#iwill week – ‘I want to make things better’

The theme of this year’s #iwill week, Still We Rise, resonates particularly strongly with one ambassador.

Helen Cooper is passionate about disability awareness, using her own experiences to make the world a better, more inclusive space.

The 18-year-old, who is disabled, has repeatedly risen to the challenge when faced with barriers to reach where she is today.

Helen, from Berkshire, said: “To me, Still We Rise means when I’m faced with difficulties, or maybe having a tough time, I still continue. I wouldn’t say I overcome things, because I don’t overcome, I navigate around something one way or another, but it is continuing on.

“That little spark in me, maybe it’s not as strong sometimes, but it’s still in me and I still carry it on. I’m still doing what I really love and have that passion and, despite what society brings up, I will continue.”

It is that passion which drives Helen on. As well as being an #iwill ambassador, Helen enjoys adaptive rowing as a member of her local rowing club’s para-squad, is an inclusion ambassador and a member of her local youth council and is studying at college, with the aim of becoming an occupational therapist in the future.

“Busy is how I would describe it,” she laughs.

She joined #iwill after being encouraged to apply by another ambassador she met through the National Deaf Children’s Society’s #iwill-funded change-makers group.

“I have a passion for equity, so I do lots of disability awareness activism. I want to make things better, because I don’t want other young people in the future to have to go through what I went through, because it’s not right.

“I faced a lot of barriers in education, from peers and adults alike. I have experienced teachers who were not always aware of how to support a disabled person, so I’ve not always been included, or not allowed to use assistive technology that would help me.”

“There’s a lot of challenges you face, but I just face it and keep going. I’m someone who won’t give up.”

She is now bringing that drive and passion for change to the #iwill movement.

“I bring my knowledge of disability awareness, especially around equity,” she said. “When I meet other people, I’m quite open-minded, so I like listening to their stories with empathy and the willingness to learn from their perspectives. There is definitely a sense of community with #iwill and I like getting to know lots of other young people who support one another.

“I’ve seen changes being made, but obviously it’s very slow. One person can’t make all the difference, but if I can make even a slight difference – for example, a teacher knowing what to do in the future to support a deaf student, by making sure they’re facing the student so they can lip read – then that is something. And I definitely am quite proud of being disabled. It’s part of my identity. I’m deaf and disabled.

“When people ask me would I want to get rid of my disabilities? I wouldn’t, because I’ve lived it my whole life. I wouldn’t be me, I wouldn’t have this passion of mine. I wouldn’t be doing social action if it wasn’t for who I am.”

And as for the future?

“I’m just seeing where it takes me. I’m really passionate about disability equity and if something bigger happens, that’s amazing, even if it’s just being able to go to a school or education setting and do a session with a group of people about disability and what you should do to help make society more inclusive.

“At the moment in mainstream education, they don’t actually teach anything about disability or disability awareness – if it is touched on, it’s very briefly.

And in history lessons, for example ,disability history isn’t taught, similar to people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Their history isn’t taught, so it’s getting that out there too.

“And normally, if you make a change with young people – you teach them about how to be inclusive and to acknowledge other people’s disabilities, how to support them – then when they grow up in the future, they’ll grow up with that moral.”

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes

#iwill is a movement comprised of more than 1,000 organisations and 700 young #iwill ambassadors and champions from across the UK. They are united by a shared belief that all children and young people should be supported and empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and broader society.

#iwill is empowering, challenging, independent, collaborative and inclusive – it belongs to everybody.

The #iwill movement is powered by young people and organisations. The #iwill Ambassadors and #iwill Champions, alongside organisations who sign up to the Power of Youth Charter, help ensure meaningful action is taken to support more children and young people to be active citizens.

The #iwill Partnership is made up of leaders of collective action groups working within and across sectors and nations of the UK to guide the #iwill movement. The independent #iwill Coordination Hub, hosted by Volunteering Matters and UK Youth supports the #iwill Partnership, #iwill Ambassadors and broader #iwill movement.