News
On these pages you can read the latest press releases and news about People of the Year 2009.
Recession must not mean more inequality says top UK disability network
- leading businesses and public sector to discuss solutions with RADAR
- RADAR People of the Year Awards Shortlist 2009 announced
Date: 5 November 2009
Ensuring that hard economic times are not used as an excuse for ignoring legislation on human rights or treating disabled people unfairly will be a main theme of discussion and action for RADAR (the Royal Association for Disability Rights) over the next year.
These discussions will start at a summit to ‘future proof equality’ on 30 November, with the winners presentation for RADAR’s People of the Year (POTY) Awards taking place in the evening. The short-listed people and organisations for the RADAR Awards show the way for others to follow.
Individuals, private, public and voluntary sector organisations will be working with RADAR to investigate exactly how the many problems currently facing disabled people – including barriers to independent living and poverty – can be tackled, as well as ensuring that the recession does not mean disabled people are left even worse off than before.
The RADAR POTY Awards ceremony will be hosted by Frank Gardner OBE, BBC Security Correspondent. Presenters and speakers include the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, ex-Armed Forces Major Phil Packer and former No 10 Communications Director Alastair Campbell.
In previous recessions, whole generations of disabled people were left living in poverty, on long-term benefits, without hope or opportunity. This time, individuals and organisations are supporting RADAR’s call to future-proof equality, to ensure this waste of people’s lives cannot happen again. The POTY Awards shortlist shows how disabled people want to be part of the solution – contributing to the success of “UK plc” long-term. For example:
- as disability becomes more common with the ageing population, it is more and more important for employers to tap into all the talents – and to enable disabled people to stay in work and to succeed. RADAR and partner organisations are supporting career opportunities in new industries and changing times
- it is increasingly important that health and social care services give people the choice and control necessary to lead full lives. Short listed organisations are pioneering new models of service, often under the lead of disabled people
- disabled people are helping to ensure that the legacy of the London Olympics and Paralympics will be a more inclusive country for everyone
- disabled people and partner organisations have pioneered technology that can transform disabled people’s engagement with everything from day to day living to job hunting and more
Chief Executive of RADAR Liz Sayce, comments:
“In tough economic times disability equality matters more not less. We look forward to working with those organisations who already support RADAR’s work and reaching out to those we need to get on board to future proof equality. Making Britain a fairer place for everyone living with ill-health, injury or disability is a simple matter of social justice. It also makes economic sense – those companies that draw their workers from across all communities as well as seeking as wide a market as possible for their goods and services are best able to withstand economic hard times and come out strong. Those public services that serve the whole community quite simply provide better services for everyone.
Our RADAR People of the Year Awards celebrate pioneers of difference who are already working to make equality and human rights for all disabled people a reality. We celebrate the achievements of every one of the short listed individuals and organisations who are helping to bring that vision closer.”
For further media information please contact Ann Stirling on 01273 202980 (mobile: 07939 153513) or Aidan Hargitt at RADAR on 020 7250 3222.
Notes to Editors
- RADAR, founded in 1977, is the UK’s largest disability campaigning network with over 900 individual and organisational members. RADAR changed its name from the Royal Association of Disability and Rehabilitation to the Royal Association for Disability Rights in 2009. RADAR is a charity run by and for disabled people that depends on the financial and voluntary support of others including public donations. To find out more please visit our web site www.radar.org.uk or call 020 7250 3222 / minicom 020 7250 4119 or email radar@radar.org.uk
- RADAR gratefully acknowledges the support of the following sponsors: BT, HSBC, Royal Mail, Lloyds Banking Group, the Department of Health, InterContinental Hotels, The Independent, Direct Enquiries, the Appointments Commission, Microlink, CSC, Nuance, Jobsgopublic, the Office
- Rt Hon Harriett Harman QC MP
- Caroline Waters, Director of People and Policy, BT
- Phil Friend OBE, Chair of RADAR
- Kay Allen, Head of Social Policy, Royal Mail
- Ben Fletcher, Master Inventor, IBM and winner of the RADAR Young Person of the Year Award 2008
- Liz Sayce OBE, Chief Executive, RADAR
Future Proofing Equality: Harriet Harman MP to launch RADAR People of the Year Awards 2009
The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP, Minister for Women and Equality, spoke at the launch of the 2009 RADAR People of the Year (POTY) Awards on Tuesday 16 June at the BT Tower in central London. The Minister's speech crowned a fantastic event, and RADAR is grateful to her for helping to make the launch such a success.
The launch marked the opening of the nomination period for the RADAR POTY awards, which will be presented in November. These awards, now in their 43rd year, celebrate excellence and achievement by, companies, organisations, public bodies and individuals in furthering equality for people living with ill-health, injury or disability.
Major organisations in the public and private sectors along with leading figures from the disability world attened the launch. Speakers were:
Guests included Sir Bert Massie, Dame Carole Black, National Director for Work and Health and include key decision makers from John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Intercontinental Hotels, HSBC, GlaxoSmithKline, Jobcentre Plus, Sainsbury, Tesco and KPMG.
This year, the theme for the awards is Future Proofing Equality - underlining the message that disability equality matters and that in tough economic times equality matters more not less. There is a pressing need to avoid new inequalities in a recession, to spend scarce resources where they are most needed and to identify and develop all Britain's talents, including those of disabled people. With the Equalities Bill currently going through Parliament, this is a vital opportunity to ensure businesses are more equal and effective and that society is more equal in the future.
