My Story: Matt Humphreys

Everyone we support has their own story. This is Matt who turned his own story into a published book.

With dyslexia and a brain injury, most people wouldn’t expect to write a book, but Matt Humphries isn’t most people.

Matt has always been up for a challenge. A natural sportsman with a determined streak, he’s never let obstacles hold him back. In 2014 he completed the Rickshaw Challenge for Children in Need, raising a fantastic amount for charity. Since then he’s continued to push himself, achieving sporting goals that many only dream of.

Life hasn’t been without its difficulties. Living with the ongoing effects of a brain injury and physical pain would stop most people in their tracks. But Matt’s resilience, humour and positive mindset have kept him moving forward. He believes that if you put your mind to something, you can make it happen, and his story proves just that.

It was a support worker at Real Life Options who first encouraged Matt to tell his story by writing it down. What started as a simple conversation turned into a remarkable journey. He says he began working on his book (titled Learning to Balance in a Wobbly World) in late 2023/early 2024 during a rough patch, after the suggestion from his support worker that he had an interesting voice and story to tell. With that encouragement he found writing almost therapeutic, helping him move through a difficult period.

Matt wanted his book to reach someone who might be in a similar position: “My ideal reader would be someone in a similar position to me … they’d see if I can do it why can’t they, and that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything.”

Since then, Matt’s taken part in book signings, given presentations about his journey, and proudly seen his book listed on Amazon. Through it all, he remains humble, driven, and grateful to the people who believed in him. He thanks his support worker Melanie Alesbrook, his family, his cousin (who designed the cover) and the team at The Book Writers Resource (TBWR) Ltd for helping with editing and publishing.

Matt’s story is one of grit, determination, and the power of support. With the right encouragement he’s shown that no challenge is too great, and that with courage and positivity, anything is possible.