Penny Stafford

Adam has posted his interview with Ed on YouTube:

On Monday I went to the House of Commons in London.  I interviewed Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, in his office.  I felt very nervous to start off with whilst I was sitting in the waiting area.

I went outside the Department to film my introduction and while we were filming his car drew up.  Ed Balls came over and shook my hand.  I felt excited.  I then went back to the waiting area.  One of Ed’s assistants came down to collect us and we went in the elevator to the top floor where his office was.  We then waited in another waiting area.

Whilst I was in the waiting area I got talking to a woman who wanted to involve me in  making a film in Hollywood.  She is connected to the National Childrens Bureau and her name is Emma Rodwell.  Emma has a connection with someone in Hollywood and she emailed him about what I was doing interviewing Ed Balls and suggested it would be good to involve me in making a Hollywood film about disabled people.  I should receive some minutes from the meeting.  Emma then helped me to prepare for my interview with Ed.

Suddenly I heard Ed ask “Where’s Adam?”  A woman came and escorted my mum, me and Emma into Ed’s office.  Ed introduced me to a Times newspaper Political Editor: Francis Elliott, the Chief Political Correspondent for the Times.  He shook my hand and said “hello.”  He then asked me if he could take some pictures of me interviewing Ed.  I agreed to have the pictures taken.  I then prepared myself for the interview.

I stated talking before Emma pressed the record button so I had to start again.  Once we got going I asked how the department was involving young disabled people in making decisions and listening to their experiences.  He told me that an organisation called Wizz Kids comes into his department on Thursdays and provides training on safety, wheelchair users, provision of wheelchairs for the disabled.

I cannot remember my next question but I do remember asking him about how a disabled person should have fun and have access to sport.  We discussed disability access for playgrounds and the importance of them having disabled access and making sure that disabled people have access to sport in schools.

This interviews was very interactive because Ed asked me questions and let me talk and listened.  This was unlike my interiew with Hugh Bayley who just talked to me rather than being interactive.  As a disabled person it is very important that people are interactive with you.

Ed had an appointment at Downing Street but he said “Oh, I can leave Gordon until later.”  That made me feel SO important.  Then he also said that I could put the interview up on YouTube.  I felt excited that I had Ed’s permission to put his interview on the internet.

I then travelled down in the lift with Ed Balls.  I felt quite honoured.  He talked to me about meeting my mum’s schoolfriend and having lunch with her as we left the department.  I couldn’t believe that, after all this time, I got to interview the real Ed Balls!