Philippa Willitts, Freelance Writer & Copywriter

I’m a journalist who specialises in writing about issues affecting the disability and LGBTQ+ communities, with a particular specialism in gender-based violence. I draw on data and individual stories to highlight wider, intersectional issues.

My writing has appeared in numerous publications including the Guardian Comment is Free, Channel 4 News blog, The Daily Dot, xoJane, the Independent Editors’ Choice blogs, the New Statesman, Now Then, Sheffield Star, Mslexia, AOL Money, Access Magazine, Feminist Times and Off Our Backs, and I had a series of poems published in a book.

I also love the challenge of getting commissions to write about any and every subject and I have created content on topics as varied as garden machinery, storage solutions, health and safety and fetish footwear.

“It shows that it’s not a safe place, for me”: Doncaster’s Askern Festival criticised for putting Tom Meighan on the main stage for Now Then
From “who should?” to “who could?”: Navigating the messy problem of food waste for Now Then
“The Don has been used and abused – but water gives life”: Owen Hodgkinson for Now Then
Why disabled people object to assisted suicide – when they’re not “pro-life” for Global Comment
“A whistle-stop tour of common objections to veganism”: I Could Never Go Vegan for Now Then
“There are so many things to rail against in the country at the moment“: Rachel Parris on comedy, politics and changing minds for Now Then
LGBTQIA+ kids have enough on their plate without this proposed change in school policy for Now Then
Defunding aid to Palestine is an unconscionable collective punishment for Global Comment
What happens when NIMBYs think disabled people “lower the tone” of a neighbourhood? for Now Then
“I’m a chaos lady”: Jessica Fostekew for Now Then
Don’t ask and don’t assume – no matter what the government says for Now Then
I’ve got a wild idea: what if we were less awful to each other? for Global Comment
Waiting lists for children’s mental health care soaring in Sheffield for Now Then
Vintage photos of Sheffield show the city (and its hills) in past times for Now Then
Sheffield Walk-In Centre placed in “special measures” for Now Then magazine
The Huw Edwards scandal has been unedifying all round for Global Comment
Independent retailers that disabled customers in Sheffield love for Now Then magazine
Justice Gap: “A disappointing lack of curiosity”: What the CPS say for Now Then magazine
Justice Gap: “Cynical but optimistic”: What the charities say for Now Then magazine
Justice Gap: “It’s an uphill battle from day one”: What the police say for Now Then magazine
Justice Gap: What the data says for Now Then magazine
Disabled people and Sheffield’s local elections for Now Then magazine
“A completely inappropriate message to survivors”: Be Reyt festival books convicted domestic abuser for Now Then magazine
“We grew up in a different time”: Zest’s Over-50s LGBTQ+ group for Now Then magazine
How the cost of living is preventing us from accessing healthcare for Now Then magazine
Pound’s Park opening: disabled access and who on earth was John Charles Pound? for Now Then magazine
Sheffield vigil planned for murdered Brianna Ghey for Now Then magazine
Are objections to a Travellers site at Beighton really about the traffic? for Now Then magazine
From £0 to £36,790: How much are Sheffield MPs bringing in on top of their salary? for Now Then magazine
“I really did feel forgotten about”: A disabled resident’s experience of the Stannington gas outage for Now Then magazine
Threat of cuts and redundancies at Heeley City Farm at Now Then magazine
What if an asteroid hit Park Hill flats? for Now Then magazine
Abtisam Mohamed: “Deeply inspired by the strength of support”: New candidate for Sheffield Central Labour Party announced for Now Then magazine
Why Reclaim the Night takes a stand against violence against women for Now Then magazine
Here are the Sheffield Central Labour candidates in their own words for Now Then magazine
Sheffield to honour trans lives at Trans Day of Remembrance event for Now Then magazine
A love letter to Floella Benjamin for Now Then magazine
Anti-abortion vigils “clearly aim to intimidate”, says Sheffield MP for Now Then magazine
