CONCRETE YOUTH'S CEO WINS PRESTIGIOUS TOP 30 UNDER 30 AWARD

Concrete Youth is delighted to announce that its CEO & Co-Artistic Director, Daniel Swift FRSA has been awarded the Top 30 Under 30 Award.

The award recognises Daniel's tireless work in his role at the charity and the impact he has made to audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities across the world.

Daniel said: "I am deeply humbled and incredibly moved to receive the Top 30 Under 30 Award for my work as CEO & Co-Artistic Director at Concrete Youth. Whilst I recognise that this is a personal award, I see it as a testament to the dedication and talent of our entire team. Every day, we strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities across the world, and this award deserves to be shared with everybody at Concrete Youth.

I am particularly delighted that this award highlights our work in sensory theatre for audiences labeled with profound and multiple learning disabilities. This news will enable us a platform to raise awareness and understanding of our audiences and how we can work together for a more inclusive society."

On a year that has seen a record number of organisations nominating their talent for selection, thirty young people from businesses across Hull and Humber have been chosen to receive the prestigious award.

Every day, we strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities across the world, and this award deserves to be shared with everybody at Concrete Youth.

The Top 30 Under 30 scheme was launched in 2017, in a bid to recognise and support rising stars within businesses across the region. Since then, the programme has gone from strength to strength, inspiring the next generation of business leaders.

Daniel has served as Concrete Youth's CEO & Co-Artistic Director since its launch in 2019. Prior to that, he undertook his Undergraduate Degree in Drama in the Community at Bishop Grosseteste University, where his work in the PMLD sector began when he understood a position as Drama Teacher at a Lincoln specialist education setting, since then he has worked consistently with various respite centres, hospices, PMLD groups and sensory story companies. He then went on to read a Master’s Degree in Theatre Making at the University of Hull, where he specialised in Inclusive Theatre for People living with PMLD. He’s now undertaking his PhD at Rose Bruford and University of East London, where he is researching narrative accessibility in theatre for audiences with PMLD.

Today, we celebrate the contribution of the region’s best young talent.

Daniel was awarded a Fellowship for the Royal Society of Arts in August 2021, after being nominated for the award by a carer of a young girl that attends Concrete Youth’s sensory stories on a regular basis. Currently, alongside working as CEO & Co-Artistic Director for Concrete Youth, Daniel speaks about inclusive theatre at conferences and universities as a Guest Lecturer.

Simon Jones, founder of Top 30 Under 30, said: “I am proud to announce this year’s winners, and our class of 2024. This year, we’ve seen more employers than ever nominating their very best talent for recognition, making the judging process the most difficult to date. “Today, we celebrate the contribution of the region’s best young talent. This group have made a significant difference to their organisations, to their teams and to the local business community, and it is an honour to showcase who they are, inspiring ambition amongst the next generation.”

Daniel, and the 29 other winners of the awards, will receive the prestigious award at a ceremony at the end of this year.

More information about Daniel can be found here.