Artist with Down Syndrome offers painting to Princess of Wales

An artist with Down Syndrome, who met Princess Diana and the young Princes William and Harry as a schoolgirl, is hoping the Princess of Wales will accept her offer of a painting to illustrate how people are thinking of her as she goes through her cancer treatment. Fiona Stevenson, an abstract artist whose work has been exhibited in London, New York, Manchester and Cambridge, says that thinking about Kate triggered memories of the happy times she enjoyed when Princess Diana twice visited her special school, Pield Heath House, in Uxbridge in the 1990s. In a letter Fiona wrote to the Prince of Wales with help from her mother Mari she says: “One of the other girls at the school had written to your mother, asking if she could come and visit and, amazingly, she did! It was such a special day. Her kindness reminds me of Princess Kate and I want to do something to give her a little joy every day. “Princess Diana enjoyed her day so much that she returned soon afterwards to join us for Christmas lunch, bringing you and Prince Harry, who both queued up with us to be served our meal. “Even though it was more than 30 years ago I still think often about Princess Diana’s visit and how much it meant to me and to my friends. “I wanted to offer a gift of a painting to the new Princess of Wales to help lift her spirits as she goes through a very difficult time.” Fiona’s bold energetic paintings have been praised by master printer Kip Gresham who has collaborated with Terry Frost and Elizabeth Frink. And visual artist and associate lecturer at Central St Martins, Susan Aldworth describes Fiona as ‘a maker of beautiful marks.’ See some of Fiona Stevenson’s work, and view her virtual galleries, here: https://www.fionastevenson.co.uk  View our digital magazines here.

Not all about NHS waiting lists

Not all about NHS waiting lists. Regardless of who wins the race to 10 Downing Street, there are some clear priorities that, as a leading health and social charity care provider, we at AFG believe these need to be addressed as soon as the die is cast in early July. Although there is no doubt that those awaiting necessary treatment need to be seen as soon as possible, the NHS waiting lists and backlog rhetoric masks the real tsunami that is hitting the NHS – the mental health crisis. We know that public mental health resilience has declined rapidly in the past five years – the charity MIND estimates that one in four people will now experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. That has increased from one in six in 2014 according to the Mental Health and Wellbeing in England survey undertaken by the government. Or – put in real terms – an 8.5% increase or a staggering 14 million people today suffering from a mental health condition. And the vector is only going in one direction.  The new government needs to prioritise mental health services in the NHS, and fast.  It needs to implement clear and quick reform of the Mental Health Act, invest more in mental health funding at both a community and in patient services level and increase the capacity of provision to meet demand.  How to fund elderly care has become the campaigning conversation, yet there is a forgotten, but just as important, group in society, unseen – the 1.8m adults who are registered with a learning disability and the millions of others who need special care and support to live normal lives. For far too long they have been treated as second class citizens, neglected in funding and prioritisation within social care. If the party who gains power has one clear focus, it needs to bring greater public awareness of adult disability, equity in its funding and fair policies in place that puts those adults needing social care, whatever their age, front and centre of the political agenda. For far too long adult social care has been driven by cost, rather than being person-centred resulting in those being supported having limited choices about how they can live their lives. Finally, as the Chief Executive of an organisation whose aim is to enable those we support to achieve independence, thrive and flourish, we have a duty to ensure those with a mental health or a learning disability have a voice and a vote in this election. We still have a society that is massively swayed towards the able, that is prejudice against those who need care, where those with disabilities are still lower down the priority list and where their lives are compromised by lack of awareness, fairness and equality. View our digital magazines here.

