PGP / SPD My story:

Disability Advocacy Changes Lives ❤️ Disability advocacy means everything to me. It isn’t just about words — it’s about action. It’s about refusing to stay quiet when people are discriminated against, ignored, or mistreated. That’s why I created and shared this graphic today. Because people still need reminding that: Disability advocacy means fighting for the rights, inclusion, and equality of people with disabilities. It is about challenging discrimination and barriers, and promoting accessibility and independence for all. That’s what I live by. That’s what I fight for. Recently, my advocacy has looked like: Delivering my Disability Awareness Speech, sparking honest conversations about accessibility, the social model of disability, and how society must change. Working as an Independent Visitor for children in care, standing alongside them so they know they have someone in their corner when the system feels overwhelming. Supporting people when they face housing gatekeeping, making sure...

Unfortunately after waiting until yesterday when my initial complaint was made in July 2025 I have had no choice but to escalate the discrimination I received and sabotage by Durham County Council and DurhamEnable to an ombudsman. No accountability received as of yet. Sarah Wingfield  Independent Disability Advocate  #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights #autismacceptance #autismawareness 

Dog Bins Reinstated at Tees Barrage – A Small Win for Our Community Last year I contacted Stockton Council about the lack of dog bins at Tees Barrage. For many of us who walk there regularly, especially dog owners, the absence of bins had become a real issue. It made it harder to keep the area clean and safe, and such a well-loved space deserves better. I’m really pleased to share that the council have now worked with the Canal and River Trust , who own the Barrage, to reinstate bins in the area. It might seem like a small step, but it’s an important one for our community. This is a reminder that raising concerns does make a difference. When local people speak up and councils take action, we can create positive change — even in the everyday things that affect our environment and wellbeing. A big thank you to everyone involved for listening and making this happen. Hopefully this sets the tone for further improvements to our shared spaces. Previous blogs: https://pgpandspd.blogspot.com...

I need five more supporters on this campaign: Could one be YOU?! 🫵🏻😊✨ #LegalisePepperSpray https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742673/sponsors/new?token=58HvqjhNhqF8wEQyxN7G Legalise Pepper Spray for Self-Defence in England Why this matters: Every day across England, people – especially women, disabled people, and survivors of domestic abuse – are left vulnerable to harassment, assault, and violence. Reports of harassment and sexual offences on public transport have surged. People are being threatened at bus stops and in public spaces. Domestic abuse is still at epidemic levels – and too many victims are left defenceless while waiting for help. Police response times can stretch into hours, leaving victims exposed and unprotected. Right now, the law treats pepper spray as if it were a firearm. That means ordinary people have no legal way to carry even the most basic tool of self-defence. What we’re asking for: We call on the UK Government to: ✅ Legalise and regulate pepper spray...

My new Disability Advocating Petition to the UK government has been supported and is now queued! Thank you!  Alt text: Neon graffiti-style text on a dark brick wall reads “FULLY LEGALISE” in glowing blue and pink, and “MEDICAL CANNABIS” in bright green, with paint splatters around the letters. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742000/sponsors/new?token=6DN8zRHQgtDVaCERP9iJ Please help 🙏🏻  #medical  Allow medical cannabis users a card to purchase cannabis at pharmacies and choose how they administer it. Background: Medical cannabis is already legal in the UK, but in practice, access is severely limited. Patients face long waits, high costs, and inconsistent supply chains. This delays treatment, causes unnecessary suffering, and increases hospital admissions that could be prevented if patients had reliable access to their medication. What we want: We are calling on the UK Government to: Introduce a Medical Cannabis Patient Card, recognised nationally, which allows...

Broken But Still Beautiful – The Chronic Pain Doll Purple skin, green pigtails, one leg on the floor, a robotic arm and eye cover dangling, little eyes scattered below… a broken doll. She’s not polished, not perfect, but she’s real. I made her to represent how chronic pain feels – like pieces of you fall away when the world isn’t looking. People see the surface and assume you’re fine, but they don’t see the invisible struggles, the parts of you you’ve lost along the way. Disability isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s hidden inside joints that ache, nerves that burn, or energy that drains before the day has even started. This doll is me – and she’s many of us. A reminder that even when the world doesn’t see your pain, it’s still there. You’re still valid. You’re still whole in your own way. I also hope amputees can find something in her too. Because losing a piece of yourself – whether visible or invisible – doesn’t erase your worth. It doesn’t strip away your beauty. You’re not less b...

