Founder's MBE award 'proud moment' for charity

Michael Edwards, who is partially sighted and has a learning disability, founded My Life My Choice in 1998

The founder and president of a charity that advocates for adults with learning disabilities is set to receive an MBE award for his service to the community.

Michael Edwards founded My Life My Choice (MLMC) in 1998 and has been championing the rights of people with learning disabilities in Oxfordshire ever since.

It will be formally awarded at a ceremony in London on 12 November.

Members described it as "a very proud moment for our charity”.

Mr Edwards (left) said getting justice for Connor Sparrowhawk, who died in an NHS facility in 2013, was one of the charity's biggest achievements

Mr Edwards said he had been "shocked and surprised" when he received the call even though he had known "it was in the pipeline".

Being partially sighted and having a learning disability himself, it was important for him to create a user-lead charity because prior to that, "you were literally told what to do and when to do it".

"It took us a lot of time to get here. Social services at the time was a bit reluctant to let people with learning disabilities to run their lives," he said.

"When I was at boarding school, we had all kinds of disabilities - ranging from people who were totally blind to people who were deaf.

"You have to learn to get on with people and accept the fact and help them. That's what it's taught me."

Today, MLMC's members deliver training on learning disability awareness and teach their peers independent travel skills.

A charity spokesperson reported that last year, it paid 41 people with a learning disability a total of £32,821.

Giving back

Mr Edwards was made MLMC lifetime president in 2017.

"I felt great about it but I didn't do it for that," he said.

"I wanted to give something back. I thought we can make things better and we have done."

He cites "getting justice for Connor" as one of the charity's biggest successes so far.

In July 2013, 18-year-old Connor Sparrowhawk drowned after an epileptic seizure at NHS-run Slade House in Headington due to neglect by the care unit.

Mr Edwards worked on the Laughing Boy campaign, the name used online for Connor.

Connor's mother and charity patron, Sara Ryan, said that she could think of "nobody more deserving of an MBE than Michael".

Mr Edwards (centre) has been described as "a very good ambassador" by MLMC members

Dawn Wiltshire, charity member and consultant, has been involved with MLMC for about 20 years and has worked as a travel buddy and gig buddy.

She said the charity had helped her "build more confidence" and "be more independent”.

"We started off with three members and now we have over 800," she said, adding that Michael was "a very good ambassador".

Ady Chappell, co-chair of the trustees, has been working on the charity's campaigns and has represented it at awards.

"I have made loads of friends and I feel a part of a massive family," he said.

"I am proud of who we are today.”

He said the news about Mr Edward's award was "fantastic" and "a very proud moment for our charity”.