Harrison Nash, Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award Winner
A calling to change young lives: the journey of purpose and impact
During my gap year, in 2007, I went on a volunteer trip to South Africa that completely changed everything for me.
Harrison Nash, BSc (Hons) Social Work
-
?BSc (Hons) Social Work
-
?Social worker
-
?Honorary lecturer in Social Work
Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Harrison describes how he turned his calling into action, proving that with courage and determination, even the boldest dreams can make a lasting impact.
The spark of a calling
Originally, I was set on a career in marketing – I’d planned to study media and literature and had even started working with my dad, who ran a marketing business in London. But during my gap year in 2007, I went on a volunteer trip to South Africa that completely changed everything for me. I had planned it as a way to broaden my horizons before university, but I had no idea just how much it would shape my future.
While I was out there, I worked with children who were in desperate need of care and protection. I remember asking myself – how do these young people, who have been through so much, get taken to somewhere safe? Who makes that happen? That’s when I realised the vital role social workers play. You cannot move a child from a harmful situation into a safe, supportive environment without a social worker being part of that process.
That experience made such a lasting impression on me, that I completely changed direction and chose to study social work at the Â鶹´«Ã½. Looking back, I cannot believe I was only 18 years old when I first got on that plane – but it set me on a path I am incredibly proud of today.
Turning passion into action
During my time in Gqeberha, South Africa – particularly while working in a residential youth centre – I became acutely aware that much more could be achieved with long-term commitment rather than short-term volunteer stints. That realisation is what initially drove me to start fundraising. When I received feedback that setting up a registered charity would be the most effective way to continue the work, I began the process of formally establishing Maranatha Care Children, which was officially recognised by the Charity Commission in 2010.
The charity focuses on supporting children in residential care, and I have been primarily based in South Africa ever since. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been seeing the long-term impact of sustained investment in a child’s life – watching them grow into independent, resilient young adults. To also attend such milestones as their graduation events especially fill me with pride. Over time, we have expanded our reach, including launching a rural community project that supports family preservation programmes.
One of the things I am proud of is maintaining relationships with our children as they become adults, some of those that I first met when I was just 18 myself. I’m still in touch with many of them, and seeing where they are now is incredible.
There is often a stigma attached to children in care, but I have seen firsthand how, with the right support, they can overcome adversity and thrive. Many of them are role models in their own right, and that has been the real highlight for me – walking alongside them on their journey into adulthood.
More recently, I have been exploring ways to share and replicate aspects of our model in the UK. I was particularly struck by how limited the support is here for young people over 16 – and especially over 18. In South Africa, our programmes continue supporting young people into their early 20s, with tailored aftercare if needed. I have started conversations with stakeholders in the UK about how some of what we’ve developed could be adapted here, and now that I’m back, I’m hopeful those ideas can start to take root and make a difference on both sides of the world.
