Congratulations are the order of the day to Morecambe-based Disability Online, who have won a National Diversity Award for their work helping local people with issues ranging from benefits advice, appeals, hate crime and access issues.
The National Diversity Awards are designed to showcase the efforts of those who have demonstrated an outstanding devotion to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion within today’s society. They aim to recognise and reward positive role models, entrepreneurs and community organisations from a grass roots level for all their hard work within their respective communities.
Members of the Disability Online team attended the National Diversity Awards last Friday at Manchester’s Midland Hotel, hosted by television celebrity Brian Dowling. During the ceremony, it was announced they had won the Community Organisation Award for Disability, which was received by Wayne Clinton from Ruth Munday, the Human Resources Director from Mouchel.
Disability Online were shortlisted as one of the top three candidates for the award back in August after being whittled down from thousands of potential winners/nominees..
“I can’t believe that we’ve won,” said Wayne after the event. “We’ve worked so hard since we started. “In my eyes, all the shortlisted individual and group entries are winners – we’re all working towards change and make a difference in our own way. We are so proud of the work we do, and whilst we still consider ourselves relatively new, we are absolutely over the moon to have been chosen as the winner for our category at a national level. “Awards like this that acknowledge the work that we do are rare to come across and we will cherish this award… and we will continue to serve the local Disabled community as we have done up to this point; with compassion and care.”.
Since its beginning in February 2012, Disability Online has served 142 individual clients with issues ranging from benefits advice, appeals, hate crime and access issues. During this time, they have achieved a staggering 40 benefit awards and have attended 10 appeals with clients.
Disability Online is run by Disabled people to help Disabled people in the Morecambe and Lancaster District (and online). They offer support and advice where they can – and also offer free private and confidential Benefit Health Checks for those who are unsure of which benefits they are entitled to; and help with the Benefit application forms – including Employment Support Allowance, Atos Medicals, Benefit appeals, Disability Hate Crime, Access issues and more.
• For more information about Disability Online visit www.disabilityonline.org.uk, call 01524 412044 or call in at their drop-in’s or our new office at The Lighthouse Centre in Morecambe.