Award category:
Martin Hibbert was one of the closest survivors of the Manchester arena bomb attack in 2017. Despite his injuries he has continued to advocate for his specialist sector, those with spinal cord injury.
He is raising awareness in the media, parliament, standing up for the rights of those he advocates for with spinal cord injury and many others who were injured in the Manchester Arena Bombing. Since last year he has now begun work with the hospitality sector along with the Mayor of Manchester nighttime Tsar Sacha Lord to make Manchester’s night life more accessible. This is a recent appointment and demonstrates the impact he is having as they begin work to improve accessibility to Manchester’s pubs, clubs and restaurants with the aim of making Manchester one of the most accessible cities in the world. Meanwhile BBC Radio Manchester have given him his own show, not because of his disability but because of his ability on air to relate, understand and entertain people. True representation!
He continues to be asked to fulfil his role as a motivational speaker and has BBC Breakfast, Channel 5 News and Radio 4 all following his campaigning work. Now he has published a book in which he raises awareness of spinal cord injury and his story which will be serialised by the Mail on Sunday. He is also taking on conspiracy theorists who believe that his injuries and disability are not real and have spread vicious rumours and lies on social media which are not only a personal attack but impact all those with disabilities who find themselves the subject of abuse online from cruel, hurtful and ill-informed comments.
Martin’s focus from the very start has always been to say look at the everyday mountains that disabled people have to face in the UK and how many of us are still struggling to find the right support. If we had the right support, then imagine what might be possible.
He harnessed the media interest from press and television surrounding his story to highlight the injustices that disabled people face on a daily basis and what needs to change. He has chaired meetings of the governments ‘Disability Perceptions Communications Campaign’ at the Department of Work and Pensions. Most recently he helped secure and host a parliamentary reception in May 2024, hosted by the speaker of the house Sir Lyndsay Hoyle MP to raise awareness amongst parliamentarians about the challenges that those with SCI face from diverse backgrounds.
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