Gamechangers Leadership Profiles

DIY gamechangers logo; 'DIY' and 'gamechangers' at the top. Underneath we can see colourful stick figures balancing on each other. The ones at the top are moving the letters of 'gamechangers'

DIY Gamechangers have created their own profiles to show how they see themselves as leaders.

They worked with DIY Associate Artist Audrey Albert to design their profile images.

Each Gamechanger chose their own colours, background, and the props or objects they wanted to include. Every profile is different because every Gamechanger is different.

We all have our own personalities and lead in our own ways, shaped by our experiences of having a learning disability. Scroll down to see each profile and learn more about each Gamechanger!

Adam Leech

I really wanted my photo to be all about my favourite Ice Hockey team… Manchester Storm!

My leadership motto is Ice hockey is life

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is taking pictures to share with our marketing team on the iPad. I also love seeing my friends at Gamechangers

Outside of DIY I love to watch Ice Hockey

photo: a young very smiley man is posing for the camera. In one hand he is holding a card with a round purple ring on it. In white it says 'Manchester Storm' and the date '19' on one side and '95' In the middle is a cartoon drawing of a what looks like an angry silver alien with golden thunderbolts behind. This same logo fills the image behind the young man. He is doing a thumbs up sign.

Amy Carter

I am very proud that I managed to achieve my Gold Arts Award despite completing it during lockdown. I love swimming, and have swam with dolphins, so that’s why I have used the colour blue and dolphins in the background.

My leadership motto is throw yourself in deep end and give it a try!

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is working with other organisations

Outside of DIY I love working with the Lowry

photo: there is a young woman posing for the photo. She is holding up a certificate for us to see "Trinity College London Amy Carter Arts Award Gold" The young woman - who must be Amy Carter - has her hair tied back off her face and is wearing dark framed glasses. She has dimples and a big smile that makes her eyes crinkle up. Behind her there is an underwater scene of strong blues and drawings of 2 dolphins can be seen above her head.

Angela Chadwick

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is getting out of my flat and supporting other DIY members

My leadership memory is working at the hospital school with children there. It made me tearful because the young people didn’t have much access to the arts. It was really important that DIY were there.

Outside of DIY I like to go shopping. My family are also really important to me

Angela’s image shows her… “Diving into independance”

photo: A woman with dark sunglasses is sitting in profile on the left of the image. She has blond hair and is wearing a light brown jumper. The background is a strange blue green colour, behind her we can see a large picture of countryside. This becomes less clear to her right where there is a big pile of what looks like pale strips of material. The scene is partly lit by an oblong of light that the woman is holding up above her - this has a streak of light curving donwn to the right as if the photo has captured the motion of her raising the light up.

Anna Ward

I chose to be outside in my picture as I love Outdoor Theatre and being around the trees and flowers. At home, I have fish, so I wanted to include fish in my photos.

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is leading Outdoor Theatre sessions.

My leadership memory is working with a student on his placement with us at Gamechangers to learn about photography. I loved inviting him into the group and working as a team.

photo: we can see bright cut out paintings of orange and pink stripy fishes and a woman with long, very light hair. There is a lot of sheer blue fabric which is making us think that this is an underwater scene. The woman is facing us but looking right at a small orange fish which is near her face. Her mouth is open as if she is talking to the fish and it looks like her hair is being moved by the sea.

Becky Jolley

I am an opera singer in a choir. My top says ‘Art is my superpower’. Art is my escape from any negative things around me, and I am also holding an example of my artwork. Art, music and drama help me to be creative. I write my own music and my music is about never being judged and how you should always be yourself. My scarf represents pride, some of the LGTBQIA+ community get judged like me – I want to say it doesn’t matter who you are.

A woman sitting on a chair, holding a microphone to her mouth as she looks upward with a smile. She is wearing a colorful outfit, including a black T-shirt with the text 'Art and Expression,' a striped long-sleeve top underneath, and a vibrant rainbow scarf draped around her shoulders. A decorative banner with a treble clef and floral design hangs from her lap. The background features a sparkly black curtain, adding a celebratory atmosphere.

Cathy Rothwell

I chose to have the bird puppet because I like using this prop. It is my favourite puppet from the Hanging by a Thread show. I am pointing at the puppet because I am the person who leads with the puppet during the show and workshop.

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is… being the boss at interviews.

My leadership memory is leading sessions for sensory learners. When I show young people the sensory props they look really happy.

Don’t be afraid to tell people what to do

photo: on the left is a big stuffed orange bird puppet who is looking at a woman on the right. She is looking back at the bird and looks like she is talking to it. The woman looks middle aged, she has short brown hair and is wearing glasses, a light brown jumper and bright mustard coloured trousers. She is sitting in a wheelchair. Her right elbow is resting on her knee and her hand is raised as if she is making a point to emphasise what she is saying to the bird. In the background there is a picture of a forest with tree trunks disapearing into mist.

