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Scope Awards 2026: Do you have a disability champion you want to nominate?
Scope Awards 2026: Do you have a disability champion you want to nominate?

Metro

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Metro

Scope Awards 2026: Do you have a disability champion you want to nominate?

Scope and Metro, alongside Hollywood actor Adam Pearson, are calling for people to put forward their disability equality champions, with nominations officially opening for the annual Scope Awards. Every year, the charity puts out a call for anyone who thinks they might have a friend, family member, colleague, neighbour, or celebrity they think is worthy of a nomination for the awards. The awards, which will take place next year, for which Metro is the media partner for the second year in a row, aim to not only celebrate the work of the disabled community but also to try and raise awareness of the issues faced by disabled people every day. The nine categories for this year's awards will include: Media Moment, Celebrity Role Model, Social Media Influencer, Purple Pioneer, Community Group, Local Service, Colleague Network, Workplace Champion and Customer Inclusion. These include awards for an impactful media moment that has helped shift attitudes on disability, figures who uses their channels to speak out about disability equality, a community group or organisation that brings people together to create meaningful change in their local area, and for an organisation that removes barriers and makes life more accessible for disabled people. Nominations have been tied in with Disability Pride Month, and new research has shown that just 1 in 10 people have heard of the awareness month. Disabled stars have shared what Disability Pride Month means to them – and urged disabled people to celebrate by putting themselves forward for a Scope Award. It comes at a time where the future is unsure for disabled people after the government earlier this year announced a huge five billion pounds worth of benefits cuts impacting the most vulnerable. Last week Keir Starmer survived another welfare rebellion as dozens of Labour MPs voted against the controversial shake-up. The Government's stripped-down welfare Bill, which will still see an estimated 750,000 disabled people lose £3,000 a year by 2030 was slammed as a 'stain' on the party as 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the Government to vote against its welfare reforms. According to an impact assessment by the Department for Work and Pensions released last Monday, the revised bill will mean 50,000 fewer people are in relative poverty after housing costs in 2030. An assessment of the original plans found the measures would have pushed an additional 250,000 people into poverty, with some charities saying this figure would have been higher. MORE: 'I was deaf first then Black - now I tell my story on the stage' MORE: 'It's a dark time to be disabled in the UK right now' MORE: Chris McCausland says the disabled community 'really are capable of so much more than others might think' Adam Pearson, star of A Different Man, and activist and presenter Shani Dhanda, along with stars from hit BBC show The Assembly, praised the event as an 'important spotlight on disability', which is taking place throughout July. But they also highlighted how disability pride and inclusion needed to go beyond just one month. Adam, from south London, who starred alongside Scarlett Johannson in Under the Skin, and who hosted last year's Scope Awards, said: 'Disability Pride Month is so important because it puts a spotlight on disability in a way that's really positive, that everyone can get behind. 'But why are we only doing it for a month? Why isn't every month a Disability Pride one? 'It's like saying, 'this month I'm super proud of myself, but the other eleven I'm riddled with self-doubt.' That's not how it works at all. 'But I'm glad it exists. I think it's part of a really important conversation and a journey to self-confidence as well. 'A lot of the time people don't know what they mean when they say self-confidence. 'I think real self-confidence happens when you get to show the world that you're exactly who you say you are, unashamedly and unapologetically so.' · Media Moment – an impactful media moment that has helped shift attitudes on disability · Celebrity Role Model – a disabled public figure that uses their platform to affect change · Social Media Influencer – an influencer who uses their online channels to speak out about disability equality · Purple Pioneer – someone who raises awareness of disability or works to change attitudes in their community · Community Group – a community group or organisation that brings people together to create meaningful change in their local area · Local Service – a local service, business or social enterprise that makes a lasting difference for disabled people · Colleague Network – a colleague network or employee resource group that makes the workplace more inclusive of disabled people · Workplace Champion – someone who champions disability inclusion or breaks down barriers in the workplace · Customer Inclusion – an organisation that removes barriers and makes life more accessible for disabled people Dr Shani Dhanda, award-winning disability campaigner and TV presenter told Metro: 'Disability Pride Month is a reminder to celebrate identity without apology. 