Going to Downing Street to hand in our petition

Written by Lizzie Green on

Lizzie, who leads our campaigns, tells us about a trip to Downing Street.

Last month, a few of us from Sense joined with some passionate Sense campaigners to visit Number 10 Downing Street. We were there to hand in our petition calling for disabled people to be heard in this year’s public inquiry into Covid-19.

38,931 people signed the petition – an incredible number, and we’re hopeful it’ll make a difference. If you’re one of the nearly 39,000 people: thank you!

The petition calls for three things:

  1. Disabled people to be heard in the inquiry and called to give evidence
  2. Disabled people to be represented on the panel leading the inquiry
  3. The inquiry to be run in an accessible way
Landscape photo of five people standing in front of black gates outside Number 10, Downing Street. They hold boards showing Sense branding and reading: 'Six out of 10 people who have died from Covid-19 in England are disabled. #CovidInquiry' and 'Put disabled people at the heart of the #CovidInquiry'
Outside the gates of Downing Street

Sense campaigners Saihan, Emma, Hugo and his mum Claire, all have experience of the challenges disabled people have faced throughout the pandemic. They travelled to Parliament to hand our petition to Number 10.

Landscape shot of three adults and one child standing in front of Number 10, Parliament. Their expressions are serious and the boy holds a purple and orange box with writing on the side reading 'Over 39,000 people call for disabled people to be at the heart of the #CovidInquiry'
In front of number 10 Downing Street
Landscape shot of four adults and one child standing on the steps in front of Number 10, Parliament. One of the group hands purple box to a female police officer who is standing in front of the open door.
We got to hand in the petition

Channel 5 news spoke to 11-year-old Hugo who has CHARGE syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects different areas of your body. His mum Claire spoke about the challenges their family has faced throughout the pandemic.

“Overnight, all of Hugo’s usual care that we get at home stopped, and we were left with no support.”

“The Covid Inquiry is really important to us. As one of the hardest-hit groups, disabled people should be at the heart of the Inquiry. For us it’s important that disabled people’s needs are looked at when the inquiry starts.”

Landscape shot of the National Covid Memorial Wall covered in hand drawn red and pink hearts. The plaque on the wall reads 'The National Covid Memorial Wall'. A boy in a blue coat is facing the wall with his mum, a woman in a grey coat. They both look at the hearts.
Claire and Hugo taking a look at the National Covid Memorial Wall

At the end of 2020, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that of the Covid-19 deaths that happened between January to November, 6 in 10 deaths were of disabled people.

On the way to Downing Street, we stopped at the National Covid Memorial Wall to remember the many people who’ve lost their lives throughout the pandemic.

Landscape shot of the National Covid Memorial Wall covered in hand drawn red and pink hearts. A woman in a blue coat and glasses stands in front, facing the camera. She is holding a purple and orange sign reading 'Put disabled people at the heart of the #CovidInquiry.'
Emma stands in front of the memorial wall

Emma has congenital rubella syndrome. She said she hasn’t felt supported by the government.

“We’ve been isolated and lonely and not had the support we need. I want to see this acknowledged during the inquiry and make sure that disabled people are represented and included.”

Landscape shot of the National Covid Memorial Wall covered in hand drawn red and pink hearts. The plaque on the wall reads 'The National Covid Memorial Wall'. A boy in a blue coat is facing the camera with his mum, a woman in a grey coat standing next to him. The boy hold a large heart shaped red balloon.
A group of children and adults stand on Westminster Bridge in front of Big Ben and Parliament. They have serious expressions and hold boards showing Sense branding and reading: 'Six out of 10 people who have died from Covid-19 in England are disabled. #CovidInquiry' and 'Put disabled people at the heart of the #CovidInquiry'
Hugo’s whole family came along to support him on the day

Handing our petition to Government means that we’re step closer to making sure disabled people are heard in the upcoming public inquiry. This is not over yet. We’ll be continuing to campaign on this issue in the coming weeks to make sure disabled people’s needs are prioritised in future.