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opinion

Ten years bearing a torch

Sara Pickard has championed the cause of inclusion by speaking
to parliaments and the United Nations, mingling with celebrities
and acting on stage, all while holding down a job

s we move in to a new decade, now Year lunch and awards ceremony at the
seems like a good time to reflect on Royal Lancaster Hotel in London to
Athe experiences and opportunities celebrate my work and that of 400 other
that have come my way during the last women from across the country.
decade… and to look ahead. It was a fantastic experience and a day I
I was 26 back in 2010 and, at that time, will never forget. As soon as we arrived at
I was working on my first full-time job the hotel, we spotted the red carpet and
with Mencap Cymru in Cardiff as the the paparazzi and almost immediately
project officer for a citizenship project along came one of the judges – TV star
with schools and colleges throughout Lorraine Kelly – who welcomed me.
Wales called Partners in Politics. During the day, I had the opportunity
I have been lucky enough to have my to meet lots of the other guests,
voice heard in important places too, including Mel Giedroyc, Dame Tanni
including the House of Commons, the Grey-Thompson, Angela Rippon, Theresa
European Parliament in Brussels and, May, Maureen Lipman, Zoë Wanamaker On the red carpet at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in
perhaps the most exciting of all, at the and Tamzin Outhwaite, who played my London for the Woman of the Year awards
United Nations’ headquarters in New York. favourite character from Eastenders Mel
Owen (until she got killed off). And so to the future! Well, who knows?
After a wonderful lunch, the awards What I do know is that one day I will be
ceremony revealed some very personal living more independently, even though I
and moving stories from some truly am very happy living at home at present.
inspirational women, which reduced us all Outside my work, I enjoy dancing, music
to tears. Perhaps the most emotive story and especially drama – I have been a
was that of the Bletchley Park ladies, who member of Hijinx Theatre Company for 11
played such a big part in the war effort for years. This has given me the opportunity to
our country and made a huge impact on go on two professional national tours, as
the room when they took to the stage. well as many performances at the Wales
Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, where we
Confidence through inclusion are based. I love spending time enjoying
I have been at Mencap Cymru, the leading live music with my boyfriend Simon.
organisation supporting people I feel passionate about promoting
with a learning disability in equality in all I do. At an Inclusion Europe
Wales, for 13 years and worked conference I attended in Graz in Austria, a
on a number of projects. phrase was “born” which I think is very
I am currently the project officer powerful. It is: “If you dare to speak up,
on the Play Our Way project, funded inclusion happens.” Putting that
by Children in Need, which brings together with my own motto “Down’s
Meeting TV presenter Lorraine Kelly young people, with and without a syndrome… so what!”, I live my life
learning disability, together through believing that anything is possible.
More opportunities came for me during inclusive sport and activities. I do hope that the coming decade
the past five years as the self-advocate The project helps young people will provide me with many more
council member for Europe for Inclusion increase their confidence, improve their wonderful experiences like those I
International, which took me to many teamwork and build meaningful have enjoyed over
places around the world to meet other friendships to help change attitudes the past 10 years
self-advocates. towards learning disability for the next and that I can
The past decade also saw me: elected as a generation and break the stigma felt continue to
community councillor for my area nine years by some. try my best
ago, a role I still hold; carrying the Olympic I am also an elected member of to make a
Torch in Cardiff before the 2012 games; and, Mencap’s Our Voices Council – a board
Julian Hallett: torch maybe most importantly of all, meeting my made up of representatives from across Olympic torch in
difference. n
boyfriend Simon eight years ago.
the country who have a learning disability
Carrying the
and meet monthly in London to help advise
Last October, I felt very honoured to be
nominated to attend the Women of the
Cardiff in 2012
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Mencap on its priorities and decisions. Community Living Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 11