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Following news of the sad death of Helga Uckermann, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, has made the following statement:
“I was saddened to learn of the tragic death of Helga Uckermann last week. As Self-Advocacy Coordinator at the North Wales Advice and Advocacy Association, Helga was a staunch and effective supporter of communities right across North Wales. She fought for people’s right to take part and be heard across public life and her frank and valuable advice will be missed.
Most recently, I saw her dedication and coordinating power on display at the Hear our Voice conference at the Beaches Hotel, Prestatyn. The event was organised by Prestatyn Self-Advocacy, a learning disability self-advocacy group working in Denbighshire. The aim of the event was to “speak out for the community and ask for change” and to improve access and rights for people with learning disabilities. The event was a great success and was a powerful demonstration of the importance of self-advocacy and how policing can work with communities to ensure they don’t become victims of crime. Helga was at the heart of this mission and had worked for many years with the North Wales Police Stakeholder Engagement Group for Disability. She had also worked closely alongside the Diversity Unit team at North Wales Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Helga said at the time of the Hear our Voice conference that her role was to “support self-advocates to do their work and to find their own voice. People with learning disabilities in North Wales want respect in their communities”. It was this modest view of her own role in supporting others, while being determined that people should get the respect that is their right, that will be missed by many. I extend my condolences and the sympathy of the entire team at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to Helga’s family, friends and the self-advocates of North Wales at this sad time.”