Turning Presence into Pressure and Learning When to Pause
2025 was not a quiet year. It was a year of speaking, protesting, challenging power, and refusing to stay silent — but it was also a year that tested my limits.
From conference halls in Dublin to the streets of London and Belfast, from Westminster corridors to Stormont, this year was about applying pressure where it mattered, and learning, late in the year, when to ease off for the sake of my own health.
A Year of Presence, Not Observation
2025 wasn’t a year I watched from the sidelines. It was a year of being in the room — and, when necessary, being the person who disrupted it.
It was shaped by talks, discussions, protests, media engagement, and quieter conversations away from cameras and stages. Not every intervention was welcomed. But every one of them mattered.
Not every intervention was welcomed. But every one of them mattered.
Speaking Truth Where Influence Lives
Speaking at a BioMarin event in Dublin brought lived experience into conversations about healthcare, disability, and innovation.
It wasn’t about soundbites, it was about reminding decision-makers that access, dignity, and independence are real-life outcomes shaped by policy.
Westminster: Hustling Against Cruel PIP Cuts
Much of 2025 was spent hustling at Westminster, opposing cruel cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIPs) driven by the Labour Government through the DWP.
PIPs is not a perk. It’s a lifeline.
Belfast: Protesting the Same Cruelty Closer to Home
Those same PIPs cuts brought protests to Belfast, highlighting how decisions made in London directly harm disabled people in Northern Ireland.
Parliament Square: Opposing a Dangerous Assisted Dying Bill
Protesting in Parliament Square focused on opposing a rushed Assisted Dying Bill brought forward under a Private Members’ Bill.
In a context of cuts, assisted dying is not neutral – it’s dangerous.
Stormont: Independent Living Is Not Optional
Speaking at an Independent Living Fund event at Stormont reinforced that independent living is about autonomy, dignity, and choice – not slogans.
The Cost of Constant Pressure
2025 was demanding physically, mentally, and emotionally. The pressure to keep going began to bleed into my personal life.
Protecting my health is not a retreat from the work – it’s what makes continuing possible.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Sustainability Over Burnout
I remain actively involved, but 2026 will prioritise sustainability, impact over output, and respecting capacity.
Same values. Clearer boundaries. Still showing up – sustainably.