Posthumous national award for Elspeth Jones

Elspeth, who died in November last year at the age of 32, worked as a Speak Out leader in Cambridgeshire for nine years, and an independent member of the Learning Disability Partnership Board, originally with Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living, and then with Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Elspeth used her lived experience of Asperger’s syndrome to talk with autistic people, listen to their experiences, and share issues with professionals who could help change things for the better.

Her colleagues, including her brother and fellow Speak Out leader Bill Jones, put together an awards nomination in Elspeth's memory to highlight her incredible work to improve services for people.

Family members and former colleagues of Elspeth were invited to the awards ceremony in London, which featured an exhibition paying tribute to Elspeth.

Graham Lewis, our Partnership Development Manager said: “I worked with Elspeth for nearly 10 years and have many fond memories of our times in meetings. Elspeth used her lived experience to bring about change. 

“I’m so pleased that her work has been recognised.”