Our Managing Director"Courage. Commitment. Challenges." |
Ceri Davies suffers with Spina Bifida, Tethered Cord and Cerebral Palsy and is permanently in a wheelchair. She has been involved in youth work since the age of 13 and her first role was being a member of Dudley Youth Council. Ceri continued to govern for Birmingham Children’s Hospital with a large focus on participation and campaigning for the rights of disabled children and young people. Her public service has led her to win 12 Community Awards; one of which was ‘Build-a-Bear’s Workshop Huggable Heroes Award’. This is when she had her first contact with mascots and realised how important they are to children.
On Saturday 10th October 2020 it was announced that Ceri Davies was nominated and has won a Queen's Honour British Empire Medal. She is over the moon it almost feels surreal. It is for 11 years of service to disabled, disadvantaged and life limited children and families. She would like to say a huge thank you to her nominators as she is eternally grateful that they put her forward. She hopes it helps her support more children and young people in Dudley and the wider West Midlands.
Whilst being a Diana Award holder and a courageous citizen, she made friends with another courageous citizen, Liam Fairhurst, who raised £320,000 for Clic Sargent, which is a charity that supports young people who have cancer. Sadly, Liam passed away while battling his own fight with cancer and Clic Sargent supported him through this time.
Additionally, Ceri’s Uncle, Kevin Round, died in a motorbike accident months after this and because of the impact that this had on both families Ceri decided to start up ‘More Mascots Please CIC’ in memory of her friend, Uncle and for their relatives too. Ceri gained a 2;1 BA Hons Degree in Early Childhood Studies joint with Sociology from the University of Wolverhampton. IN October 2015 Ceri post graduated in Youth and Community Work at Newman University. She has been on several youth participation teams throughout the country, including the Arts Award Youth Network, where she was the Youth Network Leader for the West Midlands; she completed her Silver Arts Award in September 2012. Ceri was also a part of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services on the national youth forum, ENVOY, where she was a National ENVOY member in the West Midlands. Ceri has also had the role of Regional Co-ordinator for O2 Think Big during the summer of O2 Thing Big in 2012.
Ceri was nominated by the Princess Diana Award to carry the Olympic Torch and successfully carried it on the 30th June in Wolverhampton, with the support of her family, friends and carers.
In October 2012, Telefonica selected Ceri to attend a global young leaders conference called One Young World, where 183 countries were represented. She delivered a speech within the Global Health plenary session on disability rights and inequality, sharing a stage with world leaders from media and business. In 2013, Ceri delivered tangible outcomes as a One Young World Ambassador and supported the pledge of providing greater equality for disabled people. Ceri used to be one of the o2 Think Big facilitators who supported o2 Think Bigger projects until the end of 2014. In 2015 Ceri was delighted to see her organisation become one of the five charities to be chosen by the Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley. We enjoyed taking part in the West Midlands Mayor National Lottery Community Day in June 2019 when we hosted a pamper day for the Moms that we support. Ceri was nominated for one of the Dudley Borough's kindness awards in 2022 and in 2023 Ceri was nominated and shortlisted for the National Diversity awards for positive disability role model.
Ceri hopes that 2024 will be happier and healthier for everyone!