'It's about embracing who we are, not despite our disabilities, but including them as a fundamental part of our experiences, perspectives, and strengths. 'Disability Pride Month gives me space to reflect, connect, and feel empowered. But more importantly, it reminds me that our stories matter every month of the year. 'Submitting a nomination for the Scope Awards is a fantastic way to keep disability pride going beyond July.' Julice starred in the hit TV series The Assembly, which scooped the gong for best Media Moment at this year's Scope Awards. Disability Pride Month began in Boston, USA, in 1990 as a grass roots movement, with a one-day celebration – the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. Since then, it's grown into a global movement. Scope has supported the growth of Disability Pride Month in the UK since 2009. It's an important moment for disabled people to come together as a community. An opportunity to share experiences and start conversations. It's a celebration of the creativity, resilience, and achievements of disabled people. Disability Pride Month is for anyone who is disabled – or anyone who wishes to show their allyship by celebrating their disabled communities, like businesses. It's a time for embracing disability identity positively. And challenging the negative attitudes that hold disabled people back. Where did Disability Pride Month come from? Disability Pride Month began in Boston, USA, in 1990 – the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. Since then, it's grown into a global movement. Scope has proudly supported the growth of Disability Pride Month in the UK since 2009. Is it the same as LGBTQ+ Pride? No. Disability Pride is a separate celebration, focused on disability identity and rights. Some people identify with both communities and both movements are about visibility, inclusion, and challenging negative attitudes. Why does Disability Pride matter? Because disabled people still face unfair treatment and harmful stereotypes. 3 in 4 disabled people say they've experienced negative attitudes. Disability Pride helps change the conversation. It's a chance to speak up, be proud, and create change. The rainbow of colours on the disability pride flag represents the various experiences and needs within the disabled community. Such as non-visible, sensory, physical, developmental and mental impairments and conditions. The banded arrangement of the colours represents the barriers many disabled people face and have to navigate through. This is what each colour represents: Red– Physical impairments and conditions Gold– Neurodiversity White– Non-visible and undiagnosed impairments and conditions Blue – Emotional and psychiatric conditions, including mental health, anxiety and depression Green– Hearing impaired, vision impaired, audio processing and all other sensory impairments and conditions Charcoal– The charcoal background is to represent people in the community who have experienced ableism, and to protest against this Julice said: 'It's so important to celebrate Disability Pride Month because I truly believe that speaking up, not letting people forget we exist, and showing the world our uniqueness and beauty, makes the world a brighter and more united place.' Jacob, who also starred in the programme, said: 'Disability Pride Month is a wonderful chance for people like me to celebrate our achievements and for everyone to recognise us for who we are. 'I was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and I know that not all disabilities are visible.' Disability Pride Month is a reminder to celebrate identity without apology. Jacob urged people to nominate themselves for the 2026 Scope Awards, adding: 'Winning the Scope Award for Media Moment made it one of the happiest nights of my life. And I would recommend anyone who can to enter the 2026 Scope Awards.' James Taylor, Director of Strategy, Impact and Social Change at Scope, said: MORE: 'My life is a ticking time bomb – I worry about running out of days to make change' 'My life is a ticking time bomb – I worry about running out of days to make change' 'Disability Pride Month is a celebration of the creativity, resilience and achievements of disabled people. More Trending 'It's also an important time to start conversations and challenge the negative attitudes that disabled people face all too often. 'But it's crucial to remember that disability inclusion has to go beyond just one month. 'The Scope Awards celebrate the people and organisations who are striving to create an equal future year-round. Celebrate your disability equality champion by submitting a Scope Awards nomination.' For more details about the awards and how to nominate someone please visit Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.

