Lennoxtown's Ciara McCarthy is Winner of Positive Role Model Award at National Diversity Awards 2023

That the Parliament commends Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituent, Ciara McCarthy, aged 19, of Lennoxtown, for her outstanding achievement in winning the Positive Role Model for Age category in the prestigious UK-wide National Diversity (ND) Awards 2023; congratulates Ciara, who was born with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMW), leading to her being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at nine months old, on being presented with her award at a glittering ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral on 15 September 2023, hosted by TV broadcaster Claire Balding OBE; notes that the ND Awards, now in their 12th year, sponsored by ITV and supported by stars including Stephen Fry and Graham Norton, recognise unsung heroes and community organisations doing what it sees as phenomenal work to enhance the lives of millions of people across the UK; praises Ciara, a former pupil at Bishopbriggs Academy, for the magnificent accolade of being chosen as one of just 120 winners from a record-breaking 90,000 nominees this year; understands that the ND Awards judges described Ciara, a disability activist with a passion for inclusive education, as a "force to be reckoned with", and praised her for her tireless campaigning to ensure that her voice and the voices of every other disabled individual are heard; notes that, through her vital work with charities such as Cerebral Palsy Scotland and the National Deaf Children’s Society, Ciara has led keynote addresses at party conferences at the Scottish Parliament, highlighting the importance of disability awareness; further notes that, as an ambassador for "I Will", Ciara, who has profound hearing loss with bilateral cochlear implants, has delivered deaf awareness training and presentations at schools across the UK about the importance of disability awareness within education, and wishes Ciara continued success in her endeavours to create a society, and design systems, structures and processes, that are inclusive for everyone.