PGP / SPD My story:

A reminder to slow down: A lovely afternoon at Ropner Park with Peter after I took my young person out to the cinema to watch Toy Story 5. ❤️ What struck me most about the film is how much of it reflects real life. People need purpose, connection, kindness, and somewhere they feel they belong. Lately I've been reminded that a lot of people are carrying around hurt, frustration, and bitterness. Sometimes it shows up in the way they treat others. That's why I think connection matters so much. A chat with a friend, quality time with family, supporting someone who needs it, or simply spending time in nature can make such a difference. For me, parks like this are a reminder to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the things that actually matter. The people we love. The memories we make. The opportunities we have to help one another. The world could do with a little more understanding and a little less judgement. Hope you've all had a lovely day. 🌳✨ Sarah Wingfield ❤️ Independent ...

Real Pain Management Isn’t a Crime: ( Uncensored image at the bottom of the post because PAIN MANAGEMENT should NEVER be CRIMINAL .) THIS is just a woman having medicine. Yet in the UK, the way I first accessed that medicine was illegal. That’s the reality of what happens when control, stigma, and money dictate healthcare instead of lived experience. Yes, before I could legally access medical cannabis, I tried marijuana illegally for my disabilities. I was honest about that — even with the police. Once I realised it genuinely helped my chronic pain and quality of life, I went legal. But apparently that honesty didn’t matter. THIS image — taken from a video where I finally had enough pain relief to dance a little and be silly for once — contributed to my advocacy work with Durham County Council being cancelled. It also impacted my employment support after trust completely broke down. People ask why I speak up about “breaking the law.” Because it never should have been against the law in...

Decluttering Progress: I’m so pleased to see my home starting to feel like mine again. 💖 A lot of hard work, decluttering, healing, and adding little touches that reflect me. We’re almost there, and every step matters. Your environment can hold so much energy — sometimes changing your space helps change your mindset too. ✨ With huge thanks to my partner Peter and Lisa from Durham County Council's Breakthrough service! I'm so proud of how far I’ve come. 🌸 Sarah Wingfield ❤️  KawaiiDollDecora.uk #HomeJourney #Decluttering #HealingSpace #FreshStart #MySafeSpace #CosyVibes #PositiveChange #NeurodivergentFriendly Alt text: A collage of home décor and bedroom photos with a black side panel featuring white cursive text that reads: “I am so pleased to see my home starting to look like mine again, a lot of hard work and decluttering and we’re almost there.” The collage includes pink and kawaii-themed decorations, a Hello Kitty ornament, hanging dreamcatchers, a glittery purple torso s...

I saw my young person for the last time before Christmas today, and it was such a lovely way to wrap up the year. We went out for a coffee, exchanged presents, and had a really good catch-up. They’re doing so well, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder of them. Moments like this are exactly why I love what I do. It’s a real privilege to be part of someone’s journey — even in small, everyday ways. This kind of work can be challenging at times, but it’s also deeply rewarding, and more people should definitely consider it. It's meaningful work and I'm so happy to have this opportunity. We were also helped today by a wonderful lady called Angela at the food place, and we were so grateful for her kindness. It was lovely catching up and hearing all about my young person’s adventures — those moments mean so much. With Christmas Eve tomorrow, I’m feeling full of festive cheer, gratitude, and pride. Wishing everyone a truly wonderful Christmas. Sarah Wingfield ❤️ Alt text: Smiling person t...

Official & Earned. For a long time, I showed up before I had a title. I put in the work before there was recognition. I advocated, trained, supported, safeguarded, and stood up for young people because it was the right thing to do — not because it came with a badge. But today, I’m allowing myself to say this out loud: All that work paid off. I’m official now. Youth services and training aren’t things you dabble in. They demand emotional labour, patience, consistency, and integrity — especially when you’re someone who actually cares about outcomes, not optics. I’ve spent years learning, unlearning, pushing for better practice, challenging harmful systems, and advocating for young people who are too often unheard, dismissed, or written off. There were moments I questioned whether it mattered. Moments where the labour felt invisible. Moments where I gave more than I had, because the work needed doing. And yet — here I am. This isn’t just a lanyard. It isn’t just a role. It’s a quiet b...

