Oscars 2021: A watershed moment for disability?

The Oscars are upon us once again – but change surrounds this year’s ceremony that goes far beyond the red carpet adjustments enforced by the pandemic.

As the most diverse Oscars ever in terms of nominees, the increased representation also extends to the films themselves – with disability explored in new depth.

Best picture contender Sound of Metal, about a drummer facing hearing loss, saw best actor nominee Riz Ahmed learn sign language for the role. His co-star Paul Raci, who is up for best supporting actor, is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and many of the other actors are deaf in real life.

Elsewhere best documentary nominee Crip Camp explores how a 70s hippie camp for disabled youths affected the US disability rights movement; while nominated short Feeling Through has been praised for being the first modern-day film to star a deafblind actor, Robert Tarango. More

London Grammar: ‘Men aren’t told what to wear, so why was I?’

“Men that I didn’t know would watch a performance and then come up to me afterwards and say they didn’t like what I was wearing – maybe I’m wrong, but I can’t imagine that happening to, say, Chris Martin.”

London Grammar’s frontwoman Hannah Reid has dozens of stories about times sexism has made it harder for her to do her job.

And, she says, if Coldplay’s frontman doesn’t have to deal with it, then why should she?

“Maybe Chris will see this and say stuff like that happens to him all the time, but I doubt it”, she smiles.

The band have just released their third album, California Soil, and Hannah’s experiences of a “sexist” music industry crop up more than a few times in its lyrics. More

Afro wigs: Norfolk hair donor proud of ‘historic breakthrough’

A girl who was originally told her afro hair was unsuitable for children’s wigs said she was “really proud” her locks were now being used.

Carly Gorton, 11, from Norfolk, had urged the Little Princess Trust charity to rethink after it said afro hair was too delicate for wig-making.

It said wigs were now possible after research and a trial, and described them as a “historic breakthrough”.

“It’s really beautiful,” said Carly, of one of the new creations.

The charity provides wigs made from real hair for children who have lost their own due to cancer treatment or for other reasons.

Carly wanted to donate some of her hair but was originally told last year that it was not suitable.

After pressing the charity to look again at the issue, prototypes were developed and approved for use. More

Joining together to mark Ramadan 2021

Today we are marking the start of Ramadan one of the holiest months of the Islamic lunar calendar. If you’re not observing Ramadan you may like to join our Do a Good Deed for Ramadan.

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (“May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you”)

Here at Greenwich, we want to mark the start of Ramadan by wishing everyone taking part Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem.

We know this year, once again that Ramadan will be a different experience as attending mosques may be limited and connecting with friends and family indoors will not be possible. We want to ensure everyone taking part in Ramadan this year has a safe and connected experience and as a university community we want to come together, in the spirit of Ramadan. More

How Vanuatu is using traditional island cricket to change and save women’s lives

Rachel Andrew is one of the leading cricketers in an island nation famous for its stunning beaches. She has scored more runs for the women’s national team than anyone else and averages an impressive 11.50 with the ball.

Cricket is her passion, as it is for many women in Vanuatu – an archipelago across the Coral Sea from Australia, whose population of 307,000 is roughly the same as Nottingham. Its women’s T20 team ranks 28th in the world, making it probably the country’s most successful sporting side.

Despite that, traditional values have created barriers that have prevented many of Vanuatu’s ‘mamas’ from playing sport – but the Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA) is trying to change that.

“I heard some people saying ‘mamas, they belong in the kitchen, clean the house, looking after the kids’, but no – it’s wrong,” said Andrew.

“We’ve got to help each other and promote gender equality. Let them know they have the right to enjoy themselves out there in sports or any activities.” More

Unlocked: 35 female sports stars join charity programme to increase diversity in sport

Thirty-five leading sportswomen have joined a charity programme to tackle the lack of diversity across sport.

Footballers Nikita Parris and Caroline Weir and five-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockcroft are among those who have joined ‘Unlocked’, which has been set up by the Women’s Sport Trust.

The athletes share experiences and work with industry experts to help tackle issues relating to women in sport.

In total, 27 different sports are represented by the group.

“It has been a challenging year for many but as we come out of Covid-19 there is no better time to turbo-charge our effort and continue to unlock the value of women’s sport,” said Tammy Parlour, co-founder of the Women’s Sport Trust.

“We believe the best way to do this is by supporting these elite women and connecting them together.

“Individually they are strong advocates for change but together they are unstoppable.” More

Sunny and Bhupinder Gill are first Asian brothers appointed for same EFL game

Sunny and Bhupinder Gill have become the first South Asian brothers to be appointed on the same officiating team for an English Football League game.

Bhupinder will be the assistant and Sunny the fourth official for the Championship match between Bristol City and Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The pair, who are Sikh, are the sons of former EFL referee Jarnail Singh, who retired in 2010.

“It’s a proud moment for the family,” Bhupinder told BBC Sport. More

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – April 2021

World Autism Awareness Week runs from 29 March – 4 April and with that in mind we have chosen Harry Wells as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month.

Harry is a professional rugby player with the Leicester Tigers, a Tigers academy graduate, having gained experience at Bedford and Nottingham, he is now a firm fixture in the first team squad.

He has twin sons Oscar and Theodore and Oscar was diagnosed with autism in 2018.  Harry became an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society in 2020 and works to raise awareness through supporting campaigns and taking part in different challenges. 

He and Oscar were the stars of last year’s sporting challenge ‘7k for 700k’, this year it is known as ‘Super 7 Challenge’.  More details are here https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money/world-autism-awareness-week/super-7-challenge

For World Autism Awareness Week 2021 the National Autistic Society have created lots of information and things to do on their webpages including quizzes and challenges and ways to fundraise.

To find out more about Harry see here https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/harry-wells-announced-as-ambassador-for-the-national-autistic-society

To find out more about World Autism Awareness Week see here https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money/world-autism-awareness-week        

Simon Woolley: First black man appointed head of Oxbridge college

A political and equalities activist has become the first black man to be elected head of an Oxbridge college.

Lord Simon Woolley, founding director of campaign group Operation Black Vote, will be the next principal of Cambridge University’s Homerton College.

The former Equality and Human Rights Commissioner said it was a “must-have role”.

He grew up on a Leicester council estate and left school without any A-levels.

The cross-party peer, who was fostered and adopted as a child, later returned to education and gained a degree and a masters.

He is the third black person to be elected as head of a college at Oxford or Cambridge. More