Man with cerebral palsy lands Primark modelling gig

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Man with cerebral palsy lands Primark modelling gig

BBC

Elliot Caswell was photographed for a fashion campaign this week

A young man with cerebral palsy who had given up hope of getting work has landed a modelling job after featuring in a BBC documentary.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Elliot Caswell said he had been “nervous and excited” to get the opportunity.

BBC video journalist Rachel Price

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after meeting him on a plane in 2019.

In the BBC iPlayer documentary

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, Elliot, now 25, opened up about his struggles to find work.

However, a senior art director at high street retailer Primark happened to watch BBC Breakfast on the day a segment about Elliot, as well as the documentary, aired.

The art director thought that Elliot would be a perfect model for a new clothing range and got in touch with him on social media through a modelling agency.

On Wednesday, Elliot travelled to Manchester for the two-day ******.

Video journalist Rachel joined him on set.

“Having watched Elliot for five years from being a shy young lad who looked at his mum to help him talk, it was then amazing to watch him light up the room with his smile and humour,” she said.

Chris Caswell

Elliot said that he had previously found it difficult to find employment

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Elliot said: “Inclusivity is very important when it comes to the world of work.”

Chris Caswell, Elliot’s mum, said that the skills required for modelling were “perfect” for him because he could use his personality.

She told BBC Breakfast that Elliot’s “whole world has changed” since the documentary was released.

“Elliot has some limitations, but he has so much to give. He’s very person-centred – he likes to do customer service things,” she said.

“He has some fantastic skills, but just needs a little bit of support to get a job.”

Elliot told the programme that while he was open to more modelling work in the future, he was looking for customer-facing work – and his dream job would be something connected to Newcastle *******, the football team he supports.

Primark

The clothing range Elliot is modelled for is scheduled to come out next year

Photographer Esmé Moore, who also has cerebral palsy, said it was surprising that it was Elliot’s first ******.

“When someone has a lot of character, it’s instantly easy to photograph because that can come across on set,” she said.

Charlie Magadah-Williams, head of diversity and inclusion at Primark, said the company was looking for a variety of models for the ******, and Elliot “really fit the bill for somebody that we were looking to work with”.

“It’s been fantastic to watch Elliot doing what he’s doing and learning his new job,” she said.

She added that as a business, Primark is “really committed to becoming more accessible”, both for their employees and customers.

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