  Today I signed and shared a petition forwarded to me from Sarah: Changing the Narrative, on Facebook. It was a real life acknowledgement of the systemic barriers regarding housing disabled individuals, and how most bungalows are 65+. I signed it, shared it and I sent the following email to my MP.  If you'd like to sign and share it, please use the link below and if you need to, you can use my email as a template for your own. Good luck 🤞🏻 we are going to need it to change this issue. 🙏🏻 ---- Subject: Support for Petition on Accessible Housing for Disabled People Dear Alan Strickland, Anita, I am writing to you as one of your constituents and as a disability advocate to ask for your support regarding an important petition I have signed:  https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/159851268/signed The petition calls for the Government to require social housing providers to ensure that all disabled people, regardless of age, can access ground-floor or accessible housing...

North Tees Hospital Stockton : response to the vlog and review: Update:  Hospital Parking – Update Following Response 🚗 I recently raised some concerns about disabled access and car parking at the hospital, and I want to thank the team for responding so quickly and taking the time to explain the situation. I really appreciate their help in clarifying things and making adjustments. Here are the key points from their reply: 1️⃣ Double Charges & Blue Badges They confirmed that Blue Badge holders should not be charged for parking, as long as an in-date badge and the vehicle registration are provided. Their ANPR system records entry/exit, meaning there’s no need to pay at the machines. They’ve also said they’re happy to discuss further if anyone has experienced double charges. 2️⃣ Accessibility & Distance to Security Office They acknowledged the West Wing car park layout isn’t ideal and have now introduced new signage with an email contact — so disabled visitors no longer...

 I would just like to thank Great Aycliffe Town Council for tonight’s meeting. It was encouraging to see so many people turn up, and I’m also grateful to the other members of the public who spoke. While it’s natural for people to disagree, I’d personally like to see disagreements handled in a more constructive way by certain councillors. At times, things became a little too heated, and had the meeting been recorded, I’m not sure that the public would have been all that impressed. That said, some councillors did show sensible and balanced contributions, and as a Newtonian, I just want the very best for our town and it's residents. I was also very interested in the discussion around removing councillor positions. I can see the perspectives from both sides, but as one councillor rightly pointed out, we can’t currently compare data to see which decision would truly save money — and for that reason they couldn’t support it. Overall, I am grateful and appreciative of all that the council...

Real resolution matters — not fobbing people off when admins break their own rules. You disable us when you: Make communication unnecessarily difficult. Throw out false allegations of “harassment” when people are simply asking for guidance and reassurance. Fail to understand that accessibility isn’t just about buildings — it’s about community, communication, and inclusion too. 😔 #ReassuranceMatters What’s the point of being in a group if members can’t feel safe from unfair suspension? In my case, it wasn’t even my mistake — it was admins breaking their own rules. This has dragged on far too long. I even offered to help with admin duties, yet somehow I’m treated as the problem. Figures. Community support is important. If you’re going to admin, at least take your role seriously: Treat people kindly. When someone needs reassurance, give it. Follow your own rules. Without reassurance, people can’t feel comfortable engaging in the group. Instead, they feel mistreated — and I can’t even use...

Disability Awareness Speech - Kawaii Doll Decora at The Rotary of Great Aycliffe : In this Disability Awareness Speech, Sarah Wingfield blends personal story, humour, and advocacy to challenge common misconceptions about disability. She shares her lived experience of navigating chronic pain , barriers in daily life , and society’s attitudes toward disability . The speech introduces the social model of disability , highlighting how barriers—rather than impairments—create exclusion. It addresses accessibility, representation in media, and employment discrimination, while also calling out harmful policies that silence disabled voices . Through honest storytelling, Sarah encourages the audience to think differently, act with empathy, and commit to building a more inclusive society where disabled people are seen, heard, and valued. https://KawaiiDollDecora.uk #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport 

Accessibility Review: North Tees Hospital , Stockton Parking & Blue Badge Issues: Current signage asks disabled customers to break the law by leaving the clock portion of their Blue Badge in the car and bringing the badge to the security office . This is unnecessary and illegal. A picture of the badge is sufficient, preventing disabled visitors from unnecessary travel and legal risk. Conflicting signage exists:  Most signs request the full badge, while one asks for only the clock portion, which could confuse visitors. Clear, consistent instructions are needed. Charging twice for parking when a badge is forgotten, despite the ParkingEye app showing a free extension, is unfair and adds unnecessary stress to disabled visitors. Distance & Accessibility Concerns: The walk to the security office is too long for many disabled visitors, including wheelchair or mobility scooter users. Asking visitors to make two trips (one to fill in forms and another to return the badge) is not...

