BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner, Lee Ridley, has paid tribute to the ‘important’ work carried out by one of the country’s leading housing and care specialists.
The 37-year-old comedian was the special guest at Blackwood’s AGM and was blown away by the work the charity carries out to help people with disabilities.
Lee was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just six months old but hasn’t let his disability hold him back and shot to fame this year by winning the ITV talent show with his ‘Lost Voice Guy’ routine.
The comedian performed a laughter-filled routine at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh at the end of the AGM where Blackwood launched its three-year customer engagement plan entitled ‘Making the Connection’.
Lee said: “I really enjoyed performing at the Blackwood AGM, they made me feel so welcome and it a pleasure to meet everyone after my set.
“Blackwood do important work with disabled people, so it was nice to be able to give something back to them. I wish them all the best in the future.”
The AGM’s theme focused on engagement with over 100 Blackwood customers from across the country trying their hand at different ‘escape rooms’ to demonstrate the power of communication.
Lee’s performance, which was done through his communication device, explored his rise to Britain’s Got Talent success and looked at the ‘funnier side’ of his disability.
Blackwood Chief Executive, Fanchea Kelly, said: “Our whole ethos is to empower our customers to live as independently as possible so to have someone like Lee, who embodies this spirit, perform at our AGM was a real thrill.
“Lee hasn’t let his inability to talk hold him back in life and it was amazing to see the smiles on the face of all our customers as they watched him perform his routine.
“We’re a customer-focused housing and care provider and put them at the heart of every decision we make so it was great to get their feedback directly at the AGM.
“The engagement plan sets out exactly how we’ll develop this dialogue with customers ever further at what is a very exciting time for us with the demand for our Blackwood House and our life-changing CleverCogs™ technology.”
Since it was founded by Dr Margaret Blackwood in 1972, Blackwood has been a pioneer in both housing and care, constantly innovating in ways large and small that transform the lives of its customers, helping them to live as independently as possible.
Blackwood’s aim is to do whatever it takes to help people have control over their lives in accommodation that meets their needs. It has an outstanding record of adapting properties from entire renovations to minor adaptations which are incredibly liberating to those involved.
