Beth and Fats Timbo smiling on stage, Fats is wearing a glamorous white dress and Beth a red velvet dress with her stick.

Audience shot of Beth and Dan from Patchwork Hub standing on stage with presenter and Fats Timbo collecting their award, posing for the official photograph.

I’m always acutely aware that awards like this showcase a few, when there are so many others in the community equally deserving of recognition. I think that’s why accepting the award on behalf of our incredible team, who showcase just what disabled talent can bring to a workplace, is so meaningful.

As I attempted to say in my garbled speech, every day I am blown away by the weight of talent in the disabled community, and every day I’m equally frustrated by unnecessary workplace barriers that are stopping people from living our lives, thriving in work and reaching potential.

I’d like to thank our incredible (and growing!) small but dedicated team, for showcasing just what a disabled-led social enterprise can build and for their determination and passion for systemic change fairness and inclusion which drives us every day.

I’m still in shock and can’t put into words what it means to have something you’ve been pouring full heart and soul into for the last however many years recognised on such a large and important platform.

Black and white photo of Beth laughing off camera with her hand on her hip, wearing a thick blazer. Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 logo in the top right. Photo courtesy of Shaw Trust.

I’m so honoured and excited to have been named as part of Shaw Trust’s #DisabilityPower100 and even more honoured that @patchworkhub.bsky.social actually won Best Small Employer! 🏆