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Country Garden Café
The café was developed in May to meet the recommendations of the Government's white paper "Valuing People". The café is operated from a local community centre and is staffed by adults with learning disabilities. The arm of the café is social inclusion and work opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, with potential for further development across other community centres around Halton Borough Council.

Peter Cookson-Dean and Liz Clarke
Macintyre support people with learning disabilities to be as independent as possible catering to their individual needs and skills. We also create learning opportunities for people to experience. Peter and his colleagues have been supporting students from Macintyre for seven years. At present they are supporting 3 gentlemen to provide animal care. For the last 7 years Peter and Liz has helped student 1 in so many ways building his confidence self-esteem, pride, friendship, knowledge and a lot more. Recently they helped to support him through his first OCN nationally recognised qualification which he is so proud of and has a certificate. Student 2 is quite a shy person but has built up a wonderful relationship with Peter & Liz, his confidence has grown so much that he will initiate eye contact with them and talk about the animals; this is a massive achievement.

Liverpool South Parkway Interchange
Merseytravel's policies have been fully integrated to deliver sustainable benefits that include regeneration of the sub region and communities within it, positive effects on air quality, climate change, energy consumption and resource use. Nowhere have these principles been more widely applied than at Liverpool South Parkway Interchange opened in June 2006. It is a new public transport interchange combining local & national rail services on to one site. It provides a focus for local bus services and also provides a key link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The project has merged and redeveloped two rail stations in South Liverpool (Allerton & Garston) into a high quality, fully accessible public transport interchange. It includes secure cycle facilites, 240 space park & ride facility; 5 bus stands; taxi pick-up & drop off point; a central concourse providing modern, spacious, sheltered facilities with real time information. There are incorporated facilities ensuring that all passengers can have full access to the station eg wide access automatic doors/booking & information office with variable height counters/induction loop facility/lifts and level access/colour contrasted design features to help people with low vision/fully accessible toilets/portable ramps/ a secure & safe environment with CCTV throughout the station. The interchange allows the people of Merseyside excellent transportation links.

Mrs Meenadchy Anmah Selvathurai
Mrs Selvathurai is a full-time unpaid carer for her daughter Anutha, 30 years old, who has severe learning difficulties, mental health problems, doubly incontinent with a mental capacity of a 3 year old. Mrs Selvathrai provides 24 hour a day supervision and care. She received Merseyside Woman Making a Difference Award in 2005 and acknowledges the devotion to the care of her daughter.

PULSE
I nominate PULSE, a small but dynamic local company letting out hostel accommodation and holiday cottages. When recruiting, Rob first consults me - Whitehaven Jobcentre's DEA - to seek suitable applicants, always considering strengths and potential rather than limitations and, wherever possible, adapting job roles to suit. To date, Rob has engaged three of my caseload in permanent employment.

Rainbow House
Rainbow House are a registered charity (number 1097572) for children with physical disabilities. The work they do is exceptional, teaching children to gain their independence by putting the ability back into disability. By using a system of learning known as Conductive Education, they teach the children how to overcome their physical difficulties and use it in a positive way to achieve. They are taught self help skills, eating, dressing etc. and also, sitting, walking and talking to help them become fully integrated into their community. The work of Rainbow House contributes greatly towards the children's inclusion in mainstream schools.

Roman Babjj
Pinown Roman is a very diligent and committed volunteer to mental health both in St Helens and regionally. He joined his local mental health forum and showed his commitment by joining the committee and was soon elected chair. Roman is involved and advised 5 Boroughs, North West Development Centre (Mental Health), is chair of Patient Public Involvement Forum, he is well respected and it is time he was recognised for his involvement in service user development in the North West.

Sellafield Ltd/Carl Lewthwaite
Sellafield Ltd (formerly BNG) merits recognisation for working closely with its trades unions to support large-scale training of Disability Champions responsible for promoting Disability Awareness and encouraging recruitment and retention of disabled employees. Carl Lewthwaite (Lead Disability Champion) deserves special mention for his hard work, tenacity and dedication to the role, despite challenges presented by his own disability.