The dark messages behind the anti-abortion prayer vigils at Hallamshire Hospital for Now Then magazine
Disabled tenants speak out for Inside Housing
Eddie Izzard: “I’m not the poster child for trans people – I refuse to be!” for Now Then magazine
“Confidence is definitely a journey”: Life with a visible difference for Now Then magazine
Mark Thomas: Left-wing Superman for Now Then magazine
Massive disability pay gap at Sheffield Uni; Hallam Uni’s is below national average for Now Then magazine
Disability hate crimes soar in South Yorkshire for Now Then magazine
Sheffield artist attracts national attention with fundraising drawings of stadiums for Now Then magazine
Is the anti-spiking campaign enough to prevent violence against women? for Now Then magazine
“Accessibility was overlooked”: Disability at DocFest 2022 for Now Then magazine
Being Hatty: challenging paternalism and institutionalisation for Now Then magazine
Sheffield DocFest: The Business of Birth Control for Now Then magazine
Boris Johnson finally stands down: what Sheffield MPs have been saying for Now Then magazine
Sheffield DocFest: Man on Earth review for Now Then magazine
Wheelchair-accessible cafes for scones, jam and tea for Now Then magazine
“Here and Queer”: Social enterprise celebrates Pride Month with screen print for Now Then magazine
“Nothing more than a phase”? Open letter to MP about trans young people for Now Then magazine
“This feels like a really hostile environment”: accusations of racism at Theatre Deli for Now Then magazine
381 sexual offences in South Yorkshire schools, only four charges for Now Then magazine
Grace Petrie: “Expect singalongs, politics, rants and a few jokes” at the Leadmill for Now Then magazine
BBC Radio Sheffield host says “So what?” about suicidal teenager for Now Then magazine
Shon Faye: “Collective power rather than individual privilege”: trans liberation, trans MPs, and trans people in the media for Now Then magazine
Reports of anti-LGBTQI+ hate crimes soar in South Yorkshire for Now Then magazine
Bex Whyman: On being the only woman in the mayoral race for Now Then magazine
Sheffield protesters to take a stand against anti-trans conversion therapy for Now Then magazine
Exclusive: Disabled children from Sheffield are being educated as far as 165 miles away for Now Then magazine
“If you’re poorly, you actually need localised care”: GP surgery closures in Sheffield for Now Then magazine
Theatre Deli aims for industry-leading disabled access for Now Then magazine
As power prices rise, join the Big Power Off for Now Then magazine
Misunderstood and misdiagnosed: Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder for Now Then magazine
“You’re just part of the screaming”: Jon Ronson on the culture wars for Now Then magazine
Your memories of the Star and Garter for Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe and Neepsend news
Safety lighting proposed for the Ponderosa for Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe and Neepsend news
“You’re very lucky if you have it and escape unscathed”: Long Covid in Sheffield for Now Then magazine
Review: Church: Temple of Fun for Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe and Neepsend news
Very old film of Netherthorpe: Netherthorpe history for Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe and Neepsend news
I was offered anti-LGBT conversion therapy in Sheffield – twice for Now Then magazine
Boccia: the disability sport that’s improving lives for Now Then magazine
Sheffield City Council quietly leaves Stonewall Diversity Champions scheme for Now Then magazine
“It’s safe! It’s effective!”: Covid vaccine in pregnancy for Now Then magazine
Sheffield Talking News doesn’t miss a beat for Now Then magazine
Will eco-ableism compromise city centre green plans? for Now Then magazine
Sheffield to make noise for Trans Day of Remembrance for Now Then magazine
Community organisations invited to distribute Lateral Flow tests in Sheffield for Now Then magazine
Own Your Period by Chella Quint for Now Then magazine
Sheffield’s hidden LGBTQ+ history brought to life with podcast and film for Now Then magazine
Here and queer? A comprehensive guide for new LGBT+ students in Sheffield for Now Then magazine