Charlotte Little

I chose Super Mario because it’s a battle between two halves, and sometimes drama and leadership can be like that; sometimes you have a good day, sometimes you have a bad day.

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is working with young people and using sensory props like buzzers.

My leadership memory is working with medical students, and one doctor in particular sticks with me. A lot of the doctors don’t know people with learning disabilities can be leaders and we prove that to them. I love working with medical students and learning new skills such as new games.

Outside of DIY I like to look at motorbikes…

Always look on the Super Mario way of life

photo: A young woman is standing staring at us and smiling. She has rosy cheeks and wavey brown hair with a wonky parting. She isnt wearing any make up. She is drawing our attention to what is in front of her - pointing down at a group of brightly coloured plastic figures. In the group is an orange dinosaur with black studded bracelets, the famous video game character Super Mario who is holding a plunger and a stereo typical princess in pink with a crown. Behind her there are words in black lettering on a blue background. At the top, above her head it says "Take Notice" then there is an orange square with a white question mark just above her head. To her left it says 'Wrong Way' and to her right 'Right Way'.

Chloe Crispin

I like doing the dragon pose to represent the Welsh dragon, and I like going to Wales on holiday, we have a family caravan. I felt confident in that pose and I am a confident leader.

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is seeing my friends and making people laugh, and catching up about what we’ve been up to. I also like tricking people in games!”

My leadership memory is leading the game change three things with the medical students

My leadership motto is… I am the Dragon of Confidence

Outside of DIY I like going shopping with my family, relaxing, singing and dancing, going to TOP club, watching football and going out for dinner

photo: A young woman in is making a dramatic pose. Her left arm is raised and her fingers are curved like claws. She is wearing a really bright red costume and a matching feather boa which is wrapped round her neck, hanging down her front and is covering most of her left arm. She is looking at the camera but her eyes are not looking in quite the same direction. She has pale curly ginger hair which is tied back from her face. Her lips are open but her teeth are together as if she is about to say something or make a noise.

Georgia

I love pink flowers, they remind of spring and I love that time of year – and the sensory smell of the flowers I really like. I can be myself in my own garden. When I see the photo I feel happy and calm and those are the feelings I want to represent in the photo.

A woman with long dark hair tied back, wearing blue glasses, a light pink top, and black trousers, sits on a black chair. She is holding a small bouquet of pink and white flowers and is surrounded by a vibrant backdrop of pink hydrangea-style flowers on a dark green background.

Mike Corfield

I wanted my picture to represent different parts of my personality and my interests.

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is helping people to learn new skills.

My leadership memory is when a group of Gamechangers went to Salford University and worked with Occupational Therapist students. I liked leading and planning the sessions for the day with Sue and other people at DIY. It made me feel nervous at first but I soon got into it and felt better after doing it. The students have never worked with people with disabilities. I learnt how to lead and support a session with others, and encourage people to be themselves and to be silly as well as not to be judgemental with anyone.

Outside of DIY I love to watch movies and listen to music. I also do a lot of holistic and wellbeing activities like yoga and meditation and I am a Reiki practitioner.

photo: a man dressed in a red and black striped jesters costume is sitting cross legged ontop of clouds. If you look closely you can see that there are skull and crossbone images on the black parts. The man is looking at us and holding things in his hands. In one hand he has a dark green bowl with gold symbols on it. This is resting ontop of a small green cushion on the palm of his right hand. In his left hand he is holding up a book sized box. On this we can see 'Chakra Stones' and the silouette of someone sitting with crossed legs. It has lots of different coloured circles on it.

Scott Lawrie

I love the fact that my photo shows that even in a wheelchair you can still do what other people do and you shouldn’t be left out

My favourite thing about being a Gamechanger is helping young people and I love seeing people achieve what they want to achieve”

My leadership memory is when I loved going into Springwood and leading sessions. There was a young person who loved speaking and telling the group what to do before I even had the chance!

Outside of DIY I love to DJ and have a rave!

Scott’s leadership motto is… Zoom fast but turn down the speed when necessary

photo: artistic image which shows the same young man in profile 5 times as if he has moved across the page from left to right. He has short dark hear and is wearing glasses with black frames. He is looking thoughtful and his left hand is raised up. He is in a wheelchair. The image is trasparent and overlaid with a picture of countryside shining through; green grass, trees and grey sky. There is a light orange area that indicates a sunrise in the direction he is travelling.

Viv Collinson

I love to do arts & crafts in my spare time – especially sequin art. In my photo, I really wanted to show how proud creating this piece made me – so here is me showing it off!

A woman with long red hair tied back, wearing glasses and a patterned gold and black top, sits on a chair against a black, sparkly backdrop. She is smiling and resting her hand on her chin. In front of her, there is a framed mosaic-style artwork of a colorful butterfly on a green background with flowers, displayed in a wooden frame.

Thank you to Paul Hamlyn Foundation for supporting the DIY’s Gamechangers programme.

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