The BBC has set up a new disability team, to include Cbeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell in the role of Disability Ambassador, Kay Ashton MBE as Creative Diversity Disability Lead, and Nichola Garde as Project Manager of Elevate, a recruitment programme for Disabled people.
Cerrie Burnell will work closely with commissioning and production teams over the next year to champion authentic on-screen portrayal of disability. She said: “I’m beyond excited to be working with the BBC to elevate disability narratives, so they become integral to all storytelling and ground-breaking content in a deeply authentic and enlightening way.”
The new team will be part of the BBC’s Creative Diversity Unit, led by June Sarpong. The BBC’s 50:20:12 workforce targets are looking to employ 50% women (the same as the UK population percentage); at least 20% black, Asian or minority ethnic staff (seven percent higher than the UK population percentage); and at least 12% Disabled people (nine percent less than the UK population percentage) from now until 2023 as part of its current Diversity and Inclusion plan.
The team will report to the BBC’s Head of Creative Diversity to develop and deliver the BBC’s disability agenda as part of its diversity strategy.
