As you read in my last post, changing attitudes was the main reason behind me setting up my Be Aware Be Clear project. I thought I would use this post to explain how I set the project up and how it has developed.
The name came from a poem which I began to write:
Disability isn't nice,
But I can still have a life.
If people were more aware
Disability would become more clear
In 2001, I was working part time as a paid member of staff in Dacorum Volunteer Bureau (DVB.) I shared with my colleagues how I would love to give talks to raise awareness of disability, using personal experience. After receiving plenty of encouragement I begun to sit down and plan what I would like my talk to include. With a plan developed, my colleagues offered to be guinea pigs and to listen to my 20 minute presentation.
After being impressed by what they heard they recommended me to various voluntary organisations who were affiliated to them. Shortly afterwards I saw, on Scope’s website, that they were running a scheme called ‘Give it a Go – Millennium Awards’. Under this scheme they were offering to provide funding for six months to help people to set up community projects.
In keeping with the name of the scheme I decided to ‘Give it a Go!’ The staff at the Volunteer Bureau were amazing with the support which they gave me, specifically with writing the application and setting out my anticipated costs for the project. The person who worked providing support to volunteers who have additional needs offered to be my mentor and was a great source of help during the six months. I was able to achieve great things in that time I gave 35 talks – reaching 570 people, most of whom were primary school children.
Be Aware Be Clear then needed to go on the back burner. Due to no fault of the Dacorum Volunteer Bureau, my job was made redundant and I was therefore busy trying to find another job. After a long and difficult job search I found myself in full time employment and although occasionally I did take some of my holiday entitlement to give talks, I didn’t give many.
The next way in which I developed Be Aware Be Clear was by designing a Facebook page – which is still running – https://www.facebook.com/beawarebeclear The Facebook page is designed to give followers little snippets of my life to show some of the challenges which I face in daily life, to share links to stories/campaigns which relate to disabled people and to publicise my talks.
Now I am back to working part time, I am wanting to give more talks but also to write my blog. I see my blog as another avenue of raising disability awareness which I can do sat on my sofa! After beginning to find working full time too tiring, it is nice to have a project which at do at home, at my own pace.
If you know of any organisation who would benefit from listening to my talk, then please do get in touch – heidibuckell@hotmail.com. (My talks range from 20 mins for children to 45 minutes for adults, although I can vary how long I speak for according to the specific group.)
Be Aware Be Clear 