Cambridge charity Disability Cambridgeshire celebrates its 25th anniversary

The advice and information service for people with disabilities and their carers celebrated a quarter of a century since its inception with a fundraising dinner at Westminster College.

Taking place on Thursday (October 25), the event was held in the theological college’s beautiful function room and was attended by Heidi Allen MP and the mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Nigel Gawthrope.

The two-course meal was followed by speeches from Cllr Gawthrope, Mark Taylor – a trustee and former employee of Disability Cambridgeshire – and MP for South Cambridgeshire, Heidi Allen.

Afterwards, Mark, a wheelchair user who is now Cambridge City Council’s access officer, told the Cambridge Independent: “I feel it was a really good thing. Lots of people came – it was a mix of our members, local politicians and local people of influence – and hopefully the message got out that, with help, we can achieve an awful lot.”

Looking forward to the next 25 years, Mark said: “If you were very idealistic, you could say that in another 25 years, with technology and improved attitudes towards disability, maybe people won’t need it as much.

“But even the Bible says: ‘The poor have always been with us’ and there’s been help for disabled people for hundreds of years.”

Ms Allen said: “I think the event was absolutely brilliant, and Mark for me stole the show – how could you not be moved by the speech that he made? So let’s hope people dig deep – it was about celebrating the fundraising too so I’m hoping people will contribute.”

Disability Cambridgeshire started in 1993 when three charities amalgamated as Directions Plus. Its principal funders are Cambridge City Council, the MS Society and Rethink Disability.

disability-cambridgeshire.org.uk