Tag: Loneliness

Reported 5 months ago by Mik

Inaccessible health clinic leaves Mik in despair

In this short audio piece, Mik explains how private health clinics outsourced by the NHS are often not accessible, meaning wheelchair users like him are discriminated against and unable to get the same health care as people without impairments.

Reported 5 months ago by Thomas Marston

Thomas’ ideal work scenario

In this piece, Thomas explains what his usual job-hunting experience is like and what his ideal experience would be. With a few modest adjustments here and there, Thomas would be able to get a job, perform really well and enjoy the respect of his colleagues.

Reported 6 months ago by Oliver

I’ve learned how to make my events even more powerful, says Oliver

In this piece, community reporter Oliver Chan explains how a Leadership programme has helped him to hone his skills as an events organiser.

I’m being pushed in the wrong direction – Tayo on his employment experiences

Tayo's piece tells us how he has been pushed towards unsuitable jobs even though he is clear about what he is good at and what he wants to do.

Reported 6 months ago by

Reported 7 months ago by Fatima

Bullied from Reception to Year 10 – Fatima’s school years

In this short piece, Fatima explains that she was bullied at her primary and secondary schools by girls who sought to isolate her. Despite the trauma of her formative years, Fatima has been able to move on with her life, she says.

Reported 7 months ago by Oliver

Disabled people need homes not hospitals, says Oliver

In this short think-piece, Oliver sets out the changes he thinks need to happen so that Disabled people living in institutional homes can lead better and more independent lives.

Reported 7 months ago by Mary

Pavement obstructions make shopping trips a nightmare, says Mary

In this mini-report, Mary says street obstructions make it difficult for her to go shopping and she asks for greater enforcement of rules on street clutter and easier ways of reporting the problems to the Council.

Long read

Meet my friend pain

In this in-depth piece, Tom explains how the sudden and seemingly inexplicable onset of pain in his right shoulder in 2003 kick-started a near two-decade long battle with chronic pain. For 17 years medical professionals of all stripes failed to identify either the solution or the cause of the problem. In the end, peace came when Tom learned to live with and adapt to his pain instead of trying to destroy it.

Reported 8 months ago by Tom

Reported 8 months ago by Mary

Mary recommends audio-described cinema shows

As a blind person Mary can sometimes feel excluded from leisure facilities as well as from local amenities like shops due to poor access provisions. However in this piece, Mary explains how the Barbican's audio-described showing of the movie Belfast enabled her to thoroughly enjoy a trip to the cinema.

Long read

They believed I was an abomination – Quillias on his school days

In this in depth piece, Quillias describes the horrendous bullying and discrimination he faced at school from both pupils and staff. His formal education was an ordeal that damaged him and left him with few qualifications and no credible plan for the future. But Quillias didn't let the bullies win. He has bounced back, re-educating himself at college and forging a path towards becoming a scientist.

Reported 8 months ago by Quilliass Huntesmith

Reported 8 months ago by Sarah

Doctors wouldn’t listen to me, says Sarah

I developed complex regional pain syndrome because medical staff didn’t listen to me or take action at the right time. I hope my story will encourage people to speak out against doctors who fail to respect what Disabled patients tell them.

Reported 9 months ago by Jill

Discrimination is partly to blame for my pain, says Jill

In this heart wrenching story Jill explains the multiple causes of her chronic pain and tells us how discrimination has played a role in creating her pain and keeping it going.

Audio Stories

My pain is overlooked because I’m Disabled, says Mik

Mik was born with cancer and has lived with pain for much of his life. In this audio Mik says his spinal problems have become worse, in part, because medical professionals have too often assumed his pain is simply due to him being Disabled.

Reported 9 months ago by Mik

Reported 9 months ago by Robert

‘Relaxed’ performances make theatre accessible

In this moving piece, Robert explains how a 'relaxed' performance of the Nutcracker allowed his Disabled daughter, Ellie, and her family members and support workers to thoroughly enjoy a theatre show without having to worry about access problems or negative reactions from other audience members.

Video Stories

A flyer explaining Fatima's Zoom course.

Fatima releases video on Zoom course

In this short video, Fatima explains how she will deliver her Zoom training course to Disabled people. Lessons will now be delivered online because COVID restrictions mean people can't have meetings in person at the Greenwood Centre.