Thatcham disability charity announced as partner for award-winning charity event 

A Thatcham disability charity has been announced as a partner for the multi-award-winning charity event Parallel Windsor. Swings & Smiles in Thatcham will partner with Parallel to support its annual fully-accessible event on 7th July – designed to be a ‘Festival of Inclusivity’ for people of all ages and abilities to challenge themselves and get active. Swings & Smiles provides accessible play spaces for local disabled children as well as respite care and support for their families. As a charity partner, Swings & Smiles will be setting up a sensory space with accessible play equipment to engage children, helping them explore their senses through play in a safe environment. Parallel is an innovative social enterprise with a mission to support D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities to live life to the full in mainstream society.  CEO of Swings & Smiles Rhonda Nicklin said: “We’re incredibly proud to be an event partner for Parallel Windsor. It’s a charity which aligns with our own values and mission to create a fully inclusive society where people of all abilities can thrive and flourish.”  Andrew Douglass, Founder of Parallel said: “I could not be happier to welcome Swings & Smiles and their families to Parallel Windsor. “I have so much admiration for the way this incredible team combines its love and passion for all the children it supports with so many innovative campaigns that generate such a positive force within the communities they serve.” One of Parallel’s other key initiatives is its ‘Purple Sock Day Campaign’, encouraging as many people as possible to purchase a pair of their purple socks to wear on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December. Proceeds are then used to support disability charities and projects that support budding disabled entrepreneurs. Want to keep up to date with all the latest news, information and advice on independent living? Subscribe to Ucan2 Magazine today for free!

The Motability Scheme’s free Big Event makes pit stop in Exeter

The Motability Scheme’s Big Event is returning to Westpoint in Exeter, and this time for a two-day motoring show on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June 2024. With a new focus on electric motoring, The Big Event, Exeter gives visitors a chance to see a range of electric vehicles, speak to manufacturers and Scheme experts and try out the latest accessible innovations. The automotive industry is changing and Motability Operations, the company behind the Motability Scheme, is committed to educating its customers about the switch to electric. The Scheme has already helped to change the lives of over 12,000 customers in Devon, providing them with access to a vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair, and the organisation wants to ensure that customers are not left behind as the country transitions to electric vehicles (EVs). To equip customers with as much knowledge, information and choice as possible, the event will feature a dedicated EV Information Hub where Scheme experts will answer customer questions, demonstrate products and discuss the benefits of switching to an EV. Visitors can also look forward to test driving a range of vehicles, including EVs and vehicles fitted with the most popular driving adaptations available on the Scheme. Alongside Scheme cars, the event features an indoor scooter test drive area for customers to try out different products in a safe space. Katie Clare, The Big Event Manager, said: “We’re excited to return to Westpoint this summer to host the Big Event. For the first time we’ll be there for two days, meaning we can welcome even more visitors through the doors! “As we all prepare for the changes in the motoring industry, we’re giving the Big Event an electric focus, so visitors can find out everything they need to know about going electric and have the chance to try out an EV for themselves.” Doors for The Big Event open from 9am until 4pm and everyone is welcome to attend. There’s no need to pre-book tickets, and free accessible parking will be available on site. For more information about The Big Event Exeter including the test drive terms and conditions, visit motabilitythebigevent.co.uk/exeter/. Stay up-to-date with Ucan2 Magazine, subscribe today for free!

