With great pride, humility and gratitude, I am pleased to announce that we won the Disability Impact category of the very first Global Champion Awards!
The Disability Impact Award recognises organisations or projects that champion the empowerment of individuals with disabilities, promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and independence. We share the honour of having been shortlisted for the award together with Disabled Living, Down’s Syndrome Manchester, Future Directions CIC, Lifted, Manchester Carers Centre, SEND Dads Society, and Yankho Foundation – all amazing organisations that benefit families of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people in their own wonderful ways.
It was a pleasant surprise to hear that we won.
We went to the awards night just grateful to have been nominated for the awards, and not expecting or even necessarily wanting a win, so it came as a pleasant surprise when our name got called that night! Even as I say this, winning this award has made me reflect on how incredibly awe inspiring the MPCF team is – all parent-carers of deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent people who are passionate to help make things better for other families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).
I know many of you are aware of the impact of caring on families. Caring responsibilities can affect people‘s physical and mental health, sometimes leading to sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, and increased risk of developing health conditions. Many carers experience anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation and overwhelm due to the constant demands of caring. Studies also show that a large number of carers are living in poverty, with plenty more worried about the cost of living and their ability to manage the future.
Facing these challenges and despite some of the team having their own health conditions and personal struggles themselves, these remarkable people spend plenty of time and energy to help run parent workshops and inclusive family events, attend meetings, share info and advice, and whatever else is needed to help towards achieving better decisions and brighter futures for families of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent children and young people in Manchester. Cath, Dawn, Jen, Jodie, Karen, Katy, Keshia, Leanne, Lia, Michelle, Muna, Nuzhat, Rebecca, Sam, Tanya, Tara, Viv… You guys are an inspiration and I’m immensely lucky to call you my colleagues and friends.
Thank you for everything that you do for each other and for other families across Manchester.
Of course, we couldn’t do what we do as effectively without the shared voices of parents and carers all across Manchester. Whether it’s answering surveys, attending consultations and listening events, moderating EHCPs, or sharing your stories at Local Offer Drop-ins and coffee mornings, it’s your voices that power the work that Parent Carer Forums do. Manchester is lucky to have so many parents and carers who are willing to share feedback about their experiences of services and support.
We are also fortunate to have so many SEND organisations and parent support groups that support and advocate for families of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people and the wider carers’ community in Manchester. Shout out to the Manchester Working Together Network and Carers Manchester for the amazing work that you all do.
We also want to acknowledge all the local partners in Manchester City Council, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Local Care Organisation, the Greater Manchester ICB, One Education, schools, universal services (e.g., art galleries, museums, leisure providers), and other VCSO organisations who tirelessly work with the forum to help develop and improve provision across our beautiful city. We truly believe that co-production and partnership working are how we can effectively make things better.
There’s still a lot of work to be done – and I trust that we all will never stop working towards these brighter futures that we aspire for – but this is a celebratory piece and I want to share our award with all of you.
I was also pleased to hear that Solange and Dan Timms won the The Beacon of Resilience category of the Awards.
Some of you might know that Solange was MPCF’s founding chair. Years later, S&D continue to be strong voices for families’ rights and remain as positive role models for many of us fellow parent-carers.
Congratulations to you guys and to all the other nominees and winners of this inaugural Global Champion Awards, and thank you to the organisers for what I heard was an interesting and entertaining night.
I want to end this post by circling back to the people that make the forum the award-winning organisation that we are today.
I have always been amazed and inspired by your kindness and generosity, your fortitude and resilience.
Viv, Tara, Tanya, Sam, Rebecca, Nuzhat, Muna, Michelle, Lia, Leanne, Keshia, Katy, Karen, Jodie, Jen, Dawn, Cath – THANK YOU and congratulations!
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