RADAR is pleased to announce the winners of the People of the Year Awards 2009. The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at Battersea Evolution on the evening of Monday 30th November 2009.
Nominations which have been highly commended are those which the Judges felt deserved special recognition for their efforts and success. These entrants received a certificate presented by Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disabled People and Trevor Philips, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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The winners by category are:
Doing Access Differently Award, sponsored by the Office for Disability Issues
This award is made to the organisation which has really made a difference in access and opened up significant areas to disabled people – or are planning exemplary practice with regard to the Olympics and Paralympics.
It was presented by John Bercow MP. John Bercow MP was elected as the 157th Speaker of the House of Commons in June 2009. Prior to that, he was a respected backbench MP renowned for championing equality. He has also led an influential review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.
Winner:
Promote the Vote – Speaking Up: Six young people with learning disabilities whose interactive workshops for their peers on voting and democracy have inspired hundreds to register to vote for the first time.
Highly Commended:
The Aim Project – Bradford Talking Media which has opened up access to vital health information for people with learning disabilities, resulting in a massive increase in take-up of vital annual health checks locally.
Doing IT Differently Award
This award is made to an individual or organisation who exemplifies IT innovation that has embraced inclusion and opened up the possibilities for disabled people to really participate in society.
It was presented by Dame Evelyn Glennie. She is the world’s most famous deaf percussionist and the first person in musical history to create and sustain a career as a full-time solo percussionist. She is also a motivational speaker and a jewelry designer and has successfully lobbied the government to increase funding for music education.
Winner:
Signed Stories – ITV SignPost, for creating a fun webspace where deaf children can share the joy of stories with siblings, family, friends.
Doing Careers Differently
This award is made to the employer or recruitment agency which has pushed the boundaries in enabling disabled people to secure senior posts – doing recruitment and career progression differently.
It was presented by the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Yvette Cooper was appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in June 2009. Yvette served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from January 2008 (the first woman to hold this post) and has held a number of Ministerial posts in the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Winner:
The Association of Disabled Professionals for pioneering practical advice, peer support and networking opportunities for disabled people in professional and managerial positions and challenging the notion that disabled people should just stick to low-skilled, low-paid jobs. It provides in-depth support to disabled professionals to stay in top jobs, start their own business or update their skills and get back into professional work.
Doing Money Differently
This award is made to the financial institution or organisation which has done the most to help disabled people develop financial independence, access banking or financial advice.
It was presented by Baroness Jane Campbell and Roger Berry MP, Co-Chairs of the influential All Party Parliamentary Disability Group, which provides a cross-party forum for MPs and Peers to debate the key disability issues of the day.
Winner:
Mind, the national association for mental health, for making more debt advice and support available to people with mental distress, helping them become more financially capable and confident in engaging with financial institutions; including over 56,000 people accessing money advice via Mind’s website.
Doing Care and Support Differently Award, sponsored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission
This award is made to the organisation that has done most to increase disabled people’s independent living opportunities.
It was presented by Phil Hope MP, Minister for Care Services who is seeking to deliver a National Care and Support Service fit for the 21st Century.
Winner:
Cool2Care for making it easier for disabled children, young people and their families to access support. Their innovative approach has given families a freedom, flexibility and choice they just don’t get from standard provision.
Highly Commended:
Southampton Centre for Independent Living for its pioneering user-led services and for trailblazing individual budgets for people with continuing health care needs.
Doing Media Differently Award – Factual Programming
This award is made to a commissioner, programme maker, casting agent and/or disabled actor(s) who have broken new ground and have done things differently.
It was presented by Susan Scott-Parker, Chief Exevcutive of the Employers' Forum on Disability, kindly standing in for Major Phil Packer who was unavoidably delayed. Phil has raised £1.2million for the Help For Heroes charity after sustaining serious spinal cord injuries whilst serving in Iraq. He has now left the Armed Forces to dedicate his life to supporting young disabled people and further champion disability through the launch of ‘The British Inspiration Trust’.
Winner:
Otto: Love, Lust and Las Vegas - BBC Three - 'Otto; Love Lust and Las Vegas' is an one hour documentary made for BBC3 as part of their 'Young Adult' season. It charts the journey into adulthood of 21 year old Otto Baxter, as he deals with the concerns of most 21 year old young men - how to get a job and a girl. For Otto, negotiating his way is made more complex by the fact that he has Down's Syndrome. The film was made for a digital channel with a young audience and aimed find the common ground between the everyday concerns of that audience and Otto's experience, while exploring a territory where society at large is often uncomfortable - the intersection of disability and sexuality.
