Website of the Department of Health

Action and Learning Sites (Wave 1 and Wave 2)

Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People report recommended that by 2010, each local authority area should have a user-led organisation modelled on existing Centres for Independent Living.  User-led organisations are organisations led and controlled by disabled people.

User-led organisations are critical to independent living - to enable disabled people to have choice and control over the support they need to go about their daily lives. They are one of the key elements of the forthcoming cross- government Independent Living Strategy.

Putting People First also recognises that local organisations run and controlled by disabled people are vital to providing information, advice, peer support and advocacy to other disabled people.

The Department of Health has, this year, provided £800,000 in grants to 13 organisations across England over 2009-10 to become user-led Action and Learning Sites.

Speaking at the User-Led Organisation Action and Learning Site Network conference in London, Phil Hope said:

“Organisations run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities play a vital role in delivering high-quality, personalised services. These organisations can really help people to lead full and independent lives.

“I want to see more organisations led by the very people they help – service users themselves.

“This funding will help user-led organisations grow their services and mentor the development of new, similar organisations in other areas.”

Some of the user-led organisations will use the grant to improve their business and organisational skills. It will also help them make links with - and get support from - local authorities and PCTs and other sources so they can act as a resource in the local area.

Other user-led organisations that are advanced and well established will act as mentors to foster the development of organisations in areas where they currently do not exist. They will help them with set up issues like registering as a business or charity, developing contracts and finding appropriate venues to base their organisation.

The lessons learnt and knowledge gained by all the organisations that have been funded will be shared more widely to ensure every locality has the chance to develop and have access to a user-led organisation.

The 13 Action and Learning sites are:
West England Centre for Inclusive Living
Southampton Centre for Independent Living
Disability Action in Islington
Disability Cornwall
Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living
Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Living
DOTS Disability Community Interest Company
Newham People First
Herefordshire Centre of Independent Living
Disability Croydon
Disability Resource Centre
Disability Solutions
DIAL Doncaster

The Central Delivery Team will work closely with the 13 sites to provide facilitation, support and access to specialist expertise. They will support a learning network between Action and Learning Sites and amongst other prospective or existing User-led organisations.

The current Wave 1 Action and Learning Sites are soon to end their one year funding program. 

The 12 Action and Learning Sites of Wave 1 were as follows:
Dial Barnsley
Whitby and District Action Group
Gateshead Access Panel
Bath and North East Somerset People First
Breakthrough UK Ltd (Manchester)
Enfield Disability Action
Walsall Disability Information and Advice LineLiving Options Devon Ealing Centre for Independent Living
Living Options Devon
Ealing Centre for Independent Living
Vision Sense Limited (Jarrow) who will be mentoring Sunderland.
Choices and Rights Disability Coalition (Hull), who will be mentoring Richmond North Yorkshire.
Essex Coalition of Disabled People who will be mentoring Essex Coalition of Disabled People.

More information regarding some of the products that have been produced from these sites will be available on this website.