Building Positive Partnerships: An agreement between Family Carer’s Organisations, Disabled People’s Organisations, Deaf People’s Organisations and User Led Organisations
Pam Thomas and Laurence Clark
(December 2010)
This agreement is a set of standards that disabled and Deaf people’s organisations and family carer’s organisations in North West England have signed up to. Representatives from these organisations came together for a series of meetings during the summer and autumn of 2010 to discuss:
- ways of working together on areas of agreement; and
- ways of managing areas of disagreement.
The agreement aims for innovative ways of working together and improved life chances and everyday lives of disabled people, Deaf people and family carers.
Download Building Positive Partnerships (Word Doc)
Download Building Positive Partnerships (Easy Read)
CILs, ULOs, DPOs, and all that . . . .
This is a briefing by our Chief Executive, Lorraine Gradwell MBE, on the differences between Centres for Independent Living (CILs), User Led Organisations (ULOs), and Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs).
(April 2010)
Download CILs, ULOs, DPOs, and all that . . . . (Word Doc)
The Economic Inclusion of Disabled People - Final Report Available
(March 2010)
In 2009, ekosgen in partnership with Breakthrough UK, was commissioned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency to carry out research into the economic inclusion and participation of disabled people in the North West.
The research provides an evidence base about the profile of disabled people, their current participation and the barriers and challenges they face.
The study comprised:
- a review of literature and best practice;
- a review of published data sources and subsequent data collection and analysis;
- an online survey of 217 disabled people;
- four area based focus groups with disabled people;
- stakeholder focus groups to explore barriers to economic inclusion, existing solutions and challenges;
- an online survey of 45 employers in the Northwest.
The report is available to download at the link to the Northwest Research and Intelligence Unit website below:
http://www.nwriu.co.uk/research_and_intelligence/society/society_publications/inclusion_of_disabled_people.aspx
Supporting the Development of User- Led Organisations in the North West 2008- 2010 (April 2009)
The Department of Health commissioned Breakthrough and other partners in January 2009 to do a mapping exercise of User Led Organisations (ULOs) in the North West. It aimed to:
- better understand the existing activity of ULOs, and
- identify the key challenges and supports that will facilitate the development and sustainability of existing and new ULOs.
ULOs and Local Authorities were involved in the research process. Read the findings and recommendations in the report below:
Download Summary ULO Report (Rich Text Format)
Download Full ULO Report (Rich Text Format)
Download Full ULO Report (Plain Text)
Jobs not Charity Final Report
(January 2006)
This ground-breaking research was carried out by Dr. Dan Goodley and his team from Sheffield University in 2005. Working in partnership with Breakthrough UK and the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP), the 'Jobs not Charity' project researched the role of organisations of disabled people in supporting disabled people into work.
The research report:
- Looks at what the labour market is like for disabled people at the moment.
- Explores the work experiences of some disabled people and how policies and practices have affected their opportunities.
- Details the good practices of organisations such as Breakthrough UK and GMCDP.
Read the full report here (Word doc)
Visit the Jobs not Charity Website
Independent Living Skills Evaluation Report.
(July 2004)
The Independent Living Skills (ILS) course delivered by Breakthrough in Liverpool was a pilot project funded by the Greater Merseyside Learning and Skills Council. It had 3 major aims - to develop an ILS course that would raise the knowledge levels, independence skills and confidence of disabled people moving from a traditional day centre environment whilst addressing any basic skills issues; to recruit and equip a pool of local disabled people to deliver the course in future; and through working in partnership with the local authority and Lifelong Learning to "mainstream" the ILS. This Evaluation of the project was commissioned from the University of Sunderland.
Download Independent Living Skills (Word doc)
Download Independent Living Skills Easy Words Version (Word doc)
Disabled People "Thriving and Surviving" at Work.
(July 2003)
Breakthrough UK launched its Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) funded research report 'Thriving and Surviving' last year. To date, studies of disabled people and employment have mainly focused on barriers to gaining employment. This report breaks new ground by reporting on supports and strategies used by disabled people who are already in work in order to stay in their jobs and progress further.
Download Summary of Thriving and Surviving at Work (Adobe PDF)
Landing a Job Handbook.
(June 2001)
Based on a partnership project with Manchester Airport plc and funded by the European Social Fund, this resource for employers addresses three major strands of tackling the organisational changes needed in order to improve the employment prospects for disabled people:
- Personnel policies and procedures
- Training
- Promoting a positive culture in the workplace
Download Landing a Job Handbook (Word doc)
Common Barriers and Their Removal
(2000)
This is a report of research into barriers to employment and training faced by disabled people and their employers and training providers. It summarises findings based on interviews with disabled people and employers, and gives details of suggested action points in the removal of barriers at work (it was written for Breakthrough UK by Dr Frances Branfield BEF BA (Hons) MA PhD and Sue Maynard Campbell BA (Hons), solicitor, of Equal Ability Limited).
Download Common Barriers and Their Removal (Word doc)
