Actress Trudie Goodwin speaks about seeing CBM's work in Nigeria and her experience of hearing loss

Trudie Goodwin, famed for playing Sergeant June Ackland in The Bill for 24 years and for her current role as Georgia Sharma in Emmerdale, spoke to CBM supporters at an event at Speaker’s House, House of Commons, London yesterday. She talked about about her life-changing trip to see CBM’s work in Nigeria, her own experience of hearing loss and why she’s passionate about CBM and its work transforming the lives of people with disabilities in the world’s poorest communities.

“Back in 2004 I was privileged enough to be asked to go to the ECWA eye hospital in Kano, Nigeria to make a short film about the work they were doing there and it turned out to be one of the most extraordinary and moving experiences of my life””, explained Trudie.””The joy of seeing scores of men, women and children blinded by cataracts having their sight restored is something I will never forget.”

“Like many people, I have some experience of living with a disability – when I was a child I suffered hearing loss, and as I’ve grown older it has become quite a lot worse. But thanks to tiny hearing aids, provided free by the NHS, it has never prevented me from going about my daily life or pursuing my acting career. CBM is helping millions of other people with disabilities, much more profound than my own, to fulfil their own dreams. Of the one billion people with disabilities, a staggering 80% are in developing countries. Disabled people face challenges even here in one of the wealthiest countries of the world, but in developing countries disability can be literally life-threatening. That’s why CBM UK’s work to tackle disability in the world’s poorest places is so vital and that’s why I’m proud to be part of it.”

The event was kindly sponsored by PJ Care and hosted by Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, who spoke at the event, highlighting the need for people with disabilities to be included in international development activities.

Watch a short film of Trudie’s visit to Nigeria (open link in new tab)