Without Walls announces outdoor programme for 2024

Without Walls announces outdoor programme for 2024, touring to leading festival partners around the country Featuring captivating and innovative productions, Without Walls has announced this year’s programme of 13 artists commissioned by the network. Touring across England this summer, Without Walls continues its vital commitment to making work in public spaces accessible for audiences, with a programme of events from some of the UK’s most highly regarded outdoor arts and performance specialists. The artists included in the programme will tour this summer to Without Walls festival partners Brighton Festival, Hat Fair (Winchester), Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Stockton International Riverside Festival, Timber Festival (Staffordshire), Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival (London) and Just So Festival (Cheshire) and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. Ralph Kennedy, Director of Without Walls, comments, “Without Walls is pleased to announce the 2024 programme, which celebrates the incredible diversity of creative practice in outdoor arts in England. The shows explore important themes for the times we live in today and reflect the power and value of the arts to captivate, inspire, and connect us all.“ The 2024 programme explores multiple themes and genres, including accessibility and inclusivity, sustainability, music, circus, dance, street theatre and installations. With a passion for the environment at its heart, Mechanimal brings its wildly playful, tragicomic performance Crap at Animals. Blending clowning, physical theatre and creative technologies, performer Tom Bailey attempts to embody 48,000 currently extinct and endangered species. In between Crap at Animals’ performance in Norwich & Norfolk Festival and at Passage Festival in Denmark, Bailey will undertake a radical 2-month long ‘green arts touring’ journey across Scotland, Norway and Denmark, by foot and by sea. This production is co-commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival, and will be performed at Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. Hear the true story of a family who lost their amusement arcade to coastal erosion in ISLAND STORM from Baileys Original Seaside Imaginarium as stunt clowns dazzle and delight audiences while encouraging them to engage with some of the biggest issues we face today. This production is co-commissioned by Stockton International Riverside Festival and Brighton Festival, and will be performed at Brighton Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Hat Fair, Stockton International Riverside Festival and Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival. A visual sound installation/performance, experience Mark Anderson’s Warning Notes as part of this year’s Without Walls programme. Creating a sanctuary for audiences to think about the bigger climate and conflict issues facing us, it is a powerful and immersive sonic experience of suspense and shifting sounds, sounding the alarm ecologically, socially and politically. This production is co-commissioned by Timber Festival, and will be performed at Timber Festival and Stockton International Riverside Festival. BAMBOO is a high-skills and high-stakes performance about our relationship to the environment. A partnership between NoFit State, Imagineer and Orit Azaz, and directed by Mish Weaver, a delicate playground is built with circus and bamboo, complimenting the company’s self-sustaining approach to touring. This production is co-commissioned by Stockton International Riverside Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Hat Fair and Timber Festival, and will be performed at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Timber Festival, Hat Fair, Stockton International Riverside Festival and Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival. Tit for Tat Circus return to Without Walls with Now I am Become Deaf (Destroyer of Words), an autobiographical piece about degenerative hearing loss and how it infiltrates into everyday life. Fusing traditional clowning with modern elements, this captivating production follows an unassuming clown as he manoeuvres being hard of hearing whilst simply wanting to connect with his audience. This production is co-commissioned by Just So Festival and Hat Fair, and will be performed at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Timber Festival, Hat Fair and Just So Festival. The electric Head Over Wheels bring Anchored in Air, reevaluating traditional circus while incorporating accessibility. Celebrating individuality with performers at the top of their game, this large-scale performance fuses aerial, dance, live music, theatrical and integrated audio description. This production is co-commissioned by Brighton Festival and Certain Blacks, and will be performed at Brighton Festival and Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival. Inspirate encourage audiences to think big with Ancient Giants, as the dramatic tale of Hanuman and Ravana is brought to life with 12-foot puppets, built by Mr Cleaver’s Monsters and choreographed by Chirag Lukha, with dance, martial arts and storytelling. This multigenerational South Asian epic interacts with audiences and takes them on a journey through Shanti’s imagination to bring to life this ancient story. This production is co- commissioned by Brighton Festival and Just So Festival, and will be performed at Brighton Festival and Just So Festival. Explore what happens when two unwritten languages meet in Patois, the brand-new piece from British-Caribbean choreographer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE (London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant). Blending traditional Caribbean choreography with contemporary dance and an original music score, this mesmerising piece touches on universal experiences of identity, reawakening cultures, stories and generations of the past. This production is co-commissioned by FESTIVAL.ORG for Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Brighton Festival, and will be performed at Brighton Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Hat Fair and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. Showcasing and celebrating Yiddish language, music and culture, The Great Yiddish Parade from JW3 brings together a Klezmer big band, singers, street theatre and public participation against a backdrop of the immigrant social protests of the Victorian East End, in one huge marching, musical creation. This production is co-commissioned by Certain Blacks, and will be performed at Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival and Stockton International Riverside Festival. Bespoke to each location it is performed at, Perhaps Contraption will delight audiences with The Journey. Featuring a nine-piece brass band and visual vernacular performer Zoe McWhinney (RED, Polka Theatre; Everyday, New Diorama), this accessible promenade performance’s three act structure allows audiences to be transported by a completely new score, as they form a community coming together to travel and explore. This production is co- commissioned by Stockton International Riverside Festival, Timber Festival and Brighton Festival, and

