Most recent awards for Jen Blackwell, Sue Blackwell.
For DanceSyndrome awards please see:

Silver Winner for Women in Business 2024
Dr (h.c.) Jen Blackwell BEM awarded Silver Stevie Award for Woman of the Year (non-profit) in Women in Business Awards November 2024
Silver Winner for Women in Business 2024
Sue Blackwell awarded Silver Stevie Award for Thought Leadership (non-profit) in Women in Business Awards November 2024
Gold 2024 Stevie Winner International Business Awards

Sue Blackwell awarded Gold Stevie Award for Thought Leadership (non-profit) in International Business Awards August 2024

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Left Professor Penny Cook, middle Dr (h,c) Jen Blackwell BEM, right Professor Margaret Rowe University of Salford Dean. Presentation of Jen's Honorary Doctorate from University of Salford July 2024

Jen Blackwell awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Salford, July 2024

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Jen receiving British Empire Medal

Jen Blackwell awarded British Empire Medal in King's Birthday Honours List June 2023

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Best Business Women Awards

Sue and Jen Blackwell won Charity Champion Gold Award at Best Business Woman Awards September 2022

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Fentrepreneur logo
Jen Blackwell #ialso 2022
Jen holding framed certificate being presented by man holding microphone
Prime Minister Points of Light Award 2018
The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100

Disability Power 100 2020, 2019 & Judge 2021 - Jen Blackwell

Jen Blackwell holding up trophy with Mum Sue clapping
Inspirational Woman of the Year, Enterprise Vision Awards 2015

Jen and Sue Blackwell have been featured in many publications and interviewed on TV and Radio:

The full 7 minute interview with Jen, Sarah Kennedy and Hayley Kay is here: https://youtu.be/TDNWhBWLnSA
Jen Blackwell on BBC North West Today
BBC North West Today logo
BBC Lancashire logo
Lancashire Evening Post logo
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PODCAST INTERVIEWS

"Just speak out, speak out, speak up, speak for who you are, because that for me is really powerful" Dr Jen Blackwell BEM

The Power of Stories Podcast

Jen and Sue discuss creating DanceSyndrome and their experiences showcasing the performances of this dance company… facing and overcoming the bureaucracy and systems that saw Jen as a learning disability instead of as a person… the importance of true inclusion rather than tokenistic inclusion to enable everyone to be a leader in their own life… Jen’s love of dance throughout her life… being honored at Buckingham Palace…. Jen being appointed Lead Ambassador for Innovation and Entrepreneurship by the High Sheriff of Manchester for her year of tenure in 2018.… encouraging all women and girls to speak out and speak up… and the importance of creating opportunities for all!

Best Business Woman Awards charity award winner 2022

The Business Awards Podcast

Sue said ' Jen wanted to follow her dream of being a dancer and dance leader. After leaving school, Jen found herself in the frustrating position of not being able to fulfil her ambition because there was no suitable dance training for a person with a learning disability.

After 10 years of unsuccessfully searching for training that was appropriate and inclusive, it became clear that many others were in the same situation. Something needed to change so we took matters into our own hands."

Interviews

Interview with Anna Park, NAPA Learning Disability Adviser 2021 during lockdown

Interview with Jen Blackwell - YouTube

Interview with Kay Ashton, MBE

https://youtu.be/8ppfYqrLV1A

Articles

Learning Disability Today It’s not rocket science – it’s love: supporting people with
learning disabilities to achieve their goals and ambitions In Focus, December 2024

Down's syndrome Association A Year of Success for Dr Jen Blackwell December 2024

Dance Inspiration Live Magazine Jan 2024

People Dancing People Dancing :: “If it needs doing...” Reflections on a decade of DanceSyndrome :: Foundation for Community Dance 2023

Using Dance to help people reach their potential Disability Horizons 2020

Care Talk DanceSyndrome; enabling diversity and leadership to flourish – Care Talk 2020

Born to Dance Born to Dance (citizen-network.org) 2016

For all media or speaking enquiries please contact Tracey Jane as Sue is often on a boat!