Gerard Murphy and his Empowering by Example (EbyE) program worked with two groups - people in early recovery from addiction and ex-servicemen facing barriers to social integration. Feedback on the EbyE groupwork was very positive, with the recovery group electing to pay for extra sessions. EbyE was then used in a pilot program combining football coaching to engage ex-servicemen with alcohol issues and mental health problems. Evaluations of the 8 EbyE sessions were very high and the program was awarded in the Mental Health category of the UK Military and Civilian Health Partnerships awards in 2014.

1. Glasgow City
Community Health Partnership
South Sector
Health Improvement Team
E. James.McDaid@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Date: 20-01-15
Direct Line: 0141 232-8090
Empowering by Example Groupwork
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to confirm, that in my role as NHS support for Health behaviour change, we
have recently worked in partnership with Gerard Murphy and his Empowering by Exapmle -
- EbyE program to engage with two groups; people in early recovery from addictions and ex
servicemen. Both groups were facing barriers to social integration with lifestyle risk factors
underpinned by self defeating attitudes and behaviours. Gerard met all the conditions of his
agreement with us and developed a great rapport with all participants.
In both cases, feedback on Gerry’s EbyE Groupwork was very positive with the recovery
group, electing to pay for extra sessions fromtheir own funds. EbyE was then embedded
within a pilot programme utilising football coaching as a vehicle to engage with a hard to
reach group of ex servicemen consuming alcohol at hazardous, possibly dependent levels
with additional indicators with lifestyle risk and mental health issues. Evaluations of Gerry’s
8 EbyE sessions were very high and the programme itself provided very positive outcomes
and was winner in the Mental Health Category of the prestigious UK Military and civilian
Health partnerships awards 2014.
I look forward to working with Gerard in the future and have no hesitation in recommending
his work to your organisation.
Yours Sincerely
James Mc Daid
Health Improvement Practitioner