24th May 2018 • My Family Our Needs
We’ve had to put our BAPS away for another year but if you missed all the action last week, we’re bringing you the best bits. Which was pretty much all of it.
If you’re new around here, the BAPS (Bloody Awesome Parents) Awards are the only blogging awards dedicated to recognising the parents and carers of children with additional needs.
Whether they have a blog that looks on the funny side of life, spend all their time campaigning for change or just offer support to others, these parents and carers deserve to be celebrated. So last week, we spent the evening doing exactly that.
Hosted by the gent that is Gethin Jones, there was plenty of booze, much laughter and a few tears as our nominees and winners swapped stories and achieved their goal of spreading wider awareness of the SEND community. Keep reading to see the unofficial photos from the night (always the best ones) and to check out the winners’ page and read all about them, just click here.
Awards ready. Goody bags ready. #BAPSAwards are imminent. Get ready #SEND #bloggers, we're coming for you! #countdown #partytime #awardsnight ???? pic.twitter.com/OAldm2AJau
— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 15, 2018
A beautiful setting, inside and out – this year complete with goody bags
#BAPSAwards prep in full swing pic.twitter.com/LJQOGaDK3a
— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 16, 2018
Turns out people like goody bags
#bapsawards when do we dig into the goody bags?? (Clue ~ the answer is Now!) pic.twitter.com/DvdL9FQOFS
— Charlie Beswick (@ouralteredlife) May 17, 2018
People really like goody bags…
The noise @rainbowsaretoo just made when opening her goodie bag was incredible! I think she’s happy! #BAPSAwards
— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
We asked you to tweet the night to spread the love, and you obliged #sharingiscaring
#BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/mQIqO3XnLq
— Mama Unexpected (@mama_unexpected) May 17, 2018
£30 behind the bar for most prolific tweeter at the awards. Sorry guys, I’ll be tweeting A LOT #BAPSAwards
— ??????????? (@GrumpyCarer) May 17, 2018
This:
Only at a blogging event is it acceptable to look around a room and see so many people looking at their phones ? #BAPSAwards
— Chilling with Lucas (@ChillingLucas) May 17, 2018
Everyone seemed to love this years host, Gethin Jones. Seemed like he was enjoying himself too!
The BAPs are going well, in more ways than one ? #bapsawards @gethincjones https://t.co/yFGyas8GVb pic.twitter.com/RR95hz7kC1
— Ojo (@Ojosworld) May 17, 2018
It’s getting hot in here – is it the air con? Is it @GethincJones? ? #BAPSAwards
— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
Great to meet the lovely @gethincjones and realise he’s not up himself at all ❤️ #bapsawards https://t.co/R3FBgK3b5j pic.twitter.com/CXWQr2VnQd
— Chaos In Kent (The Asplands) ?❤️?? (@TheAsplands) May 17, 2018
He was a hit all round
#BAPSAwards @GethincJones what more can I say……!!!! pic.twitter.com/vl5eoUndqd
— janet williams (@JanetWilliams99) May 17, 2018
With our winners, finalists and… their parents?!
Don’t know whether to be embarrassed or proud that my mum @supergran53 asked @GethincJones if he wanted to share her bed ??♀️ #BAPSAwards @weareMFON pic.twitter.com/8LzSd5G51f
— Little Mama Murphy (@HappyLittleHugh) May 18, 2018
Our winners
Now first up… congrats to @KidsOnTour1 who take the award for Best Practical Advice for Families. Well done and thank you for your fabulous blog ??
And thank you to the wonderful @walsinghamuk for sponsoring this category. #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/e1JKckFWEM— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
@KidsOnTour1 #bapsawards pic.twitter.com/NTze7Ce13o
— RainbowsR2Beautiful (@rainbowsaretoo) May 17, 2018
Making you laugh along the way is winner of our most entertaining blog category… @JosephSpectrum, come on down! Well done on your win this year ??
With thanks to @EdenFutures for sponsoring this award #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/9eI9SUzGJx— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
An INCREDIBLE winner of ‘Most Entertaining Blog’. Just f*****g brilliant (read her blogs ?) @JosephSpectrum #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/VEVsSH2JZE
— Charlie Beswick (@ouralteredlife) May 17, 2018
Congratulations next to Little Mama Murphy @HappyLittleHugh, who wins the award for Blog Post that made the Biggest Impact with Dear Doctor. ❤️?
Many thanks to @UKQCS for kindly sponsoring this #BAPSAward pic.twitter.com/o8SR7CuZzo— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
Impact post winner, such a brilliant category! @HappyLittleHugh #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/uZCwrxvO7i
— Ojo (@Ojosworld) May 17, 2018
Our next award, for Best Microblogger, goes to @ASDfromADadsEye! Congratulations. First dad of the night to grace the stage too! ?? #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/K9ZJyTTreG
— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
Congratulations Autism from a Dads Eye View for best microblogger #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/tMzEdkrC44
— Chilling with Lucas (@ChillingLucas) May 17, 2018
Next up we have this years Newcomer Award and we are thrilled to announce the winner is Living with Lennon @LivingwithLen5 ❤️? Huge congratulations #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/wTIguhi8iq
— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
More winners @LivingwithLen5
Bloody awesome newcomer #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/PVgOVrPSQM— Ojo (@Ojosworld) May 17, 2018
Congratulations to @BornatRightTime – winner of our Blogger Making a Difference award ??
