Physical Disability

We have extended the deadline to complete our State of the Sector survey to 18 December 2016.

We would like to encourage your organisation to complete our important survey as we want to know how the government cuts and economic recession have affected our sector. We need to know how many groups have lost funding, how many have had to reduce services and how many have had to close or are facing closure. But also how we continue to work together providing valuable services and support to the people of Manchester.

We streamed our Spirit of Manchester Awards live, on Thursday 6 October.

You can watch our awards ceremony below.

Watch our Chief Executive, Mike Wild talk about our upcoming Spirit of Manchester Awards on That's Manchester TV

“Trevor (in the photograph below) has been attending the sensory rooms for two years now, he loves relaxing on the water bed and just chilling out. We have seen lots of benefits from using these rooms." 

The Boshier-Hinton Foundation exists to improve quality of life for people with disabilities or learning difficulties, and their families, by the awarding of grants.

Our State of the Sector Survey in 2013 found that there were 3,093 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Manchester, with an estimated income of £477 million. The sector employed the equivalent of 12,400 full time staff and 94,300 volunteers gave 370,000 hours, with an estimated value of £332 million. Decision makers took note of the survey results, we know it increased their understanding of the sector. Some of the key facts (3093 organisations, 94,300 volunteers) are now widely quoted by colleagues in the Council, the NHS and other bodies such as Big Lottery Fund.

Across the UK around 7 million people are unpaid carers, supporting a family member or friend who is older, disabled or seriously ill. It is likely that the majority of people will take on caring responsibilities at some point in their lives. Unpaid carers make a vital, hidden contribution to the health and wellbeing of the nation. However, carers are often under significant pressure and many find that caring can take its toll on their own health.

Are you 15 – 25 Years Old? Are you a Disabled Person? Do you live in Manchester?

From 20 July, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) is running a summer project to create a comic, working with artist Jim Medway.

The comic will be a story around hate crime, looking at what hate crime is and how we can tell people it’s wrong to be abusive and hostile to disabled people.