Award winner (2025)13th June 2025
Tess Kearney – or “Lady Tee” as she’s known locally – is joyful, determined, and full of spark. She has a learning disability, uses a wheelchair, and lives with her two close friends Alice and Alison, who also use wheelchairs. Though Tess doesn’t speak with words, she communicates clearly through gestures, signs and expression – and recently, through a hand-made placard that made her whole community stop and think.
A new farm development near Tess’s home promised a shop, campsite and more visitors. But for Tess, it risked cutting off her only accessible walking route – a narrow country lane. With 50 extra cars a day expected, Tess and her friends would be excluded from the outdoor space they rely on for independence and wellbeing.
When asked what she wanted to do, Tess was clear. She showed up at the local council meeting holding a card that read:
“Have you thought about my friends and I? We use wheelchairs!!! Be considerate. Tess, Alison, Alice.”
The room went completely quiet. That silence spoke volumes. By the end of the meeting, people weren’t just listening – they were rallying around Tess.
A ripple effect in the community
Tess’s brave action sparked change across the village. The planning team for a new outdoor gym made accessibility a priority – and when it was raised, someone in the room immediately said, “What about Tess and her friends?”
Now the gym is being designed for everyone: people who use wheelchairs, people with prams, and older residents. This goes to show the significance of Tess’s action, as it sparked change for many groups across the community – not just her own. Her support worker calls this “triple impact”.
At the village funfair, Tess and her friends have been offered a stall for free to sell crafts and join the festivities. There’s a stronger sense of connection – more opportunities, more visibility, more inclusion.
Tess, Alice and Alison are now seen as vital voices in village life. Tess has been involved in awareness days and co-production forums, and is energised by the momentum. She was so excited when she heard about the Leaders’ List celebration in Sheffield, that she didn’t even eat – she had her shoes on and was ready to party.
Tess’s advice for fellow changemakers
Tess shows us that leadership takes many forms:
- Show up – even when it’s hard.
- Be bold in how you communicate.
- Visibility matters: make space for everyone to lead.
- Don’t assume what someone can or can’t do – ask, listen, support.
What the Leaders’ List means to Tess
Tess’s story is about inclusion, visibility and action. She’s being recognised not just for what she said – but for how she said it, and the change it inspired.
Tess may be non-verbal, but she is an eloquent speaker in her own way. She leads through presence, action and care. Her story shows that communication comes in many forms – and that leadership is about impact.