Disability Campaigner, David Stanley (CF 2019) recently ran a unique accessible music session at 10 Downing Street. He and his Music Man Project Global Ambassadors delivered a performance workshop to pupils from Westminster primary schools as part of Downing Street’s “Lessons at 10” programme. The Prime Minister’s wife attended the session and the Prime Minister himself came along at the end.
David has also undertaken a concert tour of San Diego and performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Marines. Musical theatre and TV star, Michael Ball has become a patron of David's charity. David has also continued his lobbying work by meeting with the Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove MP and Penny Mordaunt MP.
David was also given the Freedom of the City of Southend-On-Sea in recognition of his music education charity for people with learning disabilities. Southend Mayor Stephen Habermel bestowed the honour at a special council meeting on Thursday.
Accepting his honour, David thanked his family and paid tribute to his students, his project team, and to the late MP Sir David Amess who was a keen supporter of the Music Man Project.
Online Journalist and Producer Nishtha Chugh (CF 2016) gave evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry on Ethnicity Transplantations and Transfusion in June 2023. The Inquiry is examining the causes of poor health outcomes for the UK's ethnic minorities with respect to organ and stem cell donation. The APPG took an interest in Nishtha's findings from the US and Israel in particular and discussed potential lessons that could be useful for devising frameworks in the UK. Her research has officially been submitted as part of the evidence to the committee. She is also a member of the steering committee advising this Inquiry. Nishtha's report has also been mentioned in the NHSBT's 2030 Strategy report on Organ Donation and Transplantation in the country.
Fozia Irfan (CF 2020), was asked by Dame Julia Unwin, to speak at the Archbishop of York's Annual Lecture on Social Justice at the Institute for Social Justice. The title of her talk was 'Doing change in difficult times' and she discussed how we build movements for change whilst ensuring our own growth and resilience. Find out more here.
Chartered architect Emily Carr (CF 2020) shared her Fellowship findings with her employer, Kier Construction, as part of an EDI roundtable discussion with colleagues from the industry. Emily has also featured in the media several times recently, including
BE-ST(Built Environment - Smarter Transformation) and Construction News.