A very big honour!!
19th September 2025
I had to keep a very big secret for the best part of 6 months. Last year I made it to the final 4 in the Great Neighbour category at the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Make a Difference Awards.
This year I was asked to be a judge in the category I was nominated in last year and pick the winner and present their award! I was very honoured and humbled to be asked and want to thank all of the amazing team at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for being so lovely and welcoming. And a massive well done to all the nominees, finalists and winners. You all make the world we live in a much better place!
This year I was asked to be a judge in the category I was nominated in last year and pick the winner and present their award! I was very honoured and humbled to be asked and want to thank all of the amazing team at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for being so lovely and welcoming. And a massive well done to all the nominees, finalists and winners. You all make the world we live in a much better place!
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Our very first Changing Places is open!!
18th October 2024
On Friday 18th October 2024, the new Changing Places and refurbished toilet block re-opened at Riverside Park in St Neots. I campaigned to be heard and pursued and thankfully the town council listened and took on the next steps. They had to convince Huntingdonshire District Council to not only agree to the project, but to also apply for the Changing Places government grant, as well as putting the project out to tender and pushing for extra funding and working with all three councils (Town, District and County). As the toilet facilities have been out of action since April 2024, as soon as the refurbishment was finished and the Changing Places signed off by Muscular Dystrophy UK, we could open. There will be a bigger opening ceremony in a week, but I was thrilled to be asked to cut the ribbon with our mayor of St Neots, Richard Slade.
To have this project turned around from start to finish in just 2 years (3 since I started Access in St Neots), is truly unbelievable. I feel very grateful, overwhelmed, excited, happy and hopeful, that this paves the way for better disabled access, more Changing Places in the county and awareness for everyone with a disability.
Here are some photos of the opening ceremony and the new facilities:
To have this project turned around from start to finish in just 2 years (3 since I started Access in St Neots), is truly unbelievable. I feel very grateful, overwhelmed, excited, happy and hopeful, that this paves the way for better disabled access, more Changing Places in the county and awareness for everyone with a disability.
Here are some photos of the opening ceremony and the new facilities:
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The refurbished disabled toilet
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The ambulant toilet
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Video of tour and opening of Changing Places
Re-opening of Moores Walk garden, St Neots.
13th September 2024
I was delighted to be invited to the re-opening of the Moores Walk garden. Thank you to St Neots Town Council for inviting me and for everyone involved in making it look so pretty and becoming very accessible.
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BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Make a Difference Awards: 2024 Results
I may not have won, but to be shortlisted into the top 4 in my category out of hundreds of people, really is amazing! The inspirational people I met last night, I just don't know how the judges picked 1 from each category! I finally got to meet Dotty McLeod too, who's show I've been on twice already!
I still got an award to bring home, so I'm happy. Thank you to those who nominated me and for those who have supported this exciting time!
I still got an award to bring home, so I'm happy. Thank you to those who nominated me and for those who have supported this exciting time!
The first #projectdoorbell access bell is installed!
(27th July 2024)
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Sweet Paradise in Cross Keys Mews, St Neots, has been the first shop to receive a wireless doorbell and window sign. Funding from St Neots town council made it possible for us to purchase 10 wireless doorbells and window stickers. The aim is to provide a way to access a shop with assistance from staff, where access is otherwise impossible. Find out more on the 'Current Projects' page.
The second #projectdoorbell access bell is installed!
(3rd August 2024)
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Wood Green Pets Charity shop on the High Street in St Neots, now has a doorbell! They already had a wonderful ramp, so it was a no brainer to offer them a doorbell. You can see the ramp in the 2nd photo. (With my lovely husband installing the bell!)
The third #projectdoorbell access bell is installed!
(3rd August 2024)
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Bohemia on the Market Square/High Street in St Neots, has the third doorbell. They also already have a ramp, but like other shops/cafes, there previously was no way to ask for access to the ramp, without waving around outside.
Now you can press the bell and someone will come and show you around to the entrance in Cross Keys Mews, to use the ramp.
Now you can press the bell and someone will come and show you around to the entrance in Cross Keys Mews, to use the ramp.
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Make a Difference Awards
Finalists update!
(July 2024)
I was totally surprised on 18th July by the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire team, who came to St Neots to surprise me with the news that I'm one of 4 finalists in the Great Neighbour category.
I had no idea it was happening and had been asked by the town council to do a site visit to the Changing Places build. This was very plausible as I was due to do that anyway, so I went to Riverside car park, where it's being built. After 10 minutes of chatting with my friend there, a man with a loud speak jumped out and I thought it was a mad person at first! I knew they were announcing finalists that day, but was listening to the radio on my phone. At first I didn't join the dots, which you can probably see in the video below!
Video:
https://fb.watch/tu0E9NlSX-/
Audio:
https://fb.watch/tu0tVqAuGT/
I had no idea it was happening and had been asked by the town council to do a site visit to the Changing Places build. This was very plausible as I was due to do that anyway, so I went to Riverside car park, where it's being built. After 10 minutes of chatting with my friend there, a man with a loud speak jumped out and I thought it was a mad person at first! I knew they were announcing finalists that day, but was listening to the radio on my phone. At first I didn't join the dots, which you can probably see in the video below!
Video:
https://fb.watch/tu0E9NlSX-/
Audio:
https://fb.watch/tu0tVqAuGT/