Creating a more inclusive space at Manchester Theatre and Arts Venue 53two 

By Simon Naylor, Artistic Director at 53two As we approach the third anniversary in our current space, I’ve been reflecting on our journey to become a theatre and arts venue for all. Before the doors to our historic arches were even open, we knew that accessibility would be at the heart of the space and how we operate. It is something we have always wanted to offer, and we have worked closely with different stakeholder groups to implement facilities that can make a difference.  Those conversations have been a huge learning and helped to inform many of the changes we’ve implemented over the past three years:  A Changing Places toilet  Implementing a Changing Places toilet was something of a Holy Grail in my vision for the venue and I’m incredibly proud that 53two is the first indie arts venue in Manchester to have one installed.   We underwent extensive consultancy with theatre and arts communities, people living with disabilities and building specialists to ensure the space had the necessary privacy, comfort, space and equipment.  Those discussions were incredibly important and highlighted things that those not limited in their mobility might not consider. For example, something as simple as having a privacy curtain means we can help users, who might be entering the facility with a carer or assistant, to retain dignity.  The result is a 130 square metre facility which allows adequate space for users, turning space for a wheelchair and room for two carers if required. Some of the equipment includes height adjustable sinks, a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench and a tracking hoist system.  British Sign Language for 53two staff, and performances    When we talk about accessibility, people’s first thought is often around physical access but of course, it encompasses so much more. The Manchester Deaf Centre is one organisation that we’ve engaged with to make our venue welcoming to deaf and hard of hearing communities. They worked to deliver British Sign Language (BSL) lessons so that our staff can engage in basic conversation with BSL users visiting the venue and serve them at the bar.  Many of our shows also have BSL accessible performances.  Retractable seating  Earlier this year, we were lucky enough to receive funding to help us make a series of renovations and upgrades. This included rethinking our auditorium and implementing a retractable seating bank that would allow the space to be used more flexibly.  We’re now able to push the seating back completely so that the space is all one level. This allows us to provide a bigger floor space, and for the area to be used for different types of events.   The new seating has also been designed to cater to all visitors better. We know that wheelchair users are often seated in a dedicated area in front of the seating bank, which can be isolating. Our new seating has been designed with cut-outs so anyone using a wheelchair feels included and can sit next to the group they are visiting with.    There is still so much that we want to achieve, including introducing more assistive technologies such as an audio induction loop system and audio description booth. But by making changes where we can, we are helping to put accessibility front and centre and open up the arts to more people.   Simon Naylor, Artistic Director at 53two Simon is artistic director at 53two, Manchester’s only independent theatre venue with accessibility at its heart. After studying, then later teaching at Italia Conti, Simon set up Manchester Actors’ Platform (MAP) – affordable, accessible training from industry professionals, still active in their field. 53two was then born, and under Simon’s creative direction has quickly grown to be Manchester’s most exciting and accessible independent theatre. 53two encourages, champions and nurtures disabled, disadvantaged, and underserved artists and visitors from across Greater Manchester and is a registered charity (Registered charity number: 1179418). Simon continues to act, direct and produce not just in the arches of 53two but across the north west. He teaches at the Arden School of Theatre, Manchester School of Theatre and ALRA North. Simon has also led outreach sessions at Manchester Hospital School and community sessions with colleges across Greater Manchester and proactively encourages and supports new writing within 53two. Visit the 53two website here. Read the article ‘Accessible arts venue 53Two welcomes new patron, Ruth Madeley’ here.

How can a homelift help with independent living?