Full list of products you can get 20% VAT relief on if you have a disability
Full list of products you can get 20% VAT relief on if you have a disability

Daily Mirror

time4 days ago

  • Lifestyle
  • Daily Mirror

Full list of products you can get 20% VAT relief on if you have a disability

MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry celebrates Disability Pride Month with some top mobility and accessibility gadgets that are as stylish as they are functional About 16 million people in the UK are disabled, which is about 24% of adults or a quarter of the adult population, and that doesn't include people who are temporarily disabled by accident or illness. So, why do so many gadgets and mobility aids designed to help us manage our disabilities look so... beige? We've rounded up some of the best-looking accessibility aids and gadgets for people living with chronic conditions to take some of the 'hospital grey' out of the picture. ‌ What is an accessibility aid? An accessibility aid is something that helps a person living with a chronic condition that impacts their ability to do a task. It might be something they need daily, like people living with Parkinson's who need a walking aid to steady their balance. ‌ However, something doesn't need to be designed specifically to help someone with limited mobility, fatigue, or other challenge to be an accessibility aid. Some everyday products can benefit anyone, so some things on this list are specialist items and others are not specialist but still used by people living with disabilities that help them with daily living. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money Electric tricycles An electric tricycle is brilliant for so many reasons. Not only is it more stable than a bicycle, the extra power of battery assistance means people can go further and for longer, regaining their independence. ‌ Jorvik Tricycles are a great example of electric tricycles that look great while also being useful for people with limited mobility. It's not just road tricycles, either: off-road electric tricycles with fatter wheels mean people can enjoy trips to the beach, a picnic in fields, or just manage countryside tracks with ease. Having a disability doesn't mean you can no longer go on bike rides with friends! Remember, too, that if you're buying an electric tricycle to aid a disability, it can be VAT-free – which is 20% off the advertised sale price. Cool Crutches Crutches and walking sticks tend to come in a few colours: hospital steel, grey, black, or wood. They're also not always very comfortable to use! ‌ After a quad bike accident at the age of 19, Amelia Peckham knew she would never walk unaided again. But, when she found the hospital supplied crutches caused pain, blisters, and eventually required weeks of bed rest for hand recovery, doctors told her to get a wheelchair. Which made no sense: her hands were not the reason walking was difficult. Persevering with crutches, Amelia soon realised a gap in the market: mobility aids that look great as well as perform well, leaving no blisters, not slipping from under you, or have annoying clicking sounds. That's how Cool Crutches & Walking Sticks was born. Amelia said: "Using our crutches changed my life, it's the sole reason I'm walking today and why our business has gone on to do the same for over 40,000 others." The range is full of bright colours patterns, and even glittery options, with comfort grips and accessories to customise walking sticks and crutches to make them comfortable to use. The Safe Stick is a handy addition too, wrapping around the stick to ensure it can be hung or stood upright anywhere without being dropped. ‌ Chatsie phone The Chatsie phone is new to the market. It simplifies smartphone use for people who find the usual Android or iPhone devices too complicated and overwhelming. While it's aimed at older users with less tech confidence, it is also an ideal solution for anyone who finds phones difficult to use because the icons are unclear, the text is too small, or the number of apps is overwhelming. It looks just like a standard smartphone on the outside, and includes the usual elements like a camera, so you can still take photos. But the best feature is the UK-based support if you get stuck using your phone. It's easy to get in touch and be guided through, so tech overwhelm doesn't ever become a reason to stop using your phone anymore. Drive Nitro Sprint Rollator Rollators are versatile and useful mobility aids for people with all kinds of disability, from arthritis to Parkinson's and more. They provide a stable base to help people walk independently, while also providing a seat at any time the user needs to sit down. It's easy to attach a bag to them, too, so the user doesn't have to carry their stuff separately. ‌ But many folding rollators can be bulky, or have small weight limits not suited to larger people. The Drive Nitro Rollator at Fenetic Wellbeing has a high maximum user weight of 350lbs while still being sleek and light enough to fold into any car boot or storage cupboard. The bag can be clipped in three different positions, making it easy to customise how it's used. 1-Up Hair Tie For anyone with limited hand movement, keeping long hair tied up can be tricky. The 1-Up Hair Tie available from Active Hands is designed for one-handed use, making it super easy to get hair into a ponytail with one hand in seconds. Costing between £8.95-£11.95, it comes in different colour options and in child or regular size and means anyone with longer hair can be in charge of their own hairstyle by putting it into a ponytail in seconds. Active Hands also produce lots of easy-use gadgets like a cable puller to get charging cables from your phone with ease. ‌ Robo vacuum and mop The final two gadgets on this list are something ideal for any home, but have extra benefits for people with limited mobility or fluctuating conditions. Robot vacuums like the Ultenic T10 Lite have gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. You can quickly 'set and forget' your household chore of hoovering the floor, leaving time for other tasks – or rest. The vacuum maps out your floorplan, learns where your furniture is, and uses sensors to move around. You decide when your cleaning gets done, so it can even happen while you're out of the house, which is ideal for those with noise sensitivities, too. For those who aren't sure a robot vac is ideal for them, a light cordless vacuum cleaner like UItenic's U20 can be the answer – and also gets under the furniture with a flexible wand, snapping up dust and fluff from corners without the need to move heavy items. ‌ Portable air conditioner Finally, as the summer heat looks set to stay this year and in years to come, a portable air conditioner is an investment anyone with heat intolerance should consider. Heat can have a negative impact on many conditions, causing bloating, swollen joints, and additional fatigue – not helped by being unable to sleep when it's too hot, too. A portable air conditioner can reduce the room's temperature to one that is comfortable, and can be put in any room. The S1 Pro Personal Air Conditioner by Morphy Richards, looks stylish (instead of the boring white box of most air con units) and can also be useful for reducing damp in cooler months, which is ideal for those with respiratory issues prone to flare in winter. Claim VAT relief You can claim VAT relief of 20% on products designed or adapted to help manage your disability. This is usually easiest to do direct from specialist suppliers, like those listed above. This VAT exemption also applies to adaptations you make around your home to remain independent, such as installing ramps and handles, or changing a bathroom to a wetroom. Speak to your contractor about the VAT exemption before agreeing to any quotes or starting the work.

East Anglia's first Disability Pride celebrates 'individuals for who they are'
East Anglia's first Disability Pride celebrates 'individuals for who they are'

ITV News

time5 days ago

  • General
  • ITV News

East Anglia's first Disability Pride celebrates 'individuals for who they are'

Hundreds of people gathered in a coastal town for the first Disability Pride event to be held in East Anglia. Organisers of the event, which was held on Friday (11 July) in Felixstowe, said it aimed to celebrate "all individuals for who they are - not their limitations." The march started at the SeaYou cafe on the seafront and went along the promenade, ending at the leisure centre. Led by a samba band, the parade included live performances, a community Disability Roadshow, and a public celebration of inclusion. Co-organiser of the event and founder of Suffolk Mobility Solutions, Ian Bell, says the procession was a "huge success." "Its a day to celebrate disability. Its a day to celebrate me as a person rather than me as a disabled person. Look at me rather than the wheelchair rather than the disability that I've got." Disability Pride month takes place every July and is a "celebration of the creativity, resilience and achievements if disabled people." The charity Scope says: "Disability Pride Month is for anyone who is disabled – or anyone who wishes to show their allyship by celebrating their disabled communities, like businesses. It's a time for embracing disability identity positively. And challenging the negative attitudes that hold disabled people back. "

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