Physical Disability

The Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel (GMDPP) created a survey to find out how disabled people in Greater Manchester were managing during the Covid 19 pandemic. The Panel is unique, no other city region has managed to establish one, it is made up of 14 disabled people’s organisations. The Panel already knew a lot of the issues, but to help them to influence improvement of how services were responding they needed a wide evidence base the survey could provide. 936 people responded, making it one of the largest surveys by and for disabled people of the Pandemic.

The State of the Sector survey is back and we need your help!

Henshaws started a survey at the beginning of the lockdown as they knew the restrictions that were put in place would have consequences for people already facing challenges in their everyday lives due to sight loss.

Henshaws have surveyed 955 visually impaired people and had time to analyse the results in full.

Key findings in the final report show:

GMCVO, working in partnership with 10GM, have launched a grants programme to support people from communities of identity or experience, based in Greater Manchester that may struggle to achieve higher levels of mental wellbeing.

The communities we want to reach are:

Liberty Farm are an organisation who support people with chronic illness or disability in Manchester. In response to COVID-19 they have launched a new service to support people who are struggling to get shopping.

£100,000 has been allocated to support people experiencing extreme disadvantage in Greater Manchester through the coronavirus pandemic.

The £100,000 donation has come from the Lankelly Chase Foundation and will go to disabled people’s organisations and community organisations supporting those at risk of domestic abuse.

The Greater Manchester (GM) Disabled People's Panel is an independent strategic body made up of Disabled People's Organisations from across Greater Manchester. All of the members are disabled people and they seek to influence policy to support the rights of disabled people in GM. The Panel also scrutinises, consults, and advises the Mayor Andy Burnham and the GM Combined Authority.

This survey aims to find out what issues disabled people face during the Covid-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic and will be used to inform GM services how to meet those support needs.

The Women and Equalities Committee is launching an inquiry and they want to hear about the different and disproportionate impact that the Coronavirus – and measures to tackle it – is having on people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act.

What are protected characteristics?
It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of:

Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) is celebrating 35 years of activism and campaigning for the rights and full inclusion for all disabled people. GMCDP want more disabled people to get involved and carry on their work. You’re invited to visit their website or get in contact with them to find out more about what they do.

Disability charity Scope have opened a new pre-employment service in Manchester.

Starting Line is a free face-to face programme for disabled people who would like to start their journey into work.