Warrington Disability Partnership

Art whizz Issy wins our poster comp

'My ability is stronger than my disability'.

That's the empowering slogan of the overall winning entry in a young people’s poster competition we launched with the Warrington Guardian and Golden Square Shopping Centre.

Penketh High School student Issy Snape, aged 14, spent two days working on her colourful creation, which made the initial shortlist compiled by a panel of WDP and Warrington Guardian judges from more than 70 submissions.

Its depiction of disabled people succeeding in sports then secured the most votes overall from visitors to our Galleries Community Café, who chose their favourite entries in three different age categories: Under Sevens, Seven to 11s and 11 to 18-year-olds.

The delighted teenager was accompanied to the prize-giving ceremony at our Centre for Independent Living on Beaufort Street by her art teacher, Miss Bratt.

Issy said: “Disability is close to my heart. My sister Kate, who is 19, has a muscle-wasting condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

‘Also, my grandad used to be Head of Art at Penketh High School. He has a gallery on Heath Road called The Potters House Penketh. He is going to be really happy when he finds out I’ve won. Thank you very much WDP!”

Issy will now work with a design team to ensure her poster is displayed in pride of place at Golden Square Shopping Centre.

Other winners included Alfie Pitt (Seven to 11s category) and Eva Longdon (Under Sevens category).

Statham Primary School did exceptionally well — producing seven runners-up and one category winner, Alfie.

Proud Co-Head Jane Rooney said: “We’re always looking to promote diversity and to celebrate difference. The poster competition was a great opportunity for our children to focus on what disabled people can do.”

Warrington Guardian reporter Adam Everett and Golden Square Shopping Centre Director Ian Cox joined our Chairman, John Gartside OBE DL JP and Chief Executive Dave Thompson MBE DL to announce the winners.

“I’d like to thank Adam and Ian; our fellow judges Tom Coleridge, Janis Williams, Colin Whitfield and Caroline Thompson, plus visitors to the Galleries Café who selected the winners; all the schools and their pupils who have taken part; and to congratulate all our finalists,” said Dave.

“This competition was all about celebrating what disabled people can do, and we have had some wonderful entries which really capture that important message. We will make sure that all winning and runners-up posters are displayed during our 25th anniversary year - and we especially look forward to seeing Issy’s fantastic design in Golden Square Shopping Centre.

‘I’d also like to remind all schools in Warrington of the opportunity we offer to welcome our Disability Information Officer and Afghanistan veteran Tom Coleridge to your classrooms, to hear his inspirational story about his journey back into full-time employment and about the 'Can Do' culture we promote at WDP. To arrange a school visit, please contact Tom or Stacey on 01925 240064.”

Full list of winners and finalists:

Under 7s

Winner — Eva Longdon
2nd place — Lily Norton
3rd place — Daisy Nurse

7-11s

Winner — Alfie Pitts
2nd place — Scarlet Kelly
3rd place — Charlie Pitts & Harvey Moseley

11-18s

Winner — Issy Snape
2nd place — Max Helm
3rd place — Michael Mckay

Overall Winner

Issy Snape

Pictured left to right: Tom Coleridge, Issy Snape, Eva Longdon, Dave Thompson MBE DL and Alfie Pitts. Photo © Newsquest North West