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Ability Media

radio on air sign
Leonard Cheshire Disability believes that by helping more disabled people get a career in mainstream media, they will increase the positive influence people with a disability have in deciding how their circumstances are portrayed.

Fewer than 1% of professionals working in media have a disability, yet the national average for the UK population is 13%. It is our aim to change this inequality and ensure that those with exceptional talent are given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Ability Media Centre

Radio studio at The Ability Media Centre
The Ability Media Centre in Southwark is the only centre of its kind in the country. It is a fully accessible building with filming and recording studios, as well as two industry standard editing suites and a large events space that can be hired by community groups or local businesses.

Our state-of-the-art facilities are available for use by the public:

If you're interested in hiring any of these facilities or would like more information, please get in touch.

Ability Media International Awards

The Ability Media International Awards (AMIs) were developed by leading figures in the media industries, designed to promote the vision, objectives, and mission of Leonard Cheshire Disability. The awards identify outstanding creative projects, with the aim of encouraging a more inclusive world.

Dame Maggie Smith at the AMIs podium
Winners were chosen for their creative excellence and social relevance. Successful work clearly demonstrates how people facing major physical, mental, emotional or social challenges, or who come from under-represented groups in society, have been involved in, positively represented by, or assisted with their work.

Nominations come from three sources:
  • The Ability Media Board of distinguished representatives selected from across the media industries.
  • The Ability Media International Advisory Group of similar figures based throughout the world.
  • A range of individuals, advisors and key organisations with an in-depth knowledge of the Arts world.

Find out who the winners were from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 AMIs.

Read what Ilyas Khan, Chairman of Leonard Cheshire Disability and Wayne Drew, Chairman of the Ability Media Creative Board, would like to say about the AMIs.