Hi my name is Charlie; I have always been a keen sports woman playing lots of school sport at Market Field School. When I was in year 6 I was the first girl to run in the Mid Essex Special Schools Association sports competition for children from years 7 – 11 and I won!

This gave me the confidence to continue into sport, where I compete in a range of school competitions but also come up with ideas on how to break down perceptions about people with disabilities in sport. I have a key role in the Multi-schools council which aims to do this.

I would say my biggest personal achievement is coming up with the idea of the Special School Games, which is an event held at Basildon Sporting Village where over 300 children with special educational needs take part in a variety of sports. This is one of the biggest sporting events for children with special needs in Essex.

Sport is important to me because it brings people together and shows what people can do. Just because we have disabilities it doesn’t mean we can’t compete and we deserve the same opportunities as everyone else.

I am passionate about equality and I want to continue to give everyone the same opportunities that I have been lucky to have!

See video on the Special School Games below: