Jo Tolley is one of The Lincolnite’s first generation Community Voices columnists. She describes herself as a ‘curious curtain twitcher’ and a budding freelance writer. She believes that everyone has a right to have their voices heard. “It’s my life’s goal to make a real difference and show that people can achieve their dreams, regardless of their situation.” Jo has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and believes that the arts provide freedom and independence for all.
Community Voices is a project which bridges the gap between the people of Lincoln and the news that helps them navigate every day life in the city. Read the experiences and views of a range of local people as they become regular voices on The Lincolnite and help shape the conversation in your neighbourhood.
We all know the arts industry gets bad press. Careers within the sector aren’t generally seen as “proper jobs”. Parents want their kids to become doctors, lawyers and secure a stable income. This is all well and good, but what happens when they can’t become doctors because holding a stethoscope is physically impossible? What happens if becoming a lawyer means using their voice, when they can’t conventionally communicate? What happens when their disability outwardly prevents them from doing what they love?
As someone with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, I can wholeheartedly say that being disabled sucks sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, there are many occasions when being in a wheelchair is hilarious, but it can be isolating.
Flashback to a year ago, and I was sitting in Lincoln Drill Hall’s café, in the depths of what I now refer to as my decade-long quarter-life crisis. Yet another one of my “forever plans” had epically failed, which in my dramatic, anxiety-ridden brain resulted in my life being over at the grand old age of twenty-five. For most of that time, I’d been unwittingly engulfed by everything my disability wouldn’t allow me to do. The little girl in me yearned to put on a pair of ballet shoes and pirouette with the best of them.
Lincoln Drill Hall. Photo: File/The Lincolnite
Week after week, I was drawn to the creative epicentre that is the Drill Hall; observing as people from all walks of life came through the door. What gradually dawned on me was how indiscriminatory the Arts Centre is. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve popped in for a cuppa or you’re an artist who’s about to perform on stage, everyone was welcomed and valued. The Drill Hall provides a platform, both literally and metaphorically, where the people of Lincoln, disabled or otherwise, can be their authentic selves. In whatever form this may take, we are encouraged and nurtured to showcase the talent we possess.
Jo is passionate about the arts
It was the Jamie Marcus Productions’ panto season and a shining example of how disability and the arts are seamlessly integrative, flew to the forefront. When Tinkerbell, played by deaf actress, Phillipa Russell, sprinkled fairy dust in the Drill Hall Auditorium, there was no distinction between so called “ability and disability”. Phillipa is simply gifted with a natural flair for her craft and she was doing what she does best within the role of Peter Pan’s non-verbal sidekick.
I have found that we live in a society whereby, unless something is happening right in front of people’s noses, it goes unnoticed. The Drill Hall enables the topic of disability to be openly discussed; influencing the discourse surrounding disability. Their exclusive events, such as the Big Butterfly Club, offers a space where disabled people can let their hair down and have a boogie.
There’s lots of fun to be had at The Drill Hall’s Butterfly Club
Similarly, for those with learning disabilities who have a desire to develop their acting ability, Dreamland Drama Club is right up their street. I think I speak on behalf of Lincolnshire’s disabled community when I say the Drill Hall unlocks an individual’s full potential; promoting freedom of expression and the realisation of dreams.
A year on from when I emerged from my quarter-life crisis, and I was sitting in the café once again. The Drill Hall is indirectly a pinnacle aspect in my development as a writer and founder of Written Wheel.
Irrespective of whether you want to be a doctor, lawyer or ballet dancer, the arts industry, impeccably represented by Lincoln Drill Hall, gives you permission to think outside of the box.
Jo Tolley is one of The Lincolnite's first generation Community Voices columnists. She describes herself as a 'curious curtain twitcher' and a budding freelance writer. She believes that everyone has a right to have their voices heard. "It's my life's goal to make a real difference and show that people can achieve their dreams, regardless of their situation." Jo has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and believes that the arts provide freedom and independence for all.
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A 20-year-old man has been locked up for three years after starting a fire in care accommodation with a discarded cigarette.
Callum Lilliot, 20, dropped a cigarette on his coat which he then threw onto his bed at his care accommodation in Awdry Drive, Wisbech, at about 10pm on Boxing Day 2021.
Officers initially were called to the property when Lilliot threatened to jump out of a second-floor window, but arrived to find smoke coming from an open window.
An officer began to kick the door down through fears that people were inside, before a carer opened it with a key and police tried to tackle the fire themselves.
The officers were beaten back by smoke and heat, causing two of them to be hospitalised with smoke inhalation. Four residents and carers were evacuated as Lilliot was arrested a short time later.
He claimed the fire had been an accident as temporary accommodation had to be arranged for other residents, but that was not to be the last time that Christmastime he got himself in trouble with the police.
In a further incident on December 29, just three days later, Lilliot rang 999 to say he wanted to hurt staff at Peterborough’s Edith Cavell Centre by burning it down.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of arson with intent to endanger life, arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, and threatening to damage or destroy property, during a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, June 29.
Lilliot was sentenced to three years detention in a young offenders institution.
Detective Sergeant Lee Womak, who investigated, said: “Lilliot showed little regard for the safety of others when he decided to deliberately drop his cigarette on his coat and start a fire.
“I don’t need to explain why starting fires is so dangerous and I hope Lilliot will reflect on his actions and consider how tragic the consequences could have been.”
A judge has issued an apology to a Boston man who admitted drug dealing after his sentence hearing was postponed for a second time because of strike action by crown court barristers.
Stacey Housham, 42, has been warned to expect jail after he pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and heroin to other users.
Housham was due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on June 9, but the hearing could not go-ahead because of protest action by defence barristers.
His case was postponed until July 5, however Judge John Pini QC was again forced to adjourn the sentence hearing after being told Housham’s barrister was unavailable because of strike action.
Housham, who attended the hearing by video-link, will now be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on July 27.
Judge Pini told Housham: “These are serious matters. I have read the papers and the pre-sentence report in detail.
“Quite plainly your barrister needs to be here before you can be sentenced.
“I am sorry about this. It is something completely out of my control.”
Housham pleaded guilty to four charges concerning Class A drugs when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in April.
He was due to be sentenced after the preparation of a report by the Probation Service.
A number of other cases at Lincoln Crown Court have been impacted by the nationwide strike action by the Criminal Bar Association. (CBA)
Eight out of 10 barristers voted for the walkouts amid concerns the Government will not improve a proposed increase in criminal Legal Aid.
Housham, who was of no fixed address at the time of his offences, and is formerly of Collingwood Crescent, Boston, admitted possessing both cocaine and heroin with intent to supply others on February 10, 2020.
He also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin to others between December 6, 2019, and February 11, 2020.
At a previous hearing the court heard Housham is now clean of drugs and has turned his life around.
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