I'm different; but so are you

Just like our fingerprints; our bodies and brains are all totally unique. We've all had different experiences and influences that have made us the people we are today.

As Caudwell Children enters its 23rd year of supporting autistic and disabled children it has never been more important to me that we continue to change perceptions and attitudes towards being 'different'.

It has helped that over the past few years I've come to recognise, understand and talk more about my differences. I've found it personally very useful to identify my own strengths and challenges, largely connected to my dyslexic thinking - a neurotype that I know lots of people can empathise with.

Dyslexia, though still commonly misunderstood, has become more accepted as a prevalent condition. Unfortunately this cannot be said for most other physical and neurodivergent conditions, which as soon as they are classed as a disability see the human being attached to that diagnosis being categorised as 'different'.

Our work to address this societal issue, and the many component parts that combine to achieve long-lasting change, is going to be a running thread of the charity's work in 2023. Get used to me reminding you that "We are all different, be you.".

The first few weeks of 2023 have already demonstrated the types of projects we are currently engaged with that complement our services and proactively seek to address the societal issues that affect the children, young people and families we support.

After a few years of virtual meetings and emails it was a great start to the year to be back among peers from across the charity and public sector at the first in-person members meeting of the Council For Disabled Children, which is passionately run by a woman I greatly admire for her work over several decades, Dame Christine Lenehan.

Among the many interesting updates at the meeting was the important insight directly from within the heart of Government as senior civil servants from the Department for Education presented on the process they were undergoing to review the evidence collated by the SEND Green Paper consultation. The calls for transparency, equity and simplicity in these reforms could affect all children and its important we make sure their voices are heard.

As I've said before, running an effective and efficient charity is all about balance. As the Chief Executive I have to ensure I give enough attention to both the delivery and development of services, as I do to our fundraising. Without the latter, we simply could not exist and the change we want to make in the world would not happen.

So far this year my fundraising priorities have been our marketing and communications, recruitment and our Butterfly Ball, London event.

We were delighted to welcome our new Director of Marketing & Communications, Mike Harper, to the team on the first day back after Christmas and I'm pleased to say he's hit the ground running developing some exciting plans for the months and years ahead.

Further recruitment to further strengthen the fundraising and events team has also been successful, with several new team members joining us at Caudwell Children over the next few weeks ready for a proactive and exciting year of relationship building and fundraising.

Our Butterfly Ball events (London, Monaco & Portugal) are always an important part of our calendar and I'm incredibly excited about the plans for all of them this year.

The first one is our Butterfly Ball, London sponsored by Carey's which takes place on Thursday 11th May and completely embraces our 'We are all different, be you' message.

A completely new and unique central London venue, immersive entertainment and hospitality, and a dress code that invites everyone to express their wonderful uniqueness as we celebrate our differences are all combining for what is set to be a historic event this May. (Limited space so reserve your tables while you still can! [email protected])

While on the topic of fundraising and partnerships I would like to take the opportunity to thank Rod Millar, Gerry O'Keefe, Lisa Crawford, Louise Carter and all the team at Likewize who have started 2023 like a steam train and have really thrown all their energy into creating a truly effective partnership. It is really great to see the recognition of the mutual benefits that a well-managed charity partnership can bring. Thank you!

Last week it was back to Westminster with two separate All Party Parliamentary Group events, both of which are targeting the next step in the political process to effect long-lasting change to the systems that prevent disabled and autistic children reaching their full potential.

First up was a Round Table Meeting with MP's, civil servants and a wide range of experts from across healthcare, education and charity to discuss the evidence that has been gathered regarding the Social Participation of Children with Cerebral Palsy. This programme of meetings and evidence gathering has been generously co-sponsored by John Caudwell and Action Cerebral Palsy.

A precise list of recommendations to Government were presented to parliamentarians including Chloe Smith MP, the former Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health and representatives from the Disability Unit at the Cabinet Office.

Then finally, before heading back to Staffordshire for two days of back-to-back interviews, finance meetings and team 1-2-1's, we were honoured to be invited by Dr Lisa Cameron MP to contribute to a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Psychology.

The growing demand on trained and experienced psychologists, and the lack of a sufficient pipeline of new trainees entering the system, is having a devastating affect on clinical operations like our autism diagnostic and intervention service. Once again, there are several components to the solution to this skills crisis, and this meeting discussed many of these and raised the attention of the problem to the politicians and Government departments that are able to address them.

There were also some incredibly powerful testimonies from young people for whom the mental health system had completely failed them. It is to prevent repeat experiences like these that we continue to strive for change.

All-in-all it has been a very busy start to the year, I'm amazed it's still January!

There is so much important work to do this year and I'm grateful to everyone that supports me and Caudwell Children along the way, together we will make the changes needed to create a better world for everyone.

We are all different, be you.

Thank you, Trudi