Tribute to Tania Drummond

On 23 December 2024, our AB4D Ambassador Tania Drummond sadly passed away at the age of 45. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in helping her fulfil her ambition to support and empower others.

Tania had been a dedicated volunteer with SUMMIT for over 14 years, supporting adults with learning disabilities to lead independent and meaningful lives. In 2018, she joined a wider co-production team with Essex County Council’s Learning Disability Team. The result of this collaboration was Collaborate Essex, which went on to win an award in 2019. Tania and her peers were invited to the award ceremony and took centre stage as valued members of the team.

Tania’s personal motto was “I have a can-do attitude.” She also recognised that achieving your ambitions requires others to help open the door to opportunity. Stephen Watt and his team did more than open those doors, they kicked them down. For the first time, people with learning disabilities were not treated as service users. They became collaborators, colleagues, and equal partners.

This change had a profound impact on Tania and many others. They felt valued, and as a result they gained the two main drivers of success: confidence and ambition. Tania went on to qualify as an advocate, gaining paid employment and leading a range of initiatives that empowered others to develop skills and increase their independence. As an AB4D Ambassador, she championed the rights of people to live safely in their communities. She became a Hate Crime Ambassador, an Appointment Buddy, and a Health Champion, always using her experience to support others.

Although we cannot change what has happened, we can choose how we move forward. We will continue to honour Tania’s legacy by rolling up our sleeves and carrying on her remarkable work.