When active travel measures exclude disabled people, they are not an ethical solution for Now Then magazine
“I’m scared”: The impossible choices made by parents in a pandemic for Now Then magazine
Good hair day for trans people at salon with gender-neutral pricing for Now Then magazine
“Peer support saved my life”: The mental health service with a 7,000% return on investment for Now Then magazine
Exploring Sheffield’s best trans-friendly barbers and hairdressers for Now Then magazine
Sheffield Autism Partnership Network launches for Now Then magazine
Firshill Rise: Sheffield’s learning disability community speaks up against service failings for Now Then magazine
“Unnecessarily brutal”: Waiting times at Sheffield’s gender clinic reach breaking point for Now Then magazine
As Sheffield opens up, for some of us, our world shrinks for Now Then magazine
Disabled artists show The Way Ahead with evocative road signs for Now Then magazine
7 wheelchair-accessible indie cafés in Sheffield for International Tea Day for Now Then magazine
The campaign to stamp out disenfranchisement of Sheffield’s disabled voters for Now Then magazine
Ways to make a difference to Deaf people in Sheffield for Now Then magazine
A patchwork of queer experiences for Now Then magazine
“An absolute, total lifeline”: Parson Cross Memory Café thrives on Zoom for Now Then magazine
2021 census recognises the LGBT community for first time for Now Then magazine
Weekly Global Comment column
“When physical disability and mental ill-health collide: At least we know now you’re not making it up” for Hysterical Women
“Advice to my younger self” for Mslexia magazine
“Hurricane Harvey, Disabled People and Disaster Planning” for Global Comment
“Should the police be allowed at Pride events? I’m starting to think not” for Global Comment
“5 ways you stigmatise people taking psychiatric drugs” for Global Comment
“Can assisted suicide ever be safe when disabled people are so unequal?” for Global Comment
“Bijan Ebrahimi’s racist and disablist murder ‘preventable’ by UK police” for Global Comment
“Charlie Gard: sentenced to death” for Global Comment
“Grenfell Tower Fire Deaths: Yes, It’s Political” for Global Comment
“We’re here: LGBT issues and the UK General Election” for Global Comment
“Women and the UK General Election” for Global Comment
“Disabled people and the General Election #CripTheVoteUK” for Global Comment
“Do Great Britain’s local elections betray the future for the country’s leadership?” for Global Comment
“Death and terror for LGBT community in Chechnya” for Global Comment
“Pepsi, Nivea, United and Spicer: a disastrous PR week for all” for Global Comment
“Christians lament the lack of Jesus and excess of Muslims in chocolate eggs” for Global Comment
“Hard Brexit, hard times. Theresa May leads the UK into disaster” for Global Comment
“How learning to drive empowered my life and business” for The Sheffield Star
“Westminster attacks: context, fallout and consequences” for Global Comment
“European Employers’ Hijab Ban Ruled Legal” for Global Comment
“UK introduces compulsory sex education in schools. Kind of.” for Global Comment
“Mack Beggs and Transphobia in Sport” for Global Comment
“Tipping Point: Milo Yiannopoulos, and Conservatives Shifting the Goalposts” for Global Comment
“Conservative Christianity is making the LGB community sick” for Global Comment
“Le Front national: a populist neo-Nazi party” for Global Comment
“The betrayal of the Lib Dems is something to learn from, not repeat #Article50” for Global Comment
“Victim blaming, concern trolling, racism: trawling the comments on reports of sexual assault” for Global Comment
“The Women’s March on Washington: a lesson in intersectional failures” for Global Comment
“Populism is killing healthcare in the US and the UK” for Global Comment
“Don’t make fatphobia your new year’s resolution” for Global Comment
“6 big LGBTQ rights gained in 2016” for Global Comment
“Poverty and isolation at Christmas: kind hearts and brutal policies” for Global Comment
“Piers Morgan belittles rape survivors” for Global Comment
“Ohio’s six-week abortion ban is dangerous and immoral” for Global Comment
“The football sexual abuse scandal just keeps getting bigger” for Global Comment
“The dangers of the Trump – Farage bromance” for Global Comment
