Hackney writer to judge prestigious disability charity awards  

Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini. Photograph: courtesy the Ibini family

An award-winning writer from Hackney has been invited to judge national disability charity Sense’s annual awards.

The highly regarded event has been running for 21 years and celebrates the achievements of people with complex disabilities and those who support them.

There are 13 categories, including ‘Young Person of the Year’, ‘Fundraiser of the Year’, and ‘Volunteer of the Year’.

The shortlists and winners will be announced in November.

The awards are decided by a panel of judges with disabilities, and this year one of those is Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini.

Ibini said: “I’m looking forward to finding out more about the amazing people nominated at this year’s Sense Awards, which has recognised so many people with complex disabilities over its 21-year history.

“A huge good luck to all of those nominated!”

Ibini is a multi-award-winning playwright and filmmaker of Nigerian heritage.

They have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and use a wheelchair, and their work often centres on women, people with disabilities, Queer people and the Black British experience.

Ibini’s theatre credits include Muscovado, Little Miss Burden and the Olivier Award-winning Sleepova.

Their screen credits include BAFTA-nominated CripTales, and they also co-wrote an episode of Amazon Prime series Wilderness.

Ibini’s fellow judges include artist Lisette Auton, Jaina Mistry, England’s first blind female fitness instructor, and Crip Ladywood, one of the UK’s only wheelchair-using drag artists.

The awards take place on 21 November

Sense supports people living with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind, to communicate and experience the world.

The charity also puts on holidays and arts, sports and wellbeing programmes for children, young people and adults.

It also offers practical support to families and campaigns for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.

For more information on Sense’s work, visit www.sense.org.uk.