Really well deserved: ‘they walk the walk as well as talk the talk’.
With thanks to @Choice_Support for kindly sponsoring this award #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/RBHoU1POhW— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
Posted by Born at the Right Time on Friday, 18 May 2018
And last but by no means least – congratulations to our second dad winner of the night @stories_autism. You take the crown for Most Supportive SEND Blogger in this years #BAPSAwards ?? well done!
Thank you to @Potens_UK for kindly sponsoring this award. pic.twitter.com/UNoDjCVzRS— My Family Our Needs (@weareMFON) May 17, 2018
Winning ?Most supportive blogger, I’ll take that ?Thank you so much to everybody who voted, it really means so much…
Posted by Stories About Autism on Thursday, 17 May 2018
We also had surprise award for 2 special ladies to celebrate all they’ve accomplished this year. A Bringing us Together Special Recognition Award….
One for the team @AnnaCCampaigns @JanetWilliams99 “Special Recognition Award” #bapsawards #epilepsy #pregnancy #nationalcampaign #epilepsyawareness pic.twitter.com/fR4nNeVLdL
— Emma Murphy☘️?? (@Emma4facs) May 17, 2018
Our lovely winners and finalists (fab picture from Family Fund)
Massive congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year’s #bapsawards @JosephSpectrum @mama_unexpected @Livingwithajude @TheLBCProject @inclusivehome pic.twitter.com/sU2zfkN96F
— Family Fund (@FamilyFund) May 17, 2018
Good luck to all at the #BAPSAwards tonight. Whoever wins, you are all amazing! Continue to spread awareness ? #Autism #AutismAwareness #MentalHealthAwareness
— Glow Rox (@coffeeandglow) May 17, 2018
We totally agree with Glow Rox. ‘You are all amazing’ pretty much sums it up! And seeing everyone all dolled up, enjoying themselves, making connections and celebrating was a massive win for all
What a fab night so far at the #BAPSAwards great food amazing company and lots of alkerharl hic slur fall over…
— ??????????? (@GrumpyCarer) May 17, 2018
Really humbling to hear @LivingwithLen5 talking at #BAPSAwards – congratulations on your award
— Andrew Lennox (@AndrewLennox1) May 17, 2018
I love this photo!! Look how excited we were to be finalists!! ?????? #BAPSAwards @HayleyBalozi pic.twitter.com/IWfdlOEGnO
— Charlie Beswick (@ouralteredlife) May 17, 2018
….and then when we realised we were both losers!! ???? #BAPSAwards #Losers #JustJoking #NotJoking @HayleyBalozi pic.twitter.com/MCFY5qMzmu
— Charlie Beswick (@ouralteredlife) May 17, 2018
Absolutely over come with emotion by tonight’s award and very very kind overwhelming offers of support with our National Campaign. Thanking so much to these 2 beauties #bapsawards #epilepsy #pregnancy #valproatecrisis pic.twitter.com/8Bb7CuAay9
— Emma Murphy☘️?? (@Emma4facs) May 17, 2018
Kevin from @ASDfromADadsEye with his well deserved award. Even if he did beat me. No I don’t mind. Really. No I don’t at all. Sniff #BAPSAwards pic.twitter.com/5JcisdMHF5
— ??????????? (@GrumpyCarer) May 17, 2018
#BAPSAwards @GethincJones just asked for a selfie with me! Im sure thats meant to be the other way round! ?
— Autism Kids On Tour (@KidsOnTour1) May 17, 2018
Having a great time with a fellow #PDA #blogging finalist who just won in her category ‘Best Practical Advice for Families.’@KidsOnTour1 #BAPSAwards #pathologicaldemandavoidance #PDAday pic.twitter.com/uYfGEIuiho
— PDA Parenting (@PDAParenting) May 17, 2018
And once more for luck as this pic really is too good to only include once!
Massive congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year’s #bapsawards @JosephSpectrum @mama_unexpected @Livingwithajude @TheLBCProject @inclusivehome pic.twitter.com/sU2zfkN96F
— Family Fund (@FamilyFund) May 17, 2018
We hope that our BAPS Awards will get bigger and better each year so if you like what you’ve seen, we would love you to get involved next year. Sign up to hear about key dates for 2019.
If you visit My Family, Our Needs regularly, chances are you’ll stumble across a future nominee or winner during the next year thanks to our Real Life section where we bring you the everyday stories of some extraordinary people.