“12 ways to support LGBTQ friends and family in a Trump era” for Global Comment
“Every vote for Trump was a vote for rape culture” for Global Comment
“Oh, America. Don’t screw this up” for Global Comment
“The UK’s child refugees deserve our support” for Global Comment
“Ched Evans rape case: a woman’s sexual history on trial” for Global Comment
“Migrants in Britain are fighting back against xenophobia… and it’s inspired! #OneDayWithoutUs” for Global Comment
“How Polish women killed a restrictive abortion law” for Global Comment
“Disability Discrimination” for Pos’Ability Magazine
“Scrounger: disability hate speech” for Global Comment
“200+ prosecutions under new UK ‘revenge porn’ law” for Global Comment
“6 astonishingly simple ways schools can improve life for LGBT+ kids” for Global Comment
“May’s ‘common sense’ threats to the Human Rights Act” for Global Comment
“Toilets, basic rights and kids in danger” for Global Comment
“Disability hate leads to mass murder in Japan” for Global Comment
“A female prime minister is not necessarily a feminist prime minister” for Global Comment
“Destructive and divisive: a response to the British Brexit referendum” for Global Comment
“10 obscene reactions from the far right to Jo Cox’s murder” for Global Comment
“7 things straight people aren’t understanding about Orlando” for Global Comment
“7 Tips for Content Marketing” for YellowBulbs
“Criminalising distress: when suicide attempts lead to prison” for Global Comment
“What a possible Brexit could mean to Britain’s disabled people” for Global Comment
“Kiddle and other kid-safe internet tools don’t protect children” for Global Comment
“Junior Doctors Deadlock with UK Government as More Strikes Threatened” for Global Comment
“Top 10 Adrenaline Experiences Across the World” for DisabledGo
“European Mobility Week – A truly inclusive campaign?” for All Together Now
“Disabled Access at Music Festivals in the UK” for DisabledGo
“Self-hosting vs Free Hosted Blogs: Which Should You Choose?” for LCN
“Outrank Bad Reviews on the First Page of Google” for LCN
“Destination London: A Disability-Friendly Guide” for Disabled Go
“How to Create a Social Media Plan for Emergencies” for LCN
“How the Web Empowers Disabled People to Run Successful Businesses from Home” for Disabled Go
“User-Generated Content: How it can Benefit Your Business” for LCN
“Email marketing: what to test for success” for LCN
“Why your site needs multiple, tailored landing pages” for LCN
“SEO Copywriting: The Most Common Myths” for LCN
“Supporting the Supporters: Working as a Disabled Occupational Therapist” for Access Magazine
“10 Essential Tips for Effective Content Marketing” for LCN
Interview on Accessible Media Inc.‘s ‘Contact’ radio show for International Women’s Day
“You should be watching these 5 disabled vloggers on YouTube” for The Daily Dot
“A step-by-step guide to conducting a content audit” for LCN
“Beginner’s guide to rich snippets and schema markup” for LCN
“Freedom of movement: the world of disability dance” for Access Magazine
“4 free tools to make keyword research a breeze” for LCN
“How apps are changing the face of accessibility” for The Daily Dot
“Migrating WordPress to a new host or domain in 11 simple steps” for LCN
“I Am Disabled and People Tell Me On a Regular Basis That They Would Rather Die Than Be Like Me” for xoJane
“A step too far: How retailers are losing disabled customers” for AOL Money
“Vary your content marketing mix to supercharge success” for LCN
“5 free web-browser plugins to streamline SEO” for LCN
“Whose streets? Our streets! Mobilizing to stop violence against disabled women” in Rain & Thunder
“Rape is not seduction” for End Victimisation and Blame
“SEO essentials checklist: 23 steps to an optimised website” for LCN
“Why you should always use a professional email address” for LCN
“Light therapy: the science versus the pseudo” for Access Magazine
“Book Review: Dimensions by Shahidah Janjua” for A Room Of Our Own
“How to Find, Contact and Engage Industry Influencers on Social Media” for LCN.com
“I’m on #SamaritansRadar and I wish someone had asked me first” on The Daily Dot
“A beginner’s guide to Twitter ads” for LCN
“What to do if Google detects malware on your website” for LCN