Alt text: An image of a blue sky with white and grey clouds, featuring a large cloud at the bottom. A grey transparent text box with two curved corners displays the title: “Sunlight, Sand, and the Spaces Between Pain” in white font. The alias “Kawaii Doll Decora” appears in white along the left side and inside a white heart on the right side. Sunlight, Sand, and the Spaces Between Pain : I’m grateful for still being able to make a positive difference, to uplift others, to be as weird and creative as I desire, and for the little things most take for granted. The swaying of tree branches and leaves in the wind . The bird song most people never hear. The sun or the moon and the way their light hits the clouds, shifting the sky into endless colours. I can be outside now, instead of stuck in a room. I can feel the wind on my face—even when it hurts my body. I can feel sand and grass between my toes, and every second reminds me just how precious these little moments are. I had missed them w...

The Despair of Bad Pain Days Some days it feels like I’m being tossed around like a yo-yo. One moment I’m crushed by frustration, the ache of pain, and the creeping sense of uselessness. The next, I’m trying to claw my way back up with affirmations, telling myself to be kind, to be gentle, to hold myself the way I would hold anyone else who was suffering. It’s a constant back-and-forth, exhausting in its own right. The truth is: my energy is low. And when your energy is so scarce, everything feels magnified. Every task on the list grows heavier, looming over you as if it’s urgent, as if not ticking it off makes you a failure. But when I take a step back, I see the truth more clearly. Because I know where I’ve come from. I was once bedbound. Housebound. I spent over a decade within the same four walls, surviving days blurred with pain, surviving nights that felt endless. And even then, even when I was flat on my back in a hospital bed, I still tried to help others, to be there, to give ...

What Caused My Latest Seize Up Sometimes it’s the smallest things that tip my body into chaos. This time, it was a bath. I was at my partner’s home and he hadn’t put the water heater on. I thought, it’s fine – I’ll make do. I should just be grateful to have water at all. So I ran a cold bath. The moment I got in, I knew I’d made the wrong choice. My muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints all seized in protest. Pain shot through me. My whole body locked up in a way that felt both brutal and familiar. Lesson learned, the hard way. The aftermath was just as frustrating. I had to cancel and reschedule my driving lesson, and instead of moving forward with plans, I was left flared up, seized, and forced into extra rest. With everything else life has been throwing at my partner and me lately, it was too much for my body to tolerate – and it let me know. I’m still hoping I’ll make it to the council meeting tonight, but just in case, I’ve arranged for someone I know to collect the papers for m...

 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Curlew Cafe at High Farm Holiday Park   I recently had the pleasure of attending an evening at the Curlew Café with the Auckland Shanty Singers and the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, and the experience exceeded expectations on every level. The Curlew Café itself is a welcoming and characterful venue. The interior strikes a balance between comfort and charm, making it an ideal setting for both casual dining and special events. The staff deserve particular recognition: they were attentive, respectful, and genuinely polite, ensuring that every guest felt well looked after without being intrusive. Their professionalism enhanced the overall atmosphere and made the evening flow seamlessly. The food was superb — fresh, flavourful, and well-presented. Each dish was crafted with care, offering a standard of dining that rivals many larger establishments. The drinks menu was equally impressive, with a range of options to suit different tastes. The cocktail...

Real Support Matters: You’re Safe With Me. I reassure — I don’t judge. I don’t victim-blame — I uplift. I listen, and I keep things confidential. Compassion isn’t optional when working with vulnerable people — it’s essential. If you offer support, make sure you’re truly capable of providing it. Don’t reject people after inviting them to open up. Don’t blame them for reaching out when you’ve said you’ll be there. Too often, I’ve seen people in support roles do the opposite: Instead of reassuring, they victim-blame. Instead of listening, they gaslight, manipulate, or twist narratives. Instead of protecting trust, they breach confidentiality. Instead of admitting their limits, they hide behind policies, dismiss people as “too complicated,” or make decisions they have no right to make. Here’s the truth: it’s not hard to be kind. If you can’t help, say so — and signpost to someone who can. That honesty is far less harmful than pretending, failing, or shutting someone down. If you encounter ...

  Article link: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/dwp-could-seize-blue-badges "In a recent development, Conservative Party MP Danny Kruger pressed the Labour Party to "consider the benefits to which PIP is a gateway, such as Motability, disability premiums, Council Tax discounts and Blue Badges" and called upon Sir Stephen to "promise at least that those entitlements could come down"." 🥺😥💔 I think the mistake lies in not recognising the reality of ambulatory wheelchair users, dynamic disabilities, and invisible conditions. The PIP system absolutely does make mistakes, and it’s deeply ableist to expect disabled people to be continually scrutinised when they are already under constant assessment. The idea of widespread “fake claimants” is a media-driven narrative – official figures show that fraud rates for PIP are only around 0.1%. In other words, the overwhelming majority of claimants are genuine and are being unfairly put through unnec...