DCC Update - employment support and podcast: I’ve just been informed that Andrew Husband has offered to personally look into my situation. I’m honestly a little shocked to finally be getting access to someone who can help — but I’m also hopeful. If this is handled properly, it could resolve everything that has happened, including: • Having the podcast reinstated • Ensuring my images are shared as originally intended (not cropped) • Regaining access to the employment support I should never have lost This should never have become a fight. It has taken so much energy and unnecessary distress. Once this is resolved, I truly hope we can move towards a more positive working relationship with the council — especially given the volunteer safeguarding and youth work I already do with them. Fingers crossed 🤞 Sarah Wingfield Independent Disability Advocate #disabilityinclusion #disabilityrights #disabilityawareness #communitymatters #strongertogether #inclusion #advocacy

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 

  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...

The podcast that they erased because I manage my disability with prescription cannabis: The Notes from the DurhamEnable podcast that was part of my employment support until it was removed, that Durham County Council doesn't want you to know: Podcast prep: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, who you are, any interests/hobbies? Hi Bambi, thanks for having me on the show, I'm someone who likes to make a positive difference in the lives of others, and I do a lot of charity and community work as well as independent disability advocating. On top of that I'm an actress, producer, author, artist, alternative model, music artist and more and I enjoy getting involved in creative endeavours. What is the nature of your disability? Mine is fundamentally a mobility impairment and chronic pain condition. I have a dislocated pelvis known as symphysis pubis dysfunction, a gap of 10.9mm and Ehlers Danlos hypermobility Syndrome amongst others. I'm likely AuADHD just waiting final assess...

Durham County Council  DurhamEnable  #formalcomplaint #evasive #discrimination #falsecareforwellbeing #noremorse #noaccountability #disabledvoices #DurhamEnable #EmploymentSupport #vague #unprofessional #durhamcountycouncil #dailymail #article #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights Subject: Formal Response to Podcast Termination and Lack of Transparency Dear Helen, This response is wholly inadequate. It fails to address any of my direct queries regarding your social media policy, and it is both unreasonable and evasive to cite "drug use on social media" without clarity, context, or a specific link to my conduct. No reasonable person could accept that as a justified or coherent explanation for terminating my podcast. At no point was any evidence presented that related directly to me. I welcome the recent press coverage that exposed this, as it is clear your actions lack both transparency and accountability. ...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14825319/Council-shut-disability-podcast-photo-cannabis.html #news #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights DurhamEnable Durham County Council #news #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights DurhamEnable  Durham County Council 

  Image of Bambi French (DurhamEnable) and I at the podcast press shoot in Durham City, at cost to myself to attend. Disability Advocating is important! This isn't Megan Welton cropped out of the press shoot, it's me and my shoulder. My voice silenced, my podcast sabotaged. My advocacy, my voice, my employment support was CANCELLED by Durham County Council as they used my supposed employment support system to be the voice to express this injustice. I am still awaiting the alleged social media policies I'm alleged to have breached, even though I'm clearly independent and not affiliated to any specific organisation. How can I use DurhamEnable in good faith now? The podcast I did was meant to HELP ME find employment too! Where is MY right to support?! Where is MY justice? Opportunities sabotaged, clique-lead hate, ostracisation of disabled voices and anyone different is NOT okay. You're damn right I'm autistically hyper-fixating on this injustice - it should never ...

 "SILENCE WHEN IT PROTECTS HATE IS COMPLICITY" Systems need to STOP SILENCING DISABLED VOICES! Durham County Council by stopping my DurhamEnable podcast you also STOPPED ME FINDING NEW WORK OPPORTUNITIES and have basically OPPRESSED me. This needs to change. I filed a complaint so let's see if they realise how harmful they've been and how harmful using DurhamEnable as a messenger for podcast cancellation is.  Sarah Wingfield Independent Disability Advocate  #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights #takingthepip #StrongerTogether #WelfareNotWarfare #employmentsupport #NeurodivergentVoices  I action positive change - I'll never understand why people waste their time being a bully. 💋 Image description: A screenshot of Matt Stewart's LinkedIn page stating: "A leader recently asked me, how do we create psychologically safe spaces for our team when someone doesn't believe in equality for ...

When You’re Disabled, You Feel… Worthless Being disabled in this society often means being made to feel worthless. Useless. Like your existence is a burden. It’s not a feeling that appears out of nowhere — it’s internalised ableism, built from years of being treated as “less than.” You’re taught that your disability is a personal failure rather than a systemic issue. I live with this every day. I have skills. I contribute constantly through unpaid advocacy and awareness work. But I still feel like a burden, because society doesn’t value that work unless it’s paid. And when you're disabled, finding paid work is made needlessly harder — not because we’re not capable, but because we’re judged differently. I recently recorded a podcast with an employment support organisation, using my lived experience to help others. It was meaningful. But because they’re funded by Durham County Council, the episode was removed after a complaint — not about anything I said, but about how I manage my ow...