Highly Commended:
Wicked - Remark! Productions for the BSL Zone, Community Channel, with British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust - The Remark team, led by Mark Nelson have blazed a trail with Wicked as it's the only programme within the British media (and as far as we know, the World), to be made by a Deaf team. Mark's vision has allowed Wicked to invest in Deaf talent bringing new Deaf presenters, Deaf camera operators, researchers, co-ordinators, directors and editors into the mix. Wicked itself has also showcased Deaf talent by giving film-making opportunities to first time film-makers in it's strand 'Wicked Seeds'. Wicked is at the heart of the Deaf community across the country and has covered Deaf lives and Deaf events by travelling out to meet Deaf people nationwide, rather than focusing on a London-centric view of Deaf life.
Doing Media Differently Award – Fictional Programming
This award is made to a commissioner, programme maker, casting agent and/or disabled actor(s) who have broken new ground and have done things differently.
It was presented by Alastair Campbell and Cerrie Burnell. Former No. 10 Communications Director, Alastair Campbell wrote and presented a BBC2 documentary giving a personal account of his breakdown and subsequent recovery. Cerrie Burnell presents the BBC’s CBeebies. She has appeared in Holby City, EastEnders, The Bill and Comedy Lab and written her own play.
Winner:
EastEnders - BBC One - over the last 12 months, there have been a number of positive portrayals of disability on EastEnders; Jim Branning’s return home following a stroke and rehabilitation in a nursing home; Stacey’s realisation that she, like her mother, is bi-polar; single mother Syd, whose young son Noah is deaf; the continuing appearances of Billy’s daughter Janet, who has Down’s Syndrome; and the recent arrival of Manda’s son Adam who has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair.
Highly Commended:
The Pursuits of Darleen Fyles - BBC Radio Drama - The Pursuits of Darleen Fyles is ground-breaking drama. Not only is a young woman with learning disabilities the protagonist of each episode (as opposed to a peripheral or supporting character) but the actress starring in the role also herself has learning disabilities. As Donna Lavin, the actress says – “I’ve been there, done it, I wear the tee shirt.” The series is a quirky, illuminating and striking exploration of the challenges, aspirations, set-backs and achievements in the unique life of a woman with learning disabilities.
Disabled Young Person of the Year Award, sponsored by HSBC
This award is made to the disabled young person who has made the most difference this year to disability equality.
It was presented by James Partidge, Chief Executive of Changing Faces, and swimming champion Dan Pepper. Dan Pepper’s latest success was winning 3 golds at the 2009 IPC European Swimming Championships. He also mentors and coaches.
Winner:
Riam Dean, who wears a prosthetic arm, brought a successful DDA case against Abercrombie & Fitch when they took her off the shop floor.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is made to the person who has made an outstanding contribution to ensuring Britain is a just and equal society which embraces human difference. It was presented by Sabina Iqbal.
Sabina Iqbal is Founder of Deaf Parenting UK, the first ever charity run by Deaf parents for Deaf parents. She is well-known for her book ‘Pregnancy and Birth: A Guide for Deaf Women’ and was named on the shortlist for the first ever Muslim Women Power List 2009 by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Winner:
Julie Jaye Charles has built a national movement for Black and Minority Ethnic disabled people and carers – Equalities National Council – from the bottom up. With 26 years of community activism under her belt she has played a key role in developing holistic advocacy services, promoting take up of direct payments in BAME communities and increasing user involvement in tackling race discrimination in mental health care.
Person of the Year Award, sponsored by the Post Office
This award is made to the person who has made most difference this year to disability equality. It was presented by Mark Harper MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People.
Winner:
Mike Adams, Chief Executive of Essex Coalition of Disabled People, who was nominated for his leadership in creating sustainable and successful user-led organisations (ULOs). Mike has turned Essex Coalition of Disabled People into a beacon ULO: empowering disabled people to influence local services and forging new partnerships.
Highly Commended:
Ravi Low-Beer of the Public Law Project for working to challenge local authorities that fail to comply with their legal obligation to promote disability equality, in partnership with disability activists from Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against Community Care Cuts (HAFCAC).
