Northwest Disability Awareness Day 2009 – Press Release

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

The Northwest Disability Awareness Day 2009 took place on Sunday, July 12th and was another resounding success hailed as the best ever.

These are truly excellent events and those of you who missed it this year may like to note that plans are already underway for Disability Awareness Day 2010 which will be held on Sunday 11^th July at Walton Hall Gardens Warrington Cheshire (Off A56).

POST EVENT PRESS RELEASE

Disability Awareness Day 2009

The Northwest Disability Awareness Day (DAD) held on Sunday 12^th July has been hailed a “the biggest and best” in the 18 year history of this annual event. Organised by Warrington Disability Partnership, DAD 2009 attracted over 27,000 visitors from across the region and over 280 exhibitors from across the UK and Europe – two travelled in from Spain and Cyprus.

The event was the finale of a week consisting of 12 complementary events that attracted thousands of visitors including the Minister for Disabled People Jonathan Shaw, who praised the work of the team of volunteers who ensure the smooth running of the event. Mr Shaw added that “DAD typifies the strength, tenacity and flexibility of the voluntary sector”.  He also paid further praise to the joint work between the voluntary, statutory and private sectors in supporting the event as sponsors and exhibitors.

DAD is a unique event that has been developed around a pan disability exhibition and is supported by a performing arts marquee, sports area, main entertainments arena, a cinema, therapy marquee and children’s fun fair. The on-site cinema housed the “Slice of Life” film festival highlighting short films made by or staring disabled people or written on a disability theme.

Over 120 of the exhibitors were charities covering all age groups from children and young people to adults and older people, and physical, sensory and learning impairment, mental health and carers.

DAD 2009 was a huge community event that successfully involved over 230 volunteers stewards and young assistants including dozens of family and friends of Warrington Disability Partnership, Lions and Rotary Clubs, Sea Cadets, Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute, St John Ambulance, Friends of Walton Gardens, Dial A Ride, in addition to over 400 volunteers who helped to staff the charity exhibition stands.

During the day, judging takes place for the Best Exhibitors at DAD and this year Certificates were awarded to:

• Bradley Autos’ – Best Business Exhibitor
• Diabetes UK – Best Voluntary Sector Exhibitor
• Environment Agency – Best Statutory Exhibitor

The event is recognised as Europe’s largest voluntary led disability exhibition and it’s not surprising that the event organisers received royal recognition when they were presented with a Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2006.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency is the principal sponsor of DAD 2009. Chief Executive Steven Broomhead said:

“The NWDA continues to work hard to ensure people across all communities have access to the facilities and infrastructure that contribute to a successful regional economy and enjoy a good quality of life.

“Disability Awareness Day has gone from strength to strength, raising awareness of disability issues and promoting the skills of the talented people within the region.”

Chair of Warrington Disability Partnership and event co-ordinator Dave Thompson MBE DL, said:

“Awareness and understanding of the availability of independent living support is of major importance to tens of thousands of the Northwest’s two million disabled people and carers. We know that DAD provides a vital role in highlighting what is available, not just by attending the event but also by accessing the website during the 12 months between events”.

“Members of our team have said that one of the biggest highlights from DAD 2009 was watching a five year old wheelchair user reach the top of the 30 foot climbing wall and watching and listening to a joint performance which saw Andrew Coleman, a blind singer from Liverpool, and Dee Sign Choir from Chester interpreting Andrew’s songs into British Sign Language”.

Dave said “it is thanks to the hard work and commitment of our management team, our stewards and assistants, our exhibitors, our visitors and the support of our sponsors that ensures that the event develops and improves each year”.

Plans are already underway for Disability Awareness Day 2010 which will be held on Sunday 11^th July at Walton Hall Gardens Warrington Cheshire (Off A56).

For more details email dave.thompson@5bp.nhs.uk or visit http://www.disabilityawarenessday.org.uk