What is the Shaw Trust?
The Shaw Trust is a charity dedicated to helping improve accessibility within employment. They support and improve opportunities and access to work now, and for the long term.
The Shaw Trust also run their annual Power 100 List, of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK.
Andrew Bright
In 2019, Thera’s Service Quality Directors were nominated on the Power 100 List. Out of all of the nominations, Andrew was shortlisted and invited to the House of Commons for the annual celebration and awards presentation.
Andrew recalls, ‘I was drinking my second glass of champagne when it was announced that I had made the top 10 in my category. I couldn’t believe I had actually come fourth!’
Then, in early 2020, Andrew was asked if he would like to act as a judge for the Power 100 instead. Andrew was a really crucial part of selecting who should be nominated.
Now, Andrew has been asked to return as a judge in 2021! The Shaw Trust finds Andrew’s lived experience of a learning disability hugely important.
Andrew will be told in the coming weeks what category he will be responsible for judging this year. Then, between April and May, Andrew and his fellow judges will meet (virtually!) to assess the candidates. The nominees will be whittled down to a final 10 from each category. These people will make up the Power 100 List for 2021!
‘I am thrilled to be asked back as a judge again this year for the Power 100. I am looking forward to meeting the other judges (hopefully in person this time!). It has also been great to be able to influence the accessibility of the information provided to judges, who have lived experience of a learning disability’.
As the judging and presentation for 2020 was conducted virtually, Andrew hopes the presentation will be able to return to the House of Commons this year.
Follow Thera Trust on Facebook