Paul & Michael Atwal-Brice

Paul and Michael Atwal-Brice are fathers to two sets of identical Twins; Levi, Lucas, Lotan and Lance. All the family live in South Yorkshire.

The Atwal-Brice Family are very unique and covers many specialist topics around Disabilities with their older twins Levi and Lucas who have been diagnosed with Autism and Epilepsy, amongst other disabilities.  

Over the years, they have built up a vast network of friends in the charity and media sector and have been ambassadors for Caudwell Children’s charity and AFK working with disability charities and helping disabled children across the U.K.

The Atwal-Brice’s fronted a national campaign in 2020 campaigning for access to better inclusive play equipment in local parks so children like Levi and Lucas can enjoy recreational activities with their peers. This received a vast amount of coverage both the BBC news and Radio 5 Live along with other coverage. 

For this, they received an award from the children’s charity AFK and won Best disability Campaign 2020.

The family have appeared on various television programs including the highest ever rated ‘Shop Well for less’ on BBC ONE This program aired in December and was RDF television’s Christmas special.  It broke down many barriers and featured all their family, getting the Nation talking about same-sex families, adoption, fostering and disability. The program was well received and people still compliment Paul and Michael on how wonderful it was to see inclusion and diversity on TV.

Paul and Michael are often invited to talk on national TV and radio to discuss topics including epilepsy, autism, same-sex parenting, adoption and fostering. They also take part in promotional videos for various charities and organisations like the National Autistic Society, The Fostering Network, Epilepsy Action and Caudwell Children’s charity to name but a few.

Paul worked as a performer and entertainer in his earlier years and spent many years touring the world, including the USA production of Spirit of the Dance.  He still performs in Pantomime and other commercial work.  Paul enjoyed his time travelling Europe, Asia and the USA performing before finely settling down with Michael over 20 years ago. 

The family now focus on breaking down boundaries on disabilities and promoting equal rights as charity ambassadors.  They work tirelessly to improve the lives of children and adults living with disabilities and additional needs in the U.K. offering their time to provide speeches and talks on the subject at charity AGM, charity balls and galas.

Back in 2014, they challenged the government for equal rights to Marriage for all couples. They headed this national campaign and successfully won. Now all couples, regardless of sexuality, have the right to marry in the U.K. They appeared on BBC News, ITV Evening News and ITV’s morning show Daybreak with the story also featuring in the Mirror, Guardian and Gay Times magazine.

They challenged the NHS and worked closely with NICE to make medical cannabis-based treatments available for people suffering the most complex and painful conditions. They appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain the day cannabis-based treatment become legal in the U.K and they still campaign, to this day, for better access to treatments that could vastly improve quality of life.

During the lockdown, their awareness-raising work continued; taking part in podcasts with The Variety club epilepsy action and a special Father’s Day podcast with the National Autistic society.  They worked with Caudwell children’s charity on providing Sensory packs to children struggling in lockdown and helped promote their virtual colour run.

They work closely with many charities including AFK ‘Working with Disabilities’ Caudwell Children’s Charity, Variety The Children’s Charity, Epilepsy action, The National Autistic Society, The Fostering Network and Adoption U.K.  

Over the years they have worked with a vast amount of brands including Pampers, Father way campaign, Matalan, River Island and Nature Valley Bars.  They have also been featured in clothing brands and Children’s Salon Book corner promoting their disabled book range. Also, Paul and Michael are often invited to film premieres in London and opening days at theme parks and attractions.

In 2021 they started working with Merlin’s Magic Wand, which is a charity set up by Merlin Entertainment. They provide free days out to disabled children, foster and adoptive families, as well as children who have suffered domestic violence helping Merlin get their message out there that these trips are available. Paul and Michael have also worked closely with the Gloworm Festival helping them make the festival more inclusive and accessible by advising on accessible portable toilets.

In 2022, all 4 boys were invited to take part in the CHABS U.K. Cancel Cancer Africa London Fashion Show. The boys stormed the catwalk promoting Katie price’s Son Harvey’s range of accessible and inclusive clothing, designed by the inclusive clothing company born Anxious.

Paul was honoured with a British Citizen’s award in 2019 in the Houses of Parliament, honouring over two decades of work within the charitable sector and was given the title BCA. They have also been shortlisted and are finalists at The Yorkshire Choice awards and National Diversity Awards, and in 2021 they received the Fostering Networks Fostering Excellences Presidential award for almost 2 decades of promoting LGBTQ+ Fostering as they often front LGBTQ+ fostering week and have featured in many national campaigns to promote this.

Their aim is to carry on making the world more accessible and inclusive to all – regardless of needs.