Benjamin Shadbolt

Community Award

Age:

16

Biography

Hi! My name is Benjamin Shadbolt! I am 16 years old, I have autism and dyspraxia. I was diagnosed with autism in 2009 by the community paediatrician along with my dyspraxia.

I am extremely friendly, polite, kind, acknowledgeable, understanding of people. I enjoy raising awareness of autism and other disabilities in the country. I started to raise awareness of autism and SEND in 2023 by starting a club, running an ambassador group.

I applied for this award because I want to make a sensory room for my school, (The City Of Leicester College), in order to be able to do this, I will need to plan the room and cost the resources required for the room. I will work with my ambassadors to be able to cost and make this room.

I have also created, ran, planned, hired, trained, the SEND ambassadors group in December 2023. The students were recruited and trained by me and other staff members in my school. We have raised awareness by making an assembly, raised awareness for a sensory room, completed a bake sale successfully this has made us raise more awareness of disabilities in education.

In April 2024, I went to the Lord Lieutenants Award ceremony to commend my efforts for raising awareness in my school. I have won the young leader of the year in 2024. This has proved to be a major achievement for me as this has helped me to support young people more.

During my time, I have made my secondary school more inclusive and supportive for every person to be able to feel more included and supported in the community. This has been proved for other students and staff members who have given feedback.

Finally, to summarise, you can read this blog and keep up to date with my sensory room and journey in college/further education in making everyone feel included and safe. I will keep you all posted about my progress and work.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my posts.