Champion tennis player Andy McErlean knows all about making the very best of what life gives you. The former soldier, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, was just 19 years old when he was involved in a car accident while posted to Germany, which resulted in him becoming a fulltime wheelchair user. But while facing up to a spinal fracture and lower-limb paralysis, Andy continued to follow his love of sports and won wheelchair tennis titles at the Paralysed Veterans of America Games and two Invictus Games, amongst others. He’s also supported Team GB as a “training hitter” at two Paralympics. But even star para-sports heroes can need assistance to get the best out of every day. Andy, 54, and his wife Cathy, a primary school teacher, recently extended their dormer bungalow into a two-storey, four-bedroom home, and the key to making the property accessible for Andy has been the installation of a homelift. “It’s a game-changer,” says Andy. “Now I don’t have to transfer on and off from my wheelchair onto a stairlift, especially at the top of the stairs, which always felt unsafe. Plus, if I forget something upstairs or downstairs, I can get it quicker. The lift looks great and contemporary, so it matches our new home, too.” Andy has a Stiltz Trio+ Homelift, which can accommodate a passenger using a wheelchair or other mobility aids and travel between floors in 30 seconds. It is tastefully situated in an alcove. Other one-person models take up no more space in a room than a small armchair. Once building work has been completed, a Stiltz Homelift can typically be installed in a day. Moving on from tennis in recent years, the sporting focus for Andy is now the fast-growing sport of pickleball, which is similar to tennis but played with paddles. He’s already a champion in that, too, winning gold in the wheelchair event at last year’s English Nationals. Stiltz is the UK’s leading homelift provider. The company manufacturers, supplies and installs a range of models in different sizes and for different needs. For more information, visit https://www.stiltz.co.uk/home-lifts/  Or find them on Facebook. For more of our articles on mobility, click here.

Access and Aesthetics: Wraxall Yard, A Retreat for Every Family

Nestled within the idyllic West Dorset hamlet of Lower Wraxall and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty hides Wraxall Yard. A development of five award-winning, beautifully restored barns, designed as a peaceful retreat specifically for holidaymakers who require disabled access.  Wraxall Yard, a restored dairy on an organic, family farm is all about inclusivity and accessibility which it achieves through thoughtful design. A not-for-profit holiday accommodation operating solely with the aim of providing equal access for all in a serene, restorative setting. Here accessibility is clearly the core principle in design and operation.  The entire site is single-storey and step-free, so that every visitor has the same experiences available to them. Winner of numerous accessibility and architecture awards including a 2024 Civic Trust award and a 2023 Blue Badge Access award, this property continues to leave a lasting impression on both judges and guests.  Wraxall Yard is available to book with Dorset Hideaways, one of the county’s most knowledgeable and experienced holiday letting companies. Wraxall Yard is not the only accessible and disabled friendly property available in the area, as Dorset Hideaways also offer Monymusk House, a wonderfully spacious, contemporary, detached house, situated within a peaceful equestrian estate just two miles outside of the county town of Dorchester. This property sleeps 6 from approximately £1,000 for 3 nights.  Conscious that disabled people often have to put up with more hospital-like or institutional environments, great care has been taken by the designers of Wraxall Yard to avoid features that feel clinical, while also ensuring that guests’ safety and comfort is a priority.  From the moment you enter the courtyard it’s clear that Wraxall Yard has thought about access as well as aesthetics. Curving paths wind through lush gardens to each cottage’s doorstep, providing a seamless transition from the outdoors to the cosiness within. Five properties surround a shared courtyard garden, with three barns accommodating four people, one barn for three and one barn for up to six people. There’s plenty of options for families and groups of all sizes including booking the entire site for larger groups (up to 24).  Inside, the cottages blend countryside charm with modern and innovative accessibility features, perfectly combining comfort, style and convenience for all holidaymakers. Each cottage offers slightly different specifications for disabled access, with sociable open-plan living areas, dining spaces and well-equipped kitchens featuring rise-and-fall worktops. Guests can enjoy the on-site community space, complete with a large fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning stove and an overhead projector – perfect for movie nights served with wood-fired pizza! When visitors are ready to leave the comfort of their cabins and explore the great outdoors, a timber wheelchair-friendly boardwalk leads them through a newly planted orchard to the banks of a gorgeous nearby chalk stream, ideal for sunny picnics and paddles for pooches (yes, Wraxall Yard is also very much dog friendly!). The property is the perfect opportunity to unwind in nature, both in the cottages themselves and in the surrounding accessible wilderness.  The original farmyard and barn have also been restored to enable guests to take part in farming activities and meet some of the farm’s friendly animals. Numerous quaint villages, market towns and Dorset pubs are also very close by and The Jurassic Coast is within easy reach. In a world where accessibility is often an afterthought, Wraxall Yard serves as a shining example of what is possible when inclusivity is prioritised. The importance of creating spaces where visitors feel welcome and valued can never be undermined; Wraxall Yard truly provides the perfect break for everyone. A stay at Wraxall Yard starts from £394 in one of their 2-bed properties with a full site booking (24 people) possible from £2700 for 3 nights. The team at Dorset Hideaways are friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to help you work out the best stay for your needs. Bookings can be made at www.dorsethideaways.co.uk or by calling 01929 448580. Subscribe to Ucan2 magazine today.

