It was my pleasure to take part in this evening’s ‘In Touch’ programme on BBC Radio 4 (5th October 2021) about access to cash. I have long been campaigning on cash, the need for it to continue, to be accessible, available and inclusive. This was the subject of this evening’s show, obviously focussing specifically on …
Category archives: Diversity and Inclusion
Public Appointments Disability Data Disaster
In 2018 I conducted an independent review for the Government exploring how to open up public appointments to disabled people. I made several practical recommendations covering data collection and transparency, methods of attracting and nurturing talent and best approaches and adjustments at application and interview stage. I was delighted that the government accepted the principle …
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Status of Workers Bill – Second Reading
My Lords, it is a pleasure to take part in this Second Reading. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hendy, on his Private Member’s Bill and the way in which he introduced it. It is high time that clarity was brought to this area, and the Bill brings that clarity. I shall focus on a …
Sports Participation in Schools – Question
My Lords, I add my congratulations to the athletes of Team GB and ParalympicsGB. Beyond sports participation, does my noble friend the Minister agree that the stories of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and their ability to act as role models, should, alongside the Olympic and Paralympic values, run through our education system like a golden …
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Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
The broadcast story so far Great Britain’s Paralympians Gold, Silver and Bronze medal performances, their World, Paralympic, European and British records, all covered on the nation’s Paralympic broadcaster, Channel 4. I remember in 2009, when I was at London 2012, we had all the UK broadcasters keen to cover the Paralympic Games, coming with serious …
Paralympic Perspectives VI
Paralympic Classification Explained I very much enjoyed the boxing from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, some Great British performances. Enjoying it though, at no point did I think it would be a good idea, more importantly, good sport for the heavy weights to pile in against the feathers. This is classification. No more, no less. …
Paralympic Perspectives V
London 2012 It hardly seems possible, that golden summer of sport that brought us all together, some nine years past. Nine years past, yes, but the memories, the stories, the learnings are as rich and as vital today as any day. The Paralympics as much as any of this. What to say about a Games …
Paralympic Perspectives IV
Sydney 2000 There was a funny thing at the Sydney Paralympics. The 2, on all the merchandise, was written in a really sharp, funky some might say, way. A bit like the Zoro sign – for those of us who remember that Saturday morning TV highlight. In any event, this was the case on everything …
Paralympic Perspectives III
Barcelona 1992 Barcelona – “such a beautiful horizon”. Freddie and Montserrat were right, it is and it was. This Paralympic Games was special. A forgotten fishing port on the Med, transformed via Expo and Olympic Games into a world destination, riding high still some thirty years later. And what of the 1992 Paralympic Games? Well, …