Website of the Department of Health

What is a user-led organisation?

User-led organisations are local organisations, run and controlled by disabled people. The focus of the DH-led work is on disabled people, carers and other people who use support and their organisations, in England.

We are focusing on organisations that have an aim to promote independent living and demonstrate this commitment through their activities. The exact nature of the services provided and their relationship with statutory agencies will vary according to local circumstances but the expectation is that organisations might provide:

• information and advice
• advocacy and peer support
• support in using direct payments and/or individual budgets
• support to recruit and employ personal assistants
• assistance with self-assessment
• disability equality training; and
• support the implementation of the Disability Equality Duty by public sector organisations in the locality (including consumer audits).