has been named in the Disability Power 100 recognising the most influential disabled people in the UK.
The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 nominations highlight the impact, influence and innovation of individuals and organisations, celebrating ambition, achievement and impact.
Formerly a qualified plumber and heating engineer, and local rugby player, at age 23 ‘Sutty’ developed a rare neurological disorder, Dystonia, which impacts speech and limits the use of his hands.
He retrained as a personal trainer and works as the Foundation’s disability specialist fitness coach and personal trainer at the Get Busy Living Centre. supporting beneficiaries on their journeys following serious injury. He is also prominent on social media and has featured in fitness and health magazines as well as being interviewed by BBC and ITV’s This Morning programme.
“It hasn’t always been smooth sailing but the journey and experience of navigating and building a whole new life whilst living with an invisible disability has been deeply profound,” he wrote on his Power 100 profile.
“I have achieved far beyond my expectations and I want to share my story and what I have learnt along the way to as many people as I can.”
As well as being included in the top 100 overall, Sutty was named in the Top 10 in the Sport, Health and Wellbeing section.
Foundation chief executive Tommy Cawston, who attended the awards event this week, said: “This is great recognition for Sutty and he richly deserves to be on the list with 99 other incredible people.”
Foundation beneficiary George Robinson was included in the Power 100 last year, and Matt Hampson OBE, who created the Foundation to support and inspire young people following his own life-changing injury in sport, was part of the list in 2022 .
