Sign language and inclusivity champion Jade Kilduff collects British Citizens Award

Sign language and inclusivity champion Jade Kilduff has been presented with her British Citizens Award, almost a year after being named as a recipient.
 

Read more: Jade Kilduff receives prestigious British Citizens AwardPublished: 29 October 2020

The British Citizens Award is a prestigious award recognising the meaningful impact nominees have in making life better for other people.

Jade, who lives in Heywood, received the award at London’s Westminster Palace on Tuesday 7 September.

Jade was nominated for the award by one of the charities she is an ambassador of, Peeps HIE, for her charity work, fundraising, contribution to community and commitment to changing the lives of others.

Peeps HIE supports those affected by HIE (hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy), a lack of oxygen to the brain before, during, or shortly after labour.

Both Jade and her little brother, Christian, are ambassadors of the charity as Christian had a HIE event after needing 24 minutes of resuscitation when he was stillborn at birth, given a less than 1% chance of coming out of a coma.

When the family were told Christian had a grade 3 HIE injury, no family member knew what the condition was or what it could lead to, or knew anyone who had experience with HIE.

Peeps is changing that, by providing families whose child has had a HIE event with information packs, in addition to supporting families throughout their journey, regardless of outcome.

It was with Christian in mind that Jade started the Sign Along With Us group in 2019, teaching Makaton sign language so she could communicate with her little brother. This grew and Jade began offering free signing classes to other local children and their families, to improve the lives of those with disabilities.

 

 

After learning ‘This Is Me’ from The Greatest Showman – their unofficial motto – the Sign Along With Us group auditioned for – and ultimately placed second – in last year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent.
 

Read more: Flying the flag for inclusivity: Sign Along With Us runners-up of Britain’s Got TalentPublished: 12 October 2020

 

Read more: Sign Along With Us Britain's Got Talent audition is one of the top 10 most viewed YouTube videos in 2020Published: 16 December 2020

 

Read more: Heywood teenager and little brother begin online sign language channelPublished: 30 January 2019