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
As we move in to a new decade, now seems like a good time to reflect on the experiences and opportunities that have come my way during the last decade… and to look ahead. I w
as 26 back in 2010 and, at that time, I was working on my first full-time job with Mencap Cymru in Cardiff as the project officer for a citizenship project with schools and colleges throughout Wales called Partners in Politics. I have been lucky enough to have my voice heard in important places too, including the House of Commons, the European Parliament in Brussels and, perhaps the most exciting of all, at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. More opportunities came for me during the past five years as the self-advocate council member for Europe for Inclusion International, which took me to many places around the world to meet other self-advocates. The past decade also saw me: elected as a community councillor for my area nine years ago, a role I still hold; carrying the Olympic Torch in Cardiff before the 2012 games; and, maybe most importantly of all, meeting my boyfriend Simon eight years ago. Last October, I felt very honoured to be nominated to attend the Women of the Year lunch and awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London to celebrate my work and that of 400 other women from across the country. It was a fantastic experience and a day I will never forget. As soon as we arrived at the hotel, we spotted the red carpet and the paparazzi and almost immediately along came one of the judges – TV star Lorraine Kelly – who welcomed me. During the day, I had the opportunity to meet lots of the other guests, including Mel Giedroyc, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Angela Rippon, Theresa May, Maureen Lipman, Zoë Wanamaker and Tamzin Outhwaite, who played my favourite character from Eastenders Mel Owen (until she got killed off). After a wonderful lunch, the awards ceremony revealed some very personal and moving stories from some truly inspirational women, which reduced us all to tears. Perhaps the most emotive story was that of the Bletchley Park ladies, who played such a big part in the war effort for our country and made a huge impact on the room when they took to the stage.
Confidence through inclusion
I have been at Mencap Cymru, the leading organisation supporting people with a learning disability in Wales, for 13 years and worked on a number of projects. I am currently the project officer on the Play Our Way project, funded by Children in Need, which brings young people, with and without a learning disability, together through inclusive sport and activities. The project helps young people increase their confidence, improve their teamwork and build meaningful friendships to help change attitudes towards learning disability for the next generation and break the stigma felt by some. I am also an elected member of Mencap’s Our Voices Council – a board made up of representatives from across the country who have a learning disability and meet monthly in London to help advise Mencap on its priorities and decisions. I have been at Mencap Cymru, the leading organisation supporting people with a learning disability in Wales, for 13 years and worked on a number of projects. I am currently the project officer on the Play Our Way project, funded by Children in Need, which brings young people, with and without a learning disability, together through inclusive sport and activities.
The project helps young people increase their confidence, improve their teamwork and build meaningful friendships to help change attitudes towards learning disability for the next generation and break the stigma felt by some. I am also an elected member of Mencap’s Our Voices Council – a board made up of representatives from across the country who have a learning disability and meet monthly in London to help advise Mencap on its priorities and decisions.
