Derbyshire: Charity founder awarded for spreading happiness

Peter Shelton, who founded First Movement, and arts charity for disabled adults based in Rowsley, was named on The Independent’s Happy List 2014.

The list features 100 people from around the country who work selflessly to help others in their community.

Collecting his award at a ceremony in London, Peter said: “In times past there were just a couple of routes to getting work honoured by the community – the honours system, and the other, more commercial route where various sectors of business hold lavish dinners to distribute plaques to the great and the good.

“I only became aware of a third route after ending up on it – the inclusion of my name among a one hundred strong ‘nice list’ of people who have given back to the community in some vital way.”

First Movement has successfully retained its National Portfolio Organisation status with Arts Council England, meaning it will retain its funding for another three years.

Peter himself is now disabled following a serious illness and more than ever he understands the critical need to ensure there is provision for this vulnerable community to be a part of the contemporary UK arts map.

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