South Devon College and the South Devon University Centre pride themselves on their strong links with the local community, both in terms of students, residents and businesses. In honour of this relationship, the College bestows a prestigious Honorary Fellowship award to those who have made a significant contribution to the College and the community as a whole, which is celebrated at the annual HE Graduation Ceremony in September.
This is the highest honour that the college can bestow and one of this year’s worthy recipients of an Honorary Fellowship is former student Claire Lear, who runs Phoenix Rising, a domestic and sexual abuse charity in Torquay, helping females overcome abuse and build confidence. Phoenix Rising is a non-profit organisation founded by Claire in 2020, who has spent 10 years as a domestic violence advisor, as well as a senior health coach for the NHS, a BSc Sports Coach and trauma-informed therapist.
Claire has a strong background of working with South Devon College and South Devon University Centre, both as a student and business partner, having offered placements to College students, some of whom have stayed on as valuable volunteers with Phoenix Rising.
Even the CIC’s name is symbolic – “sometimes we have to start at the bottom but, with our support and guidance, you will rise from the ashes and start a new beginning.”
Claire was nominated for her dedication to supporting females in need by running courses, art therapy, and 1 to 1 sessions, alongside physical exercise such as boxercise, ice bath therapy, and paddle boarding, empowering those attending to take control of their own lives.
Claire said: “First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude towards South Devon College for this honour.
“Receiving this award for Honorary Fellowship is not just a personal milestone for me, it’s a recognition of the collective efforts of passionate individuals in our team and the volunteers and students at Phoenix Rising CIC who believe in the power of giving back and have a passion for helping others.”
Claire Lear accepting her Honorary Fellowship award from South Devon University Centre
Claire is adamant that her achievements are down to a team effort. She continued:
“I wouldn’t be here without the support of my team which consists of staff and volunteers. We also have a lovely team of Directors – Ali, Jean, Fleur and Claire who, without them, a CIC can’t continue. They bring their diverse experiences and perspectives to the table, as well as laughs, support and the same passion and belief as I do in what we’ve created here, supporting domestic abuse survivors.”
The ethos behind Phoenix Rising is to remove some of the taboo nature around domestic abuse and to validate the experiences of those who sometimes suffer in silence. At Phoenix Rising Claire and her team have created safe spaces for conversations, where survivors can share their stories without fear of stigma or judgement, either in person or online.
“As a society we have the responsibility to educate ourselves and others about the signs of domestic abuse. To understand that abuse doesn’t just come from partners, but can be family members too, that it isn’t always in the form of physical abuse, that it can also be hidden and secretive – financial, emotional, and control.
“The students who have attended our courses and worked with us can now share that with others, and if that is passed on to just one person that day then we have done our job right.”
Claire’s journey from student to founder of a CIC to Honorary Fellow has taken many turns, and has seen her study at, and offer support to, South Devon College and the University Centre.
“It’s been a pleasure to be part of the South Devon College community over the years, from studying a beauty therapy qualification to a degree in Sports Science. You are supported as a student through your learning experience, both emotionally and physically.
“This kind of support and learning environment we also model at Phoenix Rising – our values are very important to us as a service and we know that we share similar values as the College.”
Laurence Frewin, Principal and CEO of South Devon College and South Devon University Centre, said: “We are so proud to present this Honorary Fellowship to Claire Lear, founder and CEO of Phoenix Rising CIC, a charity that supports survivors of domestic abuse, empowering them to find inner strength. Claire built the organisation from scratch working with a team of volunteers driven by a desire to help others.
“This award is made all the more meaningful because of the strength of the passionately-felt nomination, which came from within the University Centre staff community.
“Claire is an example of an individual who has overcome trauma and challenges to achieve something outstanding, and something that truly gives back to the community she is a part of. In this, she sets a shining example for all our graduates.
“We’re delighted to welcome you to the South Devon University Centre community as an honorary fellow.“
Claire concluded: “As I accept this award, I am reminded that the true impact of our service is not measured by accolades or recognition though but by the lives we touch and the hope we inspire in survivors of domestic abuse and students who attend our service.
“Our aim was to build a strong community much like South Devon College, where women can access all levels of support, where they can build new friendships, try new things, gain a qualification, and find their identity again.
“We hope that we continue to build on our strong partnership with students and staff at the College. Thank you so much for recognising our service from all of us here at Phoenix Rising CIC, and our doors are always open to any of you.”