“8 WordPress Plugins to Streamline your Content and Simplify your Workflow” for LCN.com
“The Professionals: What it Takes to be a Disability Consultant” in Access Magazine
“Disabled Students: Your Guide to Navigating and Accessing Higher Education” for Blue Badge Company
“Ched Evans, Natasha Massey and This Morning: Who has the right to forgive, and what is being forgiven?” at End Victimisation and Blame
“Get Maximum Social Exposure for your Real-Life Event” for LCN.com
“Why Every Blog Should Have a Content Calendar” for LCN.com
“Explaining Facebook’s 20% Text Rule” for LCN.com
“Essential Smartphone Apps for Disabled People” for Blue Badge Company
“The Beginner’s Guide to Landing Page Optimisation” for LCN.com
“How to Optimise a Facebook Business Page for Graph Search” for LCN.com
“Bright, Bold and Bling: Disability Products No Longer Need to be Grey!” for Blue Badge Company
“No More Excuses! Accessible High Streets Benefit Everyone” for Blue Badge Company
“A Beginner’s Guide to YouTube Analytics” for LCN.com
“Top 10 Email Marketing Tips” for LCN.com
“I ate 2,346 Calories of Chocolate in my Sleep Last Night and I Don’t Remember Any of it” in xoJane
“What Feminist Times Means to Me” in Feminist Times
“Most Rapists and Misogynists Aren’t Ill. Don’t Call Misogynists Mad” in Feminist Times
“Creature Comforts: Animals as Therapy for Disabled People” in Access Magazine
“On the Ball: Are Sporting Venues Sufficiently Accessible?” in Access Magazine
“How to Create a Secure Password: Beat Heartbleed and Hackers in Four Easy Steps” at Constant Content
“‘Manifestly Inadequate’: austerity and cuts are punishing and devastating” in Feminist Times, also republished at A Room Of Our Own
“#SexIndustryWeek: Nobody’s entitled to sex, including disabled people” in Feminist Times, also republished in Feminist Current and A Room Of Our Own and translated into French
“March of the Food Snobs” in Disability Intersections (now a book)
“Intrusive entitlement: disabled women as public property” in Feminist Times
“Coping with Christmas: a survival guide for when festivities are tough” at The F-Word
“Feminist connections” at The F-Word
“I’m not pre-pregnant. I just have a womb.” for RxISK
“Skin Deep” in Access Magazine
“On the Move” in Access Magazine
“Armpits4August: Body hair, beauty myth and PCOS” at The F-Word
“Marte Dalelv: Norwegian woman convicted after reporting rape now loses job” at The F-Word and Ending Victimisation and Blame
“Marion Bartoli faces barrage of misogynist abuse after Wimbledon win” at The F-Word
“A story of hate in three parts” at The F-Word
“On allies, silencing and privilege” at The F-Word
“Showing too much” at The F-Word
“Why your contribution matters” at The F-Word
“More equal than others: marriage, relationships and prejudice” at The F-Word
“Menstruation, 1946, Disney style” at The F-Word
“Get an imaginary job with your imaginary wheelchair and your imaginary leg” at The F-Word
“Is the Guardian trolling us?” at The F-Word
“Creating an enriching environment for your hamster” in Pet Focus magazine
“5 Things to Do on a City Break in Sheffield” at Constant Content
“Social Media Marketing for Small Business Success” at Constant Content
“Stigma in Crisis: mental health, fear-mongering and murder” at the New Statesman, December 2012
“The PCC Elections: Are You Ready to Vote?” at BitchBuzz
“Mehdi Hasan & Abortion: When Left is Right” at BitchBuzz
“Disability Hate Crime Happened to Me” at Channel 4 News
“Bodyform and the Marketing of Periods” at BitchBuzz
“Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment Options Explained” at Constant Content
“Online bullying is out of control” at The F-Word
“Do the Paralympics Put Extra Pressure on Disabled People?” at the New Statesman
“The Ultimate 14-Part Guide to Getting More YouTube Views” at Constant Content
“The Top 10 Confidence Issues Faced by Internet Marketers” at Constant Content
“Using whiteboards to stay organised: low tech, high satisfaction” at WordCount
“Bad attitudes do not cause disability any more than good attitudes guarantee health” at the Independent Editors’ Choice Blogs
“Policing blame: Calls for the Immediate Withdrawal of West Mercia Police’s anti-rape campaign” at The F-Word
“Tom Martin’s Odious Opinions Know No Limits” at The F-Word
“Make-Up tips for the morning after” at The F-Word
