AS Warrington Disability Awareness Day came of age with its 21st
anniversary at Walton Hall and Gardens, organisers were given a major
boost as main sponsors, Your Housing, confirmed they would be backing next
year’s event.
The news came as a welcome boost for event co-ordinator Dave Thompson, MBE DL, who had feared at one stage that this year’s event would have to be cancelled following heavy rain during the week.
Earlier in the year he had also feared for the very future of the whole event following the loss of funding from a variety of previous supporters.
While presenting Certificates of Appreciation to this year’s backers, Dave said DAD 2012 would not have been possible without the support of Your Housing.
As Your Housing MD Brian Cronin collected his certificate (pictured above) he announced that the housing organisation, which recently re-located to Warrington, creating 300 jobs following the merger of Arena Housing and the Harvest Group, would be backing next year’s event.
A delighted Dave said: “This is great news for the near 300 exhibitors who have turned up today. Disability Awareness Day has now become an international event but at one time I had real concerns whether it would be taking place this year following the loss of sponsorship.
“It would not have been possible without the support of Your Housing and I am delighted they have confirmed for next year – I just need to get the okay off my wife Pam now!”
Dave said he had feared the event may have to be called off following the heavy rain during the week but thanks to the dedicated hard work of volunteers and the staff at Walton Hall and Gardens, it had been a case on on with the show!
He said it had also been a difficult lead up to the
event following the sudden death of team member Dave Conner, with
another two members of the team hospitalised due to poor health.
With more than 32,000 properties, including 5,000 customrs in the Warrington area, Your Housing is now one of the largest housing organisations in the country.
As well a supplying general housing they provide properties for people with special needs and disabilities.
Pictured above right, a giant queen joins members of The Orford Neighbourhood Project (TONP)
Town Crier Peter Powell with WDP mascot Ollie the Owl
A helicopter ride provided a bird’s eye view of events.
For more pictures from the event CLICK HERE