  https://www.facebook.com/thedeaddollz/ 🌸✨ Announcement Time! ✨🌸 The Dead Dollz 🔥 Hey lovelies! One of the newest Wicked Dead-Dollz is here — it’s Kawaii Doll 🍭🔥 Just stopping by to say a big Hiii! 💖 and sprinkle some love + positive vibes your way. 💀 Stay Wicked! 💀 — Kawaii Doll 💋 xoxo ☕ Want some tea? Here’s a little about me: I’m an actress, model, music artist, poet, artist, producer, blogger, author, independent disability advocate, charity worker, and volunteer. I live to create, inspire, and action positive change — all while feeding my endless thirst for knowledge through study. 🌟 🍭✨Kawaii Doll✨🍭 📌 Links: 🎬 IMDb.me/SarahWingfield 🎨 www.magnoliaphotography.co.uk ✨ Kawaii Doll Decora  🎵 K•Doll ~ Kawaii Doll ~

  My Dead Friend Zoe, Food for the soul: My Dead Friend Zoe is a beautiful, raw, and deeply heartfelt film. It captures the struggles of juggling life’s obstacles while trying to keep those you love safe and close. At its core, it sheds light on suicide awareness—reminding us that while some survive the battlefield, many continue fighting silent wars within, and tragically, some lose that battle. The story follows Merritt, a veteran living with PTSD, who is haunted—both literally and emotionally—by the presence of her best friend Zoe, who died. Zoe becomes her shadow, a constant reminder of love, loss, and the invisible weight soldiers carry after war. This masterpiece is both tear-jerking and uplifting, blending grief with resilience. It asks us not only to witness the struggle but also to support change, encouraging viewers to back three organisations and share the film’s message so it reaches those who need it most. A moving portrayal of friendship, trauma, and healing, My Dead...

The council meeting was a long one — but a really valuable one. I thanked Durham County Council’s Mr. Gary Wallace for all the work that has been done around the quarry and biogas.  In 2023 and 2024, many people came to me in Aycliffe about odours, but thanks to the council’s efforts, the issue has been resolved to the point that no one has approached me about it for months. That’s a real achievement. I was grateful to be able to thank Mr. Wallace on behalf of everyone who sought help, and I found his presentation as Area Environment Manager extremely informative and interesting. A huge thank you also to Great Aycliffe Town Council, the Oakleaf Sports Complex, and all the members of the public who attended. It was truly inspiring to see everyone come together for the good of our community. Sarah Wingfield Independent Disability Advocate  Alt text: A pale green agenda cover for the Great Aycliffe Town Council Environment Committee meeting. At the top, it reads "GREAT AYCLIFFE T...

I have passed my first unit - early! ✨ So happy 😊 onwards I go! Alt text: A woman with long pink hair, glittery makeup, and shiny pink lipstick poses wearing heart-shaped pink sunglasses. She is doing the 'rock' pose with her hand and wearing a black-and-pink striped top with a circular ring detail. Overlaid text reads: “I passed my first unit!” with feedback underneath that says she successfully passed her first assessment for a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Domestic Abuse . The outcome shows “Passed.” In the top right corner, a heart-shaped logo reads “Kawaii Doll Decora.” #studies #advocacy #passed #units #courses #coursework #level2 #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights

I had an early start today with a driving lesson, followed by a quick visit to my parents for coffee. It’s set to be a busy day, as I plan to attend the Great Aycliffe Town Council meeting this evening. Having taken back Aycliffe Uncensored, I’m committed to keeping up to date with developments in our community and continuing the work behind the scenes. This week is especially full, as I’ve taken on supporting a few more people through my advocacy work, alongside continuing my Level 2 studies.  As an advocate, my role is to stand with people, amplify their voices, and help them navigate the systems and challenges they face. It’s a privilege to do this work, and I’m proud to contribute to bettering people’s lives. If more of us chose to pass on kindness and support, so many more people would feel seen, valued, and empowered. Together, we are stronger. ❤️ Sarah 🌹 xo Alt text: Selfie of Sarah with red hair tied back, glasses, and a lip piercing, wearing a black fishnet top over a red...

 Today has been an incredibly heavy one. Between advocating for others, navigating complex systems, and studying endlessly to better myself, my mind and body are running on empty. I pour so much of myself into helping people, guiding them, fighting for their access, and offering support where it’s so desperately needed, but I have to remember: I can’t pour from an empty cup. Rest isn’t optional for me - it’s essential.  My body and brain need time to recover, to process, and to recharge so I can keep doing this work without burning out. Rest and sleep is my remedy, my reset, and my way of honouring the limits that come with living with a multitude of disabilities. To everyone who supports me, cheers me on, and helps me keep going: thank you. Your encouragement doesn’t just fuel me, it allows me to continue helping my community, amplifying voices, and giving people access to the support they deserve. I need to step back for a little while to rest, but I’ll be back soon, ready t...