“Mate Crime: Learning Disability Week” at The F-Word
“How to Get More Followers on Twitter” at Social Media Writer
“How to Become an Art Therapist in the UK” at Constant Content
“How to run an accessible feminist event” at The F-Word
“Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms” at Constant Content
“Freelancers: How to Get Started Without Getting Exploited” at All Freelance Writing
“Flying the Flag for Women in Snooker: Interview with Michaela Tabb Part 2” at The F-Word
“The First Lady of Snooker: An Interview with Michaela Tabb” at The F-Word
“Pretending to be Poor” at The F-Word
“How to Raise Self-Confident Daughters” at Constant Content
“The Shy Person’s Guide to Marketing” at Constant Content
“Period Pain: What Are the Symptoms and How to Cope” at Constant Content
“Crafty Ways to Reuse Kids’ Old Clothes” at Constant Content
“How to Tame a New Hamster” at Constant Content
“Harness The Power Of Pinterest To Attract Visitors And Backlinks To Your Site” at SEO Expert For You. Also syndicated to Dig IT Mate; Triangle Local Search Solutions; Thoughts from Down Under; and Local Web Tips, SEO Resources; SEO Tips for Page 1 Rankings, Jeff Wendland, Money Making Buzz and Trend Authority
“40 Days Spreads to the UK” at Feminists for Choice
“Easy SEO for YouTube Videos” at Constant Content
“If Your Teen Is on Facebook, You Should Be Too” at Constant Content
“Optimize Pinterest’s Potential for Search Engine Success” at Constant Content
“Planning Your Wedding with Pinterest” at Constant Content
“Cinderella Ate My Daughters” at The F-Word
“Dennis Waterman: “It’s not hard for a woman to make a man hit her”” at The F-Word
“Promote Your Brand With a Pinterest Contest” at Constant Content
“Negative Attitudes towards Disability” in the Guardian Comment is Free
“Are you a neighbour from hell? You might be surprised” at The F-Word
“The Dos and Don’ts of Getting Rid of a Hangover” at Constant Content
“Facebook Fundamentals: How to Promote Your Business and Get ‘Liked’ on Facebook” at Constant Content
“Facebook Hacks to Make Your Business Page Pop” at Constant Content
“Is it any surprise?” at The F-Word
“Gay Marriage is Really Very Scary” at The F-Word
“Useful Eczema Creams for Toddlers, Infants and Kids” at Constant Content
“How to Post Automatic Updates to Facebook” at Constant Content
“Shocked headline as fat disabled woman has fun” at The F-Word, also republished at A Room Of Our Own
“Find Your Next Job with LinkedIn” at Constant Content
“How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep and Banish Insomnia From Your Life” at Constant Content
“When is an affair not an affair?” at The F-Word
“5 Ways to be Thoroughly Annoying on Twitter” at Constant Content
“3 Days” at The F-Word
“You’re Frightening Me” on Sisters of Frida and The Womankind Party
“Privacy and prejudice” at The F-Word
“6 Clever Ways to Create Instant Income” at Constant Content
“Gardening on Prescription: Digging for Mental and Physical Health” at Constant Content
“Natural Remedies for Endometriosis” at Constant Content
“Madness Gone Politically Correct” on The Pod Delusion podcast, quoted in The Guardian
“Silent Noise”, in Artemis: the noise & silence issue, Nottingham University Women’s Network
“Devoted: A Feminist Analysis of Disability Fetishism”, in Rain and Thunder, a Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion and Activism #50
“Activism as a Disabled Woman”, in Rain and Thunder, a Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion and Activism, Issue #45
“Remembering Andrea Dworkin”, in Rain and Thunder, a Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion and Activism, Issue #27
“Letter from the Future”, 1st place writing competition winner with GrownUpGreen.org.uk
“Mental Health Services: Addressing the End Result Rather Than the Root Causes of Patriarchy”: Off Our Backs; Vol. 33 Issue 7/8, p54
“New Online Support Groups for Voice-Hearers”, Perceptions Magazine
“Welcome to my World”, a series of poems, in Prozac Prose, Sheffield
Contributor to numerous sexual health, welfare, positive body image, eating disorder, promotional and campaigning publications distributed within the University of Sheffield Students’ Union.

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