Phoenix Ruddock (They/Them)

I’m Phoenix and I became an inclusion champion in November 2022. I work as a grant delivery administrator, joining Family Fund in October 2021. Having previously worked in the clinical trial and scientific sectors, working at Family Fund has been a total (and frankly refreshing) change of direction.

I am autistic, neurodivergent, identify as both bisexual and asexual, and as well as having experience of mental illness, I identify as being disabled. The difference made by treating someone as they are; including them; seeing them as a human and not just as their illness, or condition, is so important. Outside work, I volunteer as a York Ending Stigma (YES) champion – which is someone who has lived experience of mental illness. I’ve felt so empowered by being involved in this work and being surrounded by like-minded people that don’t judge me for being me.

Since coming to Family Fund, I have been treated like a human in the workplace for the first time in a long time and allowed to be my ’weird self’. My main reason for being an inclusion champion is to contribute to creating an environment where my colleagues also feel able to be themselves.