We are pleased to announce the winners of the National Independent Living Awards for 2011.
Please watch the following video to see who won.
If the above video is not accessible to you, download the transcript document.
Businesses and voluntary organisations which lead the way in championing disabled people are being applauded and rewarded at Breakthrough UK's new 'virtual' National Independent Living Awards.
The awards were established to celebrate those who consistently support disabled people to find work, make public places more accessible or provide disabled-friendly homes.
Manchester-headquartered Breakthrough UK is a not-for-profit organisation which is at the forefront of tackling barriers to employment and independence experienced by many disabled adults.
It took the decision to stage the awards online for the first time this year in recognition of the tough economic conditions and to cut down on the carbon emissions involved with hosting such an event.
Breakthrough UK's Deputy Chief Executive Michele Scattergood expressed her delight at the "superb calibre" of the entrants in this year's awards.
Ms Scattergood said: “These awards lead the way nationally in recognising, applauding and rewarding the work of the winners in supporting independence for disabled people.
“Independence is about making our own decisions concerning how and where we live - and these winners have proved themselves to be at the top of their game on countless different levels."
Each of the winning organisations will feature in a short film which will be shown on Breakthrough UK's website from December 3, which is the United Nation's International Day of Disabled People.
In addition, they will receive a certificate, a specially commissioned glass trophy from leading disabled artist Anne Smith and be entitled to use the Breakthrough UK 2011 National ILA logo for a year.
The 2011 awards were sponsored by NHS North West and the Harvest Housing Group.
Mary Walker, Head of Service Development at Harvest Housing Group, said: "We've been immensely impressed by the high standard of both the winners and other entries in this year's National Independent Living Awards.
"The awards recognise the superb work that is being done by businesses and other organisations to include disabled people in their workforce and as customers.
"Harvest Housing Group also attaches great importance to this - and we are delighted to be a sponsor."
This year's winners include: The Travel Buddy Service, based in Hounslow, in London; Gemma Brown who runs an organisation named Rhythm Sticks in Cornwall; The Wellbeing Service which is run by Oldham Metropolitan Council; and Advanced Housing, based in Witney, in Oxfordshire.
Other winners include: Microlink PC, based in Eastleigh, near Southampton; Pathways Associates, based in the Lancashire town of Accrington; the Coventry-based National Association of Disabled Supporters; Wigan-based Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Staffordshire County Council; as well as Cornwall Council for its Safe Places initiative which tackles disability hate crime.
The winner of the NILA's Overall Independent Living Initiative prize was the Vassall Centre Trust, which is based in Bristol.
Spokesman Andy Rickell said: "This award is fantastic recognition of 13 years of very hard work by our founders.
"Disabled people over that 13 years have campaigned for and retained our building from demolition and have turned it into one of the leading centres where disabled people have worked together to maintain their own independent rights."
