John Ryder, a former BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice student, was recognised for his role in helping to establish the Portsmouth-based organisation Every Charitable Act Supports Someone (ECASS).
John Ryder, CEO of the Portsmouth-based organisation Every Charitable Act Supports Someone (ECASS) and University of Portsmouth graduate, has been named Peoples Community Champions Managing Director of the Year at the SME News Managing Director of the Year Awards.
John, a former BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice student, was recognised for his role in helping to establish and grow ECASS into a community interest company (CIC), which only started just over a year ago.
Working with partners across the city, including the University, the City Council and Portsmouth Football Club, ECASS provides a wide range of support and activities for people of all ages such as debt advice, alcohol and drug awareness, domestic violence and abuse help and mental health support.
It has run street art projects for young people across the city, set up Electric Avenue - an electrical device and PC donation programme to support those who do not have the devices and equipment they need - education workshops and other community-based events.
I absolutely loved my time at the University and every bit of the degree has helped me change lives for the better across our communities.
Being awarded the Peoples Community Champions Managing Director of the Year is a testament to how hard the ECASS team have worked. It’s always a team effort when it comes to anything community based.
John Ryder with Penny Mordaunt MP for Portsmouth North (left) in front of a street art project.
John said: “I absolutely loved my time at the University and every bit of the degree has helped me change lives for the better across our communities.
“Being awarded the Peoples Community Champions Managing Director of the Year is a testament to how hard the ECASS team have worked. It’s always a team effort when it comes to anything community based.
“I would like to share this quote that is quite fitting. ‘In our lives we go on journeys and quite often have hills/problems to climb. It’s not until we get to the top of that hill that we realise that as human beings climbing is what we do and very well. There isn’t any mountain high enough when you have the right shoulder to walk alongside, put your life experience boots on go out there and be that shoulder and join someone on their climb. Power for the people from the people!’”
ECASS were also nominated for the final of the Lloyds Bank Local Business of the Year Awards 2022, the final of the Portsmouth News Business Innovation Awards 2022 and won the HERO Award in the Business Community Award category at the 2023 Business Champion awards.