my google blog: September 2026

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Disability and Equality NW's 30th Anniversary Celebration By Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

DENW's 30th Anniversary!

DENW offers so much for the community, both for the disabled and abled. However, it is the mindset that this centre cultivates that encourages the wholeness view that I have found particularly inspiring. For instance, some disabilities are not visible and others/conditions might be debilitating, but there is always something that you can do in comparison to things that you cannot.

I volunteered, performing 3 sets, for DENW's 30th anniversary celebration recently. (I wanted to give something back, to DENW, so in effect I volunteered twice.)

The first set, as part of Jubiloso (a SEN, but open to all, music workshop group that I volunteer for as a teaching assistant). This is run by Jon Aveyard (the pianist in the photos) as part of his Preston Music Workshops. We performed 7 songs altogether. Here we are:

Jubiloso

Warming up.

On Vocals.

Jen (Co-Founder) on Flute. Me, Sophie, on Vocals.

On flute.

Following this, for my second set, I played and sang a series of 6 songs all of the genre within the 30 years.

After a short break I then performed a third set of sing along songs that people could join in with if they wished. I must say I was impressed with folks' contribution.

Here's some more pics of the event, people attending and me in my singer/guitarist role. Enjoy!