Inspiring Penrith woman receives inaugural award at Pride of Cumbria

A Penrith woman who has overcome her own personal challenges to help others was the inaugural winner of a special Pride of Cumbria award.

Daniella Sheridan, from Penrith was the first ever winner of the Westmorland and Furness Council Outstanding Contribution award at the Pride of Cumbria Awards held at Energus on Thursday, June 16

Daniella runs Team Autism an organisation which runs lunch clubs throughout the north of Cumbria, for autistic adults without learning disabilities because Daniella believes that that is where ‘the gaps are’.

Daniella and her organisation aim to dispel common myths around autism, such as that it only affects boys and is a disability.

Daniella is unable to work full time due to health issues, the Penrith volunteer is Autistic and has written a CPD Accredited Course "Autism - It's Part of Me" to help other Autistics.

She helped to set up Team Autism CIC and in the last 18 months has helped many to claim PIP and benefits, get housing, get employment, and access GP and hospital appointments.

She has also worked one to one with many Autistics who have been socially isolated and helped them to integrate into our Lunch Clubs and events.

Daniella’s nominator said: “She has helped the Autistic community and their families through mediation and helped families in crisis. She deserves this recognition as she also used to volunteer with Triple A and helped to set up the Autism Alert Card system with Cumbria Police.

“She is an outstanding individual who would never seek the recognition herself, and her passion and heart is to help others even though her health restricts her own interests.”

Daniella was presented with the award sponsored by Westmorland and Furness Council by the authorities Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities Virginia Taylor who said she was delighted to be able to present the much deserving volunteer with the award.

On receiving the award Daniella said: “I’m still speechless I am just so grateful for the people who have nominated me and the people who have selected me to be a winner.

“I just do what I do because I love it, not to be recognised so this is a nice little bonus.

“I do get down a lot of the time and I feel like sometimes I do things and nobody cares, but that’s just kind of the anxiety talking this award has really reassured me that people do care which is amazing.”