PGP / SPD My story:

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 al...

Ayclive: Accessibility Denied ♿: Shame it wasn’t extended to some disabled attendees 💔. Asking for positive reviews won’t undo the damage — it’s on film. After my bad experience, I even created an accessibility checklist to help your future events, but instead of engaging, you blocked my Facebook page. I’ve been involved in #Ayclive for the last three years, sharing and promoting it — and the thanks I got was abuse, with a manager openly proud of that abuse. All caught on film. My mistake for thinking you genuinely cared about #Aycliffe 🫶🏻 Sarah Wingfield Newtonian and Independent Disability Advocate I bet this other Facebook account will be blocked again, just to silence me. How dare I try to safeguard my community. Do organisations no longer care about fixing bad experiences? Is silencing and blocking those they’ve mistreated now the new “customer service” standard? #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights Alt tex...

  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jhfpj2f2/ If I had known that simply asking for accountability and an apology would lead to being ostracised in my hometown — to sabotage, abuse, organisations lying to the police, a false Community Protection Notice, and the loss of my voice as a disabled advocate — I might never have spoken up. But I did, because I believed in truth and justice. Now, Ayclive have joined in by blocking me from their page, after mistreating me and failing to make reasonable adjustments for my disabilities. It really makes you feel the “love” from your hometown, doesn’t it? The support group that coerced members into giving false statements against me is still operating. The man in the photo — who refused me a lift, prioritised PR over disability rights, and also gave false information to the police — is now a councillor. Durham County Council removed employment support from DurhamEnable, and silenced my advocacy because I’m legally prescribed medical cannabis. T...

Image Alt text: Black background with white text: Event Accessibility Checklist by Sarah Wingfield. Image also has a white logo of a heart with Kawaii Doll Decora stated inside at the top. Accessibility Improvements – Ayclive: Comprehensive Inclusion Checklist, by Sarah Wingfield 🌹  Sensory Bags (Available for Borrowing or Renting) Each sensory bag should include: Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders Fidget toys (including different textures and types for sensory regulation) Mood cards (to help communicate feelings non-verbally) Sunglasses or coloured overlays for light sensitivity Tissues and grounding items (e.g. soft fabric, small weighted object) Laminated sensory cue cards with simple statements (e.g. "I need a break", "Please speak slowly") --- Disability Support Team A visible, designated team trained in autism, chronic illness, sensory processing disorders, and mental health conditions Staffed by individuals who are calm, respectful, and trained in ...

Improving Accessibility and Inclusion at Ayclive Festival I have emailed the following: Dear Ayclive Festival Team, I’m reaching out in the hope of initiating a constructive dialogue regarding accessibility and disability inclusion at Ayclive. Putting aside the personal bias I experienced in person from the manager, Paul Howarth, I want to clarify that I don’t hate your festival. In fact, I care deeply about making it better—not just for myself, but for all disabled residents of Newton Aycliffe. My goal is simply to see improved support and awareness for those with disabilities, particularly invisible illnesses, so that Ayclive can be a more welcoming event for everyone in our community. I was disappointed to be blocked from the Ayclive page, as it appeared to be a way of silencing legitimate concerns. Rather than shut people out, I believe there is real opportunity here to collaborate and grow. As an Independent Disability Advocate, I would be more than willing to work with your team ...

Seeking Compassion - Humour helps: One of my strongest memories from Ayclive is also one of the hardest. I was shaking, in pain, and sat on the floor at the entrance — overwhelmed, ignored, and treated with hostility. In the middle of all that, someone asked me for my ticket QR code. I said, “I’ll see if I can find that for you… and while I’m at it, maybe I’ll try and find some compassion too — it seems to be in short supply.” One of the few kind staff nearby chuckled, and so did I. I was having a PTSD flashback, completely caught up in a wave of panic and helplessness — but that moment of humour, my own defiance in the face of it all, snapped me out of it. Even as I relived the trauma, the memory of that small spark made me giggle again. And reminded me: humour is a valid coping strategy. Whoever said it isn’t clearly hasn’t needed it like we have. — Sarah Independent Disability Advocate #Disability #DisabilityInclusion #PTSDRecovery #DisabledAndProud #StrongerTogether #ChronicIllness...

 💔 After spending a full year supporting this event, I promoted it, interacted with their posts, planned extensively, invested money, and made sure I had a safe space (a tent) to manage my autism. I even left them their only positive review — which I’ve now deleted. I was hopeful. But in the end, none of it mattered. My disability ID, walking stick, visible lanyard… completely ignored. Accessibility was denied. I was mistreated, triggered into a POTS episode, and offered only blame instead of care. And I’m now waiting for a refund. If you're disabled, excitement about events comes with risk. We put in triple the effort just to be included — and too often, we’re met with ignorance, exclusion, or outright harm. I hope no one else ever has to endure what I did. Lessons can be blessings, I suppose — but right now, the only lesson I see is this: some people will choose bullying over empathy every time… and they’ll do it proudly. Sarah Wingfield ❤️ Independent Disability Advocate | Acce...