Who We Are
Manchester Disability Collaborative (MDC) is multi-agency partnership comprising of disabled people and their organizations (DPOs), VSCEs, as well as public and private sector organizations; all working towards the common goal of improving equality and inclusion of disabled people in Manchester.
Background
The Collaborative, once led by Manchester City Council’s Adult Social Care team, is now coordinated by ourselves (Breakthrough UK), with the help of our Forum and Engagement Group. Though our name may have changed (a few times!) since then, our group still holds true to its values of removing the barriers faced by disabled peoples living and working in Manchester. Our renewed focus on coproduction ensures that our annual priorities and aims are informed directly by disabled people and our stakeholders, whose voices are amplified throughout our work.
Aims
- To amplify the voices of disabled people in Manchester.
- To facilitate coproduction and codesign between Manchester’s influential organizations and disabled people.
- To be the leading forum for all matters relating to disability in the city.
Structure
Our Priorities Workstreams serve as the foundations and engine of the Collaborative. They are responsible for the delivery of workplans corresponding to our annual priorities formed from the lived experiences of disabled people living in Manchester.
Our Forum, the pillars of the Collaborative, focuses on ongoing and emergent themes, sharing knowledge and experience, and identifies opportunities for further collaboration and more effective delivery of workplans.
The Engagement Group, overarching all the Collaborative’s activities is made of existing DPO representatives and provides an opportunity for supporting partner organisations to seek input from disabled people, and improve their equality and inclusion policies and practices.
Meeting Frequency
Our Engagement Group meets at least once a quarter, but usually more, before our quarterly Forum meetings and in response to Partner’s respective projects.
Our Workstreams meet as determined by their members, and the demands of each of their workplans. They report also to the Forum with updates on progress, and any obstacles.
Contact
To learn more about our work, how you could get involved, or with any other queries, contact:
Jas Taylor- MDC Engagement Coordinator: j.taylor@breakthrough-uk.co.uk
Afolabi Ikutiminu- MDC Admin and Governance Support- a.ikutiminu@breakthrough-uk.co.uk