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

Disability Arts Online (DAO) has announced the appointment of disabled and neurodivergent theatre-maker, playwright and social justice activist, Kate Lovell, as its first Artistic Director. DAO is a UK-based charitable arts organisation led by disabled people and has been an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation since 2018. It occupies a unique global position with its website showcasing disability arts content, digital art gallery dis place, artist development

Coinciding with her latest amazing fundraising achievement Mary Lamb has been awarded LWD’s Fundraising Hero Award. The amazing 67-year-old has just completed the Trans Pennine Trail in her wheelchair. Accompanied by her assistance dog, Sheldon, she successfully negotiated the 215-mile coast-to-coast journey in nine days. Mary, who became so depressed by her disability that she could not leave her home, has raised more than £50,000 for Dogs for Good, after the charity matched

Up to 50 people with disabilities are to get the chance to soar the skies of South Yorkshire. Thanks to a partnership between Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Aerobility, a charity making aviation more accessible, disabled people will be able to apply for introductory flights in a specially adapted light aircraft between May 26 and 29. For more than 30 years, the charity has provided accessible aviation activities to disabled people with physical impairments, sensory impai

Congratulations to Richard Whitehead MBE for breaking his own world marathon record for athletes with bilateral knee amputations. The Paralympic gold medallist and global champion for diversity and inclusion crossed the finish line of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon in 2:40:47, breaking his previous record, set at the Chicago Marathon in 2024. Richard’s achievement comes on the heels of a successful 2025, during which he completed 20 marathons across the globe. Now, just a few m

The latest issue of Living with Disability is now available online. With inspiring stories of personal challenges and triumphs, opportunities to get involved in sport, accessible events and travel, new innovations and employment and education initiatives, there’s something for everyone. Including a profile of the winners in all seven categories of the LWD Awards. “I would like to thank all the individuals, charities and organisations that entered as they all worthy of acclaim

World-class G4D golfers and amateur players are to take part in a unique, inclusive celebration of the game. The Kipp Popert Invitational on May 11 will feature 18 teams, each made up of three amateur golfers paired with a world-leading G4D player. Competitors will travel from nine countries, including Cameroon, South Africa, USA, Canada, Spain, and Ireland, reflecting the truly international reach of the disability golf community. Set up by the World Number 1 Disability Golf

Naidex is one of the most inspiring, engaging, and insightful events for the disability community. This year’s 265 exhibitors, impressive conference programme and live performances delivered impact at every turn. More than 2,000 visitors flocked to Naidex in Birmingham and the excitement is already building for 2027. But you don’t have to wait until next year. Organisers of the show have announced the first-ever Naidex Roadshow. Naidex Roadshow South will take place at the Fa

Thanks to funding from the charity Caudwell Children a specialist trike has improved the quality of life for a five-year-old Worcestershire boy born prematurely. Cooper Bower-Daglish was born at just 25 weeks’ gestation, weighing a tiny 860g. The youngster suffered bleeds on his brain and spent four and half months on a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). He now lives with cerebral palsy, visual impairment, global developmental delay, and is autistic. “Cooper had such

Two traditionally rigged tall ships crewed by a rotating team of 70 wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans and serving personnel have reached the halfway mark of an epic 2,000-mile journey around the UK. Arriving at Wick, on the northeast coast of Scotland, the ships, Spirit of Falmouth and Pellew, have covered 1,000 miles in 48 days. Over the course of the Full Circle expedition so far, the crews have contended with severe weather from Storm Dave, overnight passages and th

Leading disabled access charity Euan’s Guide is celebrating a major milestone in its national Safer Toilets campaign. The award-winning charity that runs the UK’s leading disabled access review website, set up by Euan MacDonald MBE and Kiki MacDonald OBE, has announced that it has distributed 200,000 Red Cord Cards. The achievement marks a significant step forward in ensuring that accessible toilets across the UK are safe and functional for disabled people thanks to the red e