Charity awards recognise disability campaigner for his efforts to make life better for disabled people
The national disability charity Sense’s awards has recognised a disability campaigner from the West Midlands for his efforts to make life better for disabled people across both the West Midlands and nationally.
Mohammed Azeem from Smethwick is a passionate advocate for disabled people, volunteering with Sense, the national charity that supports disabled people with complex needs, and supporting major campaigns they’ve organised.
In December 2024, Mohammed, who is blind, joined other Sense campaigners at Westminster to talk to MPs about what the new government needs to do to support disabled people, and handed in Sense’s petition to Downing Street signed by over 23,000 people.
At the event, Mohammed spoke to MPs and Ministers about his experiences, making sure disabled voices are heard by decision and policymakers.
More recently, Mohammed played a huge role in Sense’s work to oppose the government’s proposed benefits reforms, which if enacted would’ve seen hundreds of thousands of people plunged into poverty.
Speaking powerfully to media outlets including ITV in the West Midlands and Daily Mirror, Mohammed clearly laid out why cuts to his benefits, which he uses to meet his basic living costs, would be devastating for him. His efforts, alongside other campaigners, played a vital role in convincing the government to make a U-turn on some of its most harmful proposals.
Mohammed is also a community activist. He spoke out this year on accessibility, telling his large local newspaper about the obstacles and dangers he faces navigating his local high street and shops.
He has also been involved in an organisation called Brum Rise-Up, through the People’s Assembly, which he was introduced to through a friend. With them, he’s been campaigning on issues including local service cuts, and doing public speaking outside of the council.
All of Mohammed’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed at Sense as he’s now been named the charity’s ‘Campaigner of the Year’.
Responding to winning the award, Mohammed said: “I’m really happy and honoured to be recognised, and to be part of a great organisation like Sense. They’ve been very supportive during the campaigns and it feels like together we’ve really made a difference. My campaigning means a lot to me and I hope I can make help improve society for disabled people like me.”
Jack Lowman, Chief Social Change Officer at Sense, said: “Mohammed has been a linchpin in Sense’s campaigning work, changing his plans at short notice to accommodate media interviews and petition drop-ins.
“It’s thanks to the tireless campaigning of people like Mohammed that the government was forced into some eleventh-hour concessions on its damaging welfare benefits proposals, particularly around proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments, which would have been nothing short of devastating for disabled people.
“Thank you so much Mohammed for your efforts, your openness and all of your passion – and a huge congratulations on winning this Award.”
Sense received more than 100 nominations for its awards this year. It was down to a team of disabled judges to review the nominations and decide a shortlist for each category.
Emma Partlow, Director of Engagement at Transreport, accessibility technology firm, was recently named Global Accessibility and Inclusion Leader of the Year, as part of SME News’ 2025 Visionary Leadership Award.