Reported 9 months ago by Fatima

Audio Stories

Not very NICE! Mik rails against guidelines on long term pain

In this report, Mik rails against NICE's (the National Institute for Health Care Excellence) recommendations that people manage chronic (long term) pain through exercise, mindfulness, acupuncture and psychological therapies instead of medications like opioids. Mik says the severe pain he's lived with for 40 years is often so bad he can't even get out of bed, let alone do yoga or eat 'mung beans'.

Reported 9 months ago by Mik

Reported 9 months ago by Fatima

My condition is more than skin deep, says Fatima

When I was 15 years old, my skin started turning white. I’m of Bangladeshi heritage and had always been brown so I was shocked when pale, itchy patches appeared on my face. I went to the doctor and they told me I had condition called Vitiligo, which makes your skin lose its pigmentation. Sure enough, after a while, my body began turning white too.

Microreports Reports

Arlington road consultations a sham, claims Mik

In this short piece, Mik argues that Camden Council is muscling through its planned streetscape changes for Arlington road without heeding calls for the changes to be adapted so they are more inclusive of Disabled people.

Reported 10 months ago by Mik

Reported 10 months ago by Mary

Hire-bikes must not be left on pavements says Mary

Leaving hire-bikes in the pavement makes navigation extremely difficult for me as a visually impaired person who uses a white cane.

Reported 10 months ago by Jill

ULEZ forced me to splash out on new motor says Jill

We have just bought a new hybrid (part electric, part petrol) car because of the £12.50-a-day charge for driving an old vehicle in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Reported 10 months ago by Oliver

Colourful poster with the words 'happy to talk about arts'

My conversation starter posters will help beat loneliness, says Oliver

I want to tackle loneliness and ageism by encouraging people to talk to each other in public spaces. I think this will improve people’s physical and mental health. Since the winter started, I have been feeling very lonely myself and so I’ve come up with the idea of using themed conversation starter posters to make it easier for people to chat to me and others at my ‘happy-to-talk’ benches.

Reported 11 months ago by Tom

Expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone deals blow to Camden’s Disabled drivers

The ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) expanded from central London to the boundaries of the North and South Circular roads on Monday 25th October, meaning Disabled people in Camden will now be fined for driving older, highly polluting vehicles in the borough unless their vehicle is registered in the disabled tax class.

Microreports Video Stories

Sarah uncovers maze of access issues around HS2

In this short video, Sarah walks around the areas affected by HS2 building work in the Euston area. Sarah found many access problems as well as high levels of dust and noise pollution and a lack of greenery.

Reported 11 months ago by Sarah

Reported 11 months ago by Fatima

Fatima presses on with mission to teach Zoom

Since my last post I have helped a friend learn how to use Zoom. We both went to Movement Classes run by Unity Works at the Greenwood Centre and that is where we got chatting about Zoom.

Blogs Reports

Bridging the generational divides – Oliver’s work gathers pace

My last Engages All Ages event was the best attended so far. It took place on Sunday 3rd October in Chalcot Square in Primrose Hill and some of the participants played music, sang songs and read poetry about the generational divides.

Reported 12 months ago by Oliver

Blogs Reports

Ramping up the victories – Anna campaign makes local pub accessible

When I joined the Leadership Programme, I decided my project would be about making Camden venues more accessible for me and others. This is important to me because I am a wheelchair user and I like socialising with friends just like anybody else.

Reported 1 year ago by Anna Alston

Blogs Video Stories

Cycle lanes and LTNs not blocking ambulances, research finds

When I heard reports saying the new pop-up cycle lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTN) were delaying ambulances and putting people's lives at risk, I thought I should dig around and find out if the accusations were true.

Reported 1 year ago by Tom

Pancras Square, N1C 4AG

Blogs Video Stories

Camden’s inaccessible streets and services make me feel unwanted, says Mik

As I wheel around I'm reminded that Camden is a part of London that is so inhospitable to wheelchair users like me. Shop after shop, cafe after cafe, restaurant after restaurant, bar after bar and club after club isn't accessible to me just because I'm a wheelchair user.

Reported 1 year ago by Mik

Blogs Video Stories

No reasonable adjustments made in employment or interviews, says new reporter Nadia

In this piece, new reporter Nadia wrote her answers to the Project Lead’s questions about her background, her life and her challenges and triumphs.

Reported 1 year ago by

Blogs Reports

Meet new reporter Jay

So there I was, a 17-year-old girl with no job and nowhere to call home. And that’s how my adult life started out.

Reported 1 year ago by

Reported 1 month ago by Mary

Mary reports on the thorny problem of Camden’s street clutter

Croftdown Road, London

Reported 5 months ago by Mik

Inaccessible health clinic leaves Mik in despair