You Cannot “Let Go” of Abuse That Is Still Ongoing:

You Cannot “Let Go” of Abuse That Is Still Ongoing

I am writing this as a factual account of my own lived experience.

I am continuing to experience ongoing ostracism, exclusion, and hostile treatment within my town, involving individuals who hold positions of influence through local media, charities, and the town council. These experiences are the reason I am unable to simply “move on” or “let go”.

I have raised concerns with Great Aycliffe Town Council. However, due to the conduct of several councillors and the ongoing involvement of individuals whose actions have caused me harm, I no longer feel safe or aligned attending council meetings. This is a personal safeguarding decision.

I have experienced sustained exclusion from community platforms and representation. Since Paul Howarth took over Newton Press, my community and charity work has no longer been published or acknowledged. This is a decision he is entitled to make, but the impact has been exclusionary and has occurred alongside verbal aggression towards me in public settings in Aycliffe, including a traumatic experience at Ayclive.

I will not promote or share content from All Disabilities Matter, due to my experiences following interactions involving Anthony Beddard, where I was subjected to verbal abuse and subsequent exclusion after raising concerns about that treatment. I was seeking a simple apology. Instead, I experienced further hostility and withdrawal of neutrality.

Amy Turner of Sisters of Support later became involved after previously agreeing verbally to remain impartial. That agreement was broken, and her actions aligned with others who had already excluded me. She harrassed me directly after leaving the group and the police were notified. This change in position had a direct impact on my ability to engage safely and fairly within community spaces.

False statements were made about me to the police by Paul Howarth, Anthony Beddard, and Amy Turner. These resulted in a false Community Protection Notice, which I have consistently challenged. I am stating this as my experience and understanding of events. I do not make this statement lightly, and I do not condone false reporting or abusive behaviour in any form.

Since that time, Councillors Andrew Hill and Phillip Hawkins have refused to include or share any of my charity or community work through Aycliffe Radio. When approached directly to ask whether my work would ever be included, I received “no comment.” I have interpreted this response as a decision to continue excluding my work.

As a result of these combined actions, I cannot safely attend certain community events or council meetings. The exclusion is ongoing and known to those involved. 

The impact on my wellbeing, safety, and ability to participate in my own community is significant.

I am one individual — an independent disability advocate. I work in safeguarding with Durham County Council, support multiple charities, and carry out extensive community work despite living with disabilities. 

The treatment I have experienced has occurred specifically after speaking out about mistreatment and advocating for accountability.

This is why I do not promote organisations or platforms that I associate with toxicity, exclusion, or the silencing of individuals who raise safeguarding concerns. Instead, I created Aycliffe Alternative Magazine to ensure that community members doing meaningful work are not excluded or erased due to personal or political disagreements.

Inclusivity and representation are not optional. When power is used to exclude, silence, or ostracise individuals who speak up, it raises legitimate safeguarding concerns. These concerns are the reason I continue to speak publicly.

I cannot “move on” while the behaviour continues.

I cannot attend meetings where those who have harmed me remain unaccountable.

And I will not misrepresent my experience for the comfort of others.

This statement reflects my lived experience and my right to speak about it.

Sarah Wingfield

Independent Disability Advocate

#Safeguarding #community #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights

Alt text:

An illustrated kawaii-style scene of a plus-size woman with long red hair standing outdoors in front of a softly blurred city skyline. She wears a pastel pink dress with white daisy patterns, gold drop earrings, and holds a walking cane in one hand. Her expression is sad and reflective. In her other hand, she holds a sign with a quote about denial, silence, accountability, and healing through truth. A heart-shaped logo reading “Kawaii Doll Decora” appears in the top right. At the bottom of the image, bold stylised text reads “Ostracism = Abuse.” The overall tone is gentle but serious, highlighting disability, emotional harm, and social exclusion.