Deafblind UK shortlisted for the Charity Awards 2024

Deafblind UK is delighted to announce that it has made the shortlist for this year’s Charity Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious awards scheme in the charity sector. Deafblind UK has been shortlisted in the Disability category for its schools project, which aims to help teachers and fellow students understand the challenges that young people living with deafblindness face. The Charity Awards is the sector’s most highly-regarded excellence recognition scheme. All 30 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated best practice in leadership and management, from which other organisations can learn.  Deafblind UK specialises in supporting people with both sight and hearing loss. Visit their website here. The schools project, led by former teacher Carolyn Greig, set out to investigate the provision of support for deafblind children in mainstream education. Following the results of this research, Deafblind UK produced a set of resources to help teachers and students understand deafblindness, and to feel more confident in supporting pupils with sensory loss. The resources, called ‘Lesson in a Box: Discovering Deafblindness’ include interactive lesson plans and assemblies which span the curriculum of key stages 2, 3 and 4 and have been delivered to over 1600 schools across the country. Nikki Morris, CEO of Deafblind UK said: “At Deafblind UK, we are passionate about educating others about deafblindness to ensure that every child has access to a meaningful education, regardless of sight and hearing loss. We are extremely proud that our schools project has been shortlisted for this award, as it recognises how vitally important education around deafblindness is.” The 10 category winners, plus the recipients of the Overall Award for Excellence and the Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement, will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Tuesday 9 July, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The evening will be hosted by broadcaster and commentator Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, who will be joined on the night by a host of celebrities, representatives of the shortlisted charities, as well as leaders from Britain’s best known and best loved charities. Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated Deafblind UK on making the highly-coveted shortlist. He said: “Every year we are astounded and inspired by the breadth and depth of work going on across the UK’s wonderful charity sector. But this year in particular we have noticed a real improvement in the professionalism of the entries, signalling that charities are more cognisant than ever of the need for good governance, strong leadership and effective management. “Everything that we do at Civil Society Media aims to help charities have greater impact, and for the last 23 years the Charity Awards has identified and celebrated the sector’s great work. Congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; in a year of record entries you ought to be very proud of getting this far. “I wish Deafblind UK the best of luck on the night.” Peter Hugh Smith, chief executive at CCLA, Overall Partner of the Charity Awards, said: “Every year the Charity Awards serve as a moment for the sector to reflect and acknowledge the transformative power of compassion, determination and resilience. The awards amplify the voices of those making a difference, inspiring others to join in creating positive change. “We’re honoured to renew our role as the Charity Awards’ Overall Partner, championing the remarkable efforts of charities, large and small, right across the UK.” The Shortlist 2024: Animals & the Environment: Naturewatch Foundation, People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, The Tree Council Arts, Culture & Heritage: Cockpit Arts, Derby Theatre, LUNG Productions Campaigning & Advocacy: Bliss, Citizens Advice, RNIB Children & Youth: Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, Storybook Dads, Yorkshire Children’s Charity Disability: Contact, Deafblind UK, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute Education & Training: Building Heroes Education Foundation, Keep Britain Tidy, Migration Museum Grantmaking & Funding: East End Community Foundation, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, SafeLives Healthcare & Medical Research: Groundswell, JDRF UK, Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre International Aid & Development: Kids Operating Room, Reprieve, SolarAid Social Care, Advice & Support: Justice & Care, LandWorks, SIG Equinox The panel of judges for 2024 is: Subscribe to Ucan2 Magazine today and never miss an update.