James Allison, lead mental health practitioner at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Gamesearlier last month , after competing for just one year.

Jim, who works with the Trust’s specialist prison in-reach service at HM Prison Hollesley Bay in Suffolk, said: “Winning the gold medal at a Commonwealth event and representing my country has been a real honor. It has not quite sunk in! My colleagues at work have been a brilliant support and have been really happy for me. I even brought in my medal and trophy to show them.

“This is my first year of competing and only my third competition – I only started powerlifting to try and keep healthy and it progressed from there! Strength training is something that benefits the physical and mental health of a person and the prison encourage this through the training facilities it has for both staff and prisoners. They are all quite chuffed that I have come back with the gold medal!”

Jim started powerlifting two years ago and took part in his first competition in March 2011, where he came second. He was then selected to compete for the British Championships, which were held in Lancaster, where he won the title of British Champion Masters 1.

He was invited to the Commonwealth Powerlifting Games by the Scottish powerlifting team. Jim won the medal in a bench press content by lifting a weight of 185kgs to his chest and to ‘lock out’ position.

“I go into 2012 looking to continue competing and I am working towards representing Britain in the European stage and world stage,” he added. “For now I am sitting waiting for someone to come in and take the medal back and say I didn’t win as I wait for it all to sink in!”

Jim is trained and coached at Hamilton’s Gym in Colchester.