On Crutches, But Moving Forward: SOS Combatives CIC Recognised at the High Sheriff’s Awards

Some moments stay with you, not because of the result, but because of what it took to get there.

Being a named runner-up for the Essex Police Community Safety Award at the High Sheriffs Award Evenings was one of those moments.

But what made it more meaningful was what it took to get there, I don't mean that figuratively either, I was literally on Crutches from a recent surgery.

Theres a certain irony in being recognised for community safety while feeling completely physically vulnerable.

Supported by Crutches and my Family

A few weeks after ACL surgery, I found myself at the High Sheriff's Awards Evening, trading a sharp stride for a pair of crutches. It wasn't the 'polished' moment I might have imagined, but in a way, it was perfect.

SOS Combatives isn't about being comfortable or convenient, it's about the grit required to make a difference, regardless of the circumstances.

Luckily, I didn't go alone. My partner, Mandy, who has supported me from the beginning, helped me through the ups and downs, the late nights, the stress, and the push to make SOS Combatives work.

That made the moment hit harder, knowing what it took to get there, growing an idea from nothing to being recognised at the High Sheriff's Award Evenings.

It showed I was doing something right and gave me confidence knowing that there is a place for real-world personal safety training that actually prepares people and helps grow a stronger community.

To stand in that room, surrounded by some of the most respected organisations in community safety, teams with years of experience, funding and infrastructure, was humbling in the best way. It gave me hope that one day, it will be someone else standing where I was, looking around that room of industry professionals, having the same thoughts while looking at me. Looking at what SOS Combatives has grown into.

Why this matters

Most community safety initiatives focus on awareness, and that's important, but it's part of a bigger action plan.

Awareness doesn't prepare you for the moment when something actually happens.

That's the gap we focus on

Understanding real-world threats

Managing adrenaline and fear

Developing instinctive, principle-led responses

It's not always comfortable, but it does prepare you. Our classes are designed to tap into the body response, the adrenaline, the fast thinking, so you make the right choice at the worst time. This is what sets us apart from traditional training.

Every program contributes towards building skills and confidence,

It empowers vulnerable individuals

Support local charities like Safe Steps

Build stronger, more capable communities

That's what the recognition represents for us, proof that we are doing something amazing, being recognised for what we are doing and that theres a place for SOS Combatives, among these established safety initiatives.

A moment that hit home

I want to share a moment that meant a lot to me personally, beyond being recognised for our work. I was standing with my partner Mandy, still recovering from ACL surgery, not feeling too great, and I was looking around the room, just taking in the moment, and it hit me like a truck.

This idea that grew from offering lessons out of my home gym to a community interest company was being recognised on a county level, among people who have been in the industry for years.

It showed we are on the right path, not because we offer perfectly polished training that fits a certain model, but because this training and education are needed, it shows that what we are doing is making people's lives better by giving them confidence, and it's being recognised by giants in the industry.

Our mission

We are on the right path, and our mission stays the same. We aim to reach more people and help deliver real, honest training to those who need it.

And ultimately, create a model that could shape how community safety is delivered on a much bigger scale to communities who need it.

To everyone who supported SOS Combatives CIC so far, I want to give a truly heartfelt thank you. Your support means more than you know, and seeing the results is what drives me forward.

Thank you.

Protect yourself, empower others.