Leading recruitment specialist Pertemps has funded a state-of-the-art standing wheelchair for Manchester Arena bombing survivor Martin Hibbert to support his continued work in advocacy and public speaking. Martin, who sustained life-changing spinal injuries in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, has since become a powerful voice for the spinal injury community, dedicating his time to raising awareness, supporting others and championing accessibility through his role as Vice P

Former Paralympian John McFall (pictured above) could become first person with a physical disability to live in orbit thanks to an agreement signed between the UK Government and US commercial space company Vast. The agreement enables Vast, supported by the UK Space Agency, to explore sponsorship opportunities for John’s mission to the world’s first commercial space station, Vast’s Haven-1, as early as 2027. John, an NHS surgeon who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accid

A Sussex football club is expanding its disability and inclusive football section ahead of next season. Hastings United FC is looking to build on its success over the last two years and field two adult teams and two youth teams for the 2026/27 season. The team currently plays in the Championship division of Sussex Disability League. ‘’The growth and popularity of our section have been fantastic, and I am excited for the new season and being able to offer more opportunities fo

A Glasgow-based radio station tailored for, and hosted by, blind and partially sighted people, has been recognised for the third year in a row at the prestigious Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAs). Connect Radio’s Read On: The Audiobook Show was nominated in the Best Speech Entertainment category alongside the likes of Zoe Ball, Jo Whiley and Louis Theroux at the ARIAs. The Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) station was also nominated for awards in

Young people from different backgrounds came together through a shared passion for horses as the first event in a new collaboration between Riding for the Disabled Association and Power of Polo. The event welcomed young people from Power of Polo and The Diamond Centre RDA to for a day focused on connection, confidence-building and shared experiences through horses. The visit marked the beginning of an initiative designed to explore the impact horses can have in bringing peopl

Congratulations to the 39 cyclists who travelled to France to take part in the Spinal Injuries Association’s (SIA) 300km overseas cycling challenge from Toulouse to Bordeaux. The team, including four inspiring hand cyclists, Gary Dawson, Dave Eastham, Jamie Rhind and Mike Lewis, pushed themselves over three consecutive days to complete the challenge and raise just over £100,000 for SIA. An incredible achievement made possible thanks to the dedication of the cyclists, the ge

Coventry families with children who have specialist educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can now have fun with a new range of accessible toys at Ladybug Lodge. Inspired by her younger sister Rosie (pictured left), who has profound and multiple learning difficulties, Josie Wheel (pictured right) founded Ladybug Lodge to provide an inclusive, joyful play space Rosie would have loved when they were children. Now families across Coventry with children and young people up to

The current touring production of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold stopped off at Richmond Theatre in southwest London and it made for a gripping, classy night out. John le Carré’s famous Cold War novel is not the easiest story to bring to the stage, with all its layers of deception, shifting loyalties and emotional reserve, but this version manages to feel both intelligent and theatrical. It has a moody, elegant atmosphere from the start, with a single bicycle lying mid-sta

Liverpool is set to make history next year as it hosts a new ground breaking Inclusive Sport & Culture Festival (ISCF). The first-of-its-kind event in the UK will bring together elite athletes that compete in the Paralympics and a world class disabled-led arts and culture programme on a shared world stage from May 2 - 8. Taking over the city’s iconic waterfront, the week-long festival will transform the city into a vibrant hub of energy, creativity and elite performance, rede

A new national survey shows that many disabled people who want to visit the beach more often are being prevented from doing so due to a lack of basic accessibility features. With around 16.8 million disabled people in the UK, 24% of the general population, and almost 50% of people living with a long-standing health condition, access to everyday spaces remains a significant issue. Led by the Beach Access Project in collaboration with the University of Brighton new research sho

National charity Access Sport has announced it is working in partnership with The Football Association to strengthen disability inclusion in grassroots football through volunteering. The two‑year project is designed to grow and diversify the network of volunteers who support the delivery of grassroots football. It will focus on boosting the representation of disabled people to volunteer, grow the number of volunteers in the disability football pathway and create new, inclusi

Ongoing progress to better support disabled entrepreneurs across the UK has been celebrated at an event to mark one year since the launch of The Lilac Review’s final report. The independent, Government-backed review set out a series of recommendations to overcome barriers, and unlock a £230bn opportunity to boost the UK economy by empowering millions of disabled entrepreneurs. To mark the milestone, BT, a founding signatory of the Disability Trading Framework and member of th

A fine art student has created an exhibition to communicate how disabled people can feel ‘like a mirror ball’ when using powerchairs on public transport. Hanna Litvinova (pictured above), 31, an artist who has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that impacts muscle strength throughout the body, is exhibiting a series of oil paintings as part of the 2026 Nottingham Trent University (NTU) art and design Graduate Festival. Her works explore visibility, separation, and pub

Congratulations to the Sow & Grow group, picked as LWD’s Community Group Award 2026 winner. Meeting at Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden, Sow & Grow sits at the heart of a commitment to ensure that everyone can access, enjoy and experience the gardens. Earlier this week LWD editor Clive Davis (pictured above centre right) visited the stunning garden in West Sussex to present organisers and members of the popular group with their winning trophy. Launched in spring 2024, Sow

A leading manufacturer of sports wheelchairs has been announced as the new Official Wheelchair Partner for British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB). RGK will work alongside the national governing body for wheelchair basketball to deliver technical expertise, repair services and specialist performance wheelchair knowledge across programmes and key events, helping athletes perform at their best. The collaboration will focus on strengthening participation and performance across

Stephen Harrison MBE has been transforming lives through sport, inclusion and community development for nearly two decades. Stephen, and the academy he founded in Sheffield, has become a beacon for grassroots snooker and social change and LWD is pleased to acknowledge the impact he has made by presenting him with our Outstanding Achievement Award 2026. What began as a vision to use snooker as a way to engage young people has grown into a thriving social enterprise that now se

A young Labrador called Ocho gets a big pat on the back for winning this year’s LWD Best Support Award. Ocho is the constant companion of Chloe Hammond, thought to be the first nurse in a wheelchair in the UK to use an assistance dog at work. Diagnosed with Behcet’s disease at just 14-years-old, Chloe was never going to let that stop her from achieving her goal of becoming a nurse. Despite pain, fatigue and needing crutches to move around – she also suffers from chronic fatig

Kearan Varley has been presented with the LWD Volunteer Award in recognition of the many hours he gives to helping others. As a volunteer at the Colchester Phoenix Amateur Swimming Club, the Salvation Army and several other organisations in Essex, Kearan goes above and beyond in service to others. Nominated for his tireless commitment to supporting disabled people across the community, LWD was delighted that some of the youngsters Kearan supports were in the swimming pool wit

Mark and Lard return to the Live to your Living Room stage on May 26 for the last ever show of their sell out come back tour Carry On: An Audience with Mark and Lard! Expect lots of stories from the cheeky chaps Mark Radcliffe and Marc ‘Lard’ Riley about their time at BBC Radio 1 and, of course, all your favourite catchphrases! Best known for their legendary shows on Radio 1, which introduced the UK to Fat Harry White, The Shirehorses, and segments like Beat the Clock and D

Congratulations to Katie Michaels, the founder of Moti Me, who has won LWD’s Innovation Award. Moti Me combines physiotherapy principles with interactive play to encourage children with additional needs to move, reach, and explore. Using animal characters, colourful lights and dozens of mini games to develop movement and build strength and mobility, 27-year-old Katie has set out to reimagine how therapeutic movement could be delivered in a fun way. Successfully tested by mo