Burnley Borough Council
The Council have developed the Burnley Disabled People's Network which has a membership of 50. Some achievements include: reversing a decision to charge disabled people for parking at local health/leisure centre, improvements to dropped kerbs throughout Burnley town centre, proposal for taxi driver awareness training, improvements to Burnley Cemetary Chapel, development of comprehensive action plan, ongoing discussions with various statutory organisations to improve access to services, empowering disabled people and giving them a voice with public bodies. Helping to make the BDPN properly constituted so the members can run the Network independently from the Council.

Theatre by the Lake - Keswick
Parking directly adjacent to the theatre, superb accessibility throughout, adapted toilets on all levels, facilities for hard of hearing and partially sighted, reserved theatre seating spaces for wheelchair users. There's something for everyone this summer with six great plays for you to choose from. Don't forget that online booking is now available. Theatre by the Lake has wheelchair spaces in both auditoria, adapted toilets on each floor and lift and flat floor access to all areas. Lakeside car park, immediately adjacent to the theatre, has reserved spaces for wheelchair users. A wheelchair is available for transferring patrons from the car park to the theatre. Guide dogs are welcome in all areas of the building. Touch tours of the set (for Blind and partially-sighted patrons) are available one hour before most performances. BSL-interpreted performances take place for some Theatre by the Lake Productions. The tickets and information area, the Studio and rows A-G of the Main House stalls are fitted with an induction loop. Discrete infra-red hearing enhancement headsets are available for use in the Main House. Contact tickets and information on 017687 74411 for details.

Crewe Hall
4 dedicated spaces for blue badge holders. A porter is available to collect luggage and assist your check in. Available at reception are the following accessible aids: Portable Induction Loop, Large Button Phone, Large Print Compendium, Bath Step, Bathing Seat, Vibrating Pad for Hearing Disability, Emergency Evacuation Chair in the event of the room location above ground floor. Crewe Hall has two purpose built rooms in our modern west wing. The bathrooms are designed with an accessible wheel-in shower and wall mounted drop down seat. Both rooms have full size baths and appropriate grab rails. Emergency pulls are linked directly to reception from the bathrooms. The windows are modern low windows for ease of opening. Curtains are operated by an accessible corded track. In the event of fire alarm activation these rooms have both a sounder and a visual flashing light. A member of the team will assist with your evacuation. The restaurant, bars, lounge, function rooms, public and accessible toilets are located on the ground and second floors. Second floor facilities are easily accessible via our lift which is the appropriate size for wheelchair use. Accessibility between the contemporary and traditional sections of the hotel is via a lift. Crewe Hall has a variety of conference and function rooms on various levels throughout the hotel. If you are attending a conference of function, the majority of our rooms are easily accessible via the ground floor and lift to the first and second floors.

Rheged Centre
With everything that you could possible need from drop off points outside the building to materials being available in large print, text only and audio versions, this organization ensures that everyone is welcome to their centre. Wheelchair spaces have also been allocated in their Lecture Theatre and Main Auditorium.

Disability Snowsport
Our next winners are based in Rossendale, Lancashire and use snow in their work with thousands of disabled people every year. Their aim is to increase the opportunities, fitness, mobility, freedom, social interaction, independence and skill of people with disabilities, and to identify and nurture the abilities of young potential athletes up to paralympics level. A disabled person gains both freedom and independence when they snap into ski bindings or transfer from a wheelchair to “sit ski”. Snowsport provides people with a method to conquer the barriers that confront them in daily life. Each week the team of staff and volunteers witness their work helping physical and cognitive development, as well as improving social and emotional skills.

Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is very positive in both employing and supporting disabled people, for racing and social events. The staff appear to be very much aware of people's disabilities and the correct procedures to assist when needed. Good luck Aintree Racecourse.

Access A Limo
Luxury limousines were until recently reserved for the stars, the rich and the famous. Accessibility wasn’t considered, especially for wheelchair users. The website promoting our next winner states that it is the first fully wheelchair accessible limo in the UK, and probably the first specially built wheelchair accessible limo in the world and its operated here in the North West.

Carphone Warehouse
Just one way that this organisation have gone that extra mile - they have been working with one of her customers for over a year trying to help them settle into their job. He has cerebal palsy & had struggled trying to cope with the computer system they used. Going that extra mile... they brought in a coach to support him & have given him lots of time & flexibility to make sure he is retained in employment.