4th July 2019 • My Family Our Needs

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than a month since our Bloody Awesome Parents (BAPS) Awards 2019.

The need for SEND parents to connect with each other and share stories was the reason the BAPS Awards were born when the idea came about a few years ago with Bringing Us Together.

As well as creating a space just for parents which supported them to support their disabled child, we wanted to acknowledge the work they were doing to raise awareness within the SEND community and beyond. And we managed to spread the word far and wide on the night by trending at number one on Twitter!

This year we were thrilled to have Carrie Grant hosting and as she took to the stage and told our BAP’s that she felt she was with family, we knew she’d be fab. Sharing her experiences of EHCP’s, home education and school meetings, she was met with nods across the room. When you know, you just know. And Carrie knew.

As ever at the BAPS Awards, the atmosphere was heartening and inspiring. Some parents were old friends, and some were excited about meeting those they had been chatting to online for the first time. The rest of us did a lot of squinting at people across the room trying to work out if it really was them from their profile picture…

Speaking of pictures, it wouldn’t really be a ‘best bits’ piece without a load of the unofficial pictures from social media. So here you go!

We were also lucky enough to be joined by actor and disability campaigner Samantha Renke on the night who, along with judging the entries, also presented the Best Use of Media Award.

Our winners

Best Use of Media

Stories About Autism – James Hunt

Blog Post with the Biggest Impact

Faithmummy: The reasons I don’t like people – Miriam Gwynne (collected on the night by Steph Curtis)

Newcomer

Feeling Upside Down – Sarah Mayes

Bloody Awesome Parent of the Year

Paula McGowan

Travel and Accessibility

Autism Kids on Tour – Star Harford

The Truth About SEND

I Am River – Hayley Balozi

Wellbeing

Coraline and Us – Liz Arriens

Making a Difference

Our Altered Life – Charlie Beswick

Read more about the winners and see their pics on the winners page here.

Putting on such an amazing evening for our Bloody Awesome Parents just couldn’t happen if it wasn’t for the support of our sponsors. You can read a bit more about them below:

Choice Support
A national charity supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs.

Macintyre
Working with parents, carers and families, Macintyre’s vision is for everyone with a learning disability to live a life that makes sense to them.

Certitude
Working across London for the last 30 years supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.

Progress Care
Helping young people with SEND to be the best version of themselves possible.

Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchell’s education team has supported many families to gain access to the services they need to meet the needs of their children, regardless of the complexity of their needs.

Forest Holidays
From improving the wellbeing of their guests and visitor to teaching young people about nature, Forest Holidays helps people and nature connect.

The Goldsmith Centre
The training arm of Simple Stuff Works, the Goldsmith Centre offers training and support with a focus on the needs of those with the most profound disabilities and their exceptional families.

Huge thanks to 3PB and MyLiferaft for their support on the night too.

As our fab host Carrie Grant said:

‘It’s ordinary people doing extraordinary things which make a difference.’

If that sounds like you or someone you know, stay tuned for details of 2020’s BAPS Awards.