Charity, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on February 27th, 2025 | return to news
Dorset disability champion chosen to present to Austrian government
The head of a Bournemouth-based charity has been asked to speak to the Austrian Parliament about her work.
It’s been a fantastic year for Sam Everard, CEO of SAMEE (Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship). Having been recognised as a UK disability champion and won a coveted global award, her charity has now been selected to present its ideas on an innovative employment programme to the Austrian Parliament.
Everard said: “To say we are honoured, humbled, shocked and proud is an understatement!”
SAMEE is committed to helping enable disabled people to start their own businesses. Last year, it was announced the charity had won a Zero Project 2025 Award, a global, research-driven initiative with a mission to build a world with zero barriers that awards exemplary solutions for their innovation, impact, and scalability. Selected from 522 nominations across 90 countries, SAMEE is one of only two organisations from the UK – the BBC being the other awardee – to be recognised on the international stage.
Everard will head to Vienna for the Zero Project conference on Thursday 6 March to receive the award and meet with other changemakers.
As well as heading to the United Nations Office in Vienna for the Zero Project awards and conference, the SAMEE charity is one of only five innovative Zero Project Awardees to have been selected by members of the Austrian Parliament to present their solutions with a commitment in mind to supporting their implementation in Austria.
SAMEE work involves preparing young people with disabilities to become entrepreneurs. The charity’s 50-week programme is designed for those eager to learn self-employment skills and explore their potential talents in business. It includes vocational profiling, skill-based training units and tailored work placements. To date, 12 participants have completed training with nine starting their own businesses and three securing part-time jobs.
Everard added: “I cannot put into words how proud I am of team SAMEE for co-developing this programme with our neurodivergent young people.”
“SAMEE is the only UK representative to be chosen for this prestigious opportunity. I was nervous enough going to the UN but now presenting at the Austrian Parliament too!
Michael Fembek, CEO of the Zero Project, said: “Zero Project Awardees are creating game-changing pathways to employment for persons with disabilities, advancing solutions that make workplaces inclusive, accessible, and supportive.”
To learn more about SAMEE, visit https://sameecharity.org.
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