About Us
“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”
The Disability Power 100 recognises the most influential disabled people in the UK each year. The change makers, trailblazers and role models. We showcase people at the top of their professions, leading their sectors and changing society’s perceptions of disability.
Each spring more than 500 public nominations highlighting the impact, influence and innovation of individuals and organisations are judged by an independent panel of experts with personal lived experience of disability.
Our awards
Our purple-carpet awards take place each year with finalists recognised for their excellence and talent. This invite-only event is “the hottest ticket in town” according to 2023 No. 1 Dr Shani Dhanda and is livestreamed free of charge.
Inclusive and accessible, the event is managed by a team of accessibility event experts and overseen by a Consultation Group of Disability Power 100 alumni. We aim to be a beacon for what all events should aim to achieve in disability accessibility and inclusion.
Why Shaw Trust
As leading employment charity, we support hundreds of thousands of people to achieve their full potential.
We help people find and keep meaningful jobs. We provide education and training for those starting out and those looking to progress in their jobs. We champion community health and wellbeing to improve all aspects of life and help people into work. We support businesses to become better workplaces. And as the largest not-for-profit residential children’s home provider, we’re improving outcomes for looked after children.
Through strategic partnerships and innovation, we make sure our services put people’s needs first. We’re proud to say that everything we do creates real and lasting social value in the communities we support across the UK.
The Disability Power 100 is our flagship campaign celebrating disabled role models.
241
children and young people cared by our fostering and residential care services
23,000+
people supported to find good work through our specialist employment services
130,000+
young people supported across our specialist youth services
7,510+
people gained support with many continuing to work with us through Individual Placement Support
Our team
The Disability Power 100 team is headed up by Alona De Havilland
I’ve worked on the Disability Power 100 since 2018 when Shaw Trust bought it from Powerful Media – although Shaw Trust was involved right from the start. Initially I supported with the marketing and PR, before becoming more involved in the event and campaign management. I now lead the Disability Power 100 for Shaw Trust, working with our incredible community of alumni, judges, partners and our sponsors. For the first time this year we have also brought in a consultation group from our alumni, who I meet with regularly. Whenever I meet someone new, I tell them I have the best job in the world, because I get to be Chief Cheerleader for an incredible project and work with our fantastic finalists and alumni. Every day in this role is an enormous privilege.
Clare Gray 1969-2023
Clare was involved with the Disability Power 100 from the beginning. A hugely well-regarded disability advocate and campaigner, the Disability Power 100 was the project she was most proud of producing. Her work prevented Clare from being included within the Disability Power 100, however, she was widely recognised as one of the UK’s most influential disabled advocates of the last decade.
Clare was well known for her mentoring and support of up-and-coming disability advocates, people at the start of the advocacy journeys beginning to make an impact and create change. This is why we honour her memory through the Clare Gray Rising Star Award category.
Consultation group
At Shaw Trust we understand it is important our Disability Power 100 awards and activity have disabled voices at its heart. We commit to fully engage and listen to the views of our community; and work regularly with our Consultation Group made up of members of our Disability Power 100 alumni.
Our Consultation Group supports the development of the Disability Power 100 through consultation and governance. They contribute to the future direction of the Disability Power 100 by making sure our decisions are considered and inclusive.
The group raises compliments, comments and concerns felt in the wider community and supports decision-making, prioritisation, networking and fundraising. Always providing feedback and consultation in the best interests of the Disability Power 100 and its ongoing growth.