Disability Equality Group funding to research pandemic impact

The funding comes as the group marked their 10th anniversary of providing services to people with disabilities recently. Due to Covid restrictions there was no formal celebration, but instead the Committee marked the occasion by securing this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

It has also received funding to deliver a pilot Disability Awareness training programme to young students who are delivering an invaluable service to care homes in the North West. It is envisaged that both these projects will begin some time in 2021.

Disability Equality Group – NI was established in 2009 and is a disabled people’s user-led organisation, a registered charity and a registered OCN training provider delivering both non-accredited and accredited qualifications to OCN Level 1 standard.

The current Chair of Disability Equality Group – NI, Teresa McDonagh is a past recipient of the Chartered Institute of Housing – Housing Hero Award for NI and the Diversity Champion Award at the NI Equality and Diversity Awards. She paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of the current and past committee members and volunteers who helped set up the group in the North West.

Mrs McDonagh said that the group, which was shortlisted for the Avica Community Fund Award for Project of the Year (UK) in 2018, should be very proud of their achievements.

Over the last decade, the Disability Equality Group have been involved in working with a variety of local organisations, and serves on many boards and committees aimed at improving opportunity for people with disabilities.

Teresa thanked all those that the group has worked with, and said that “their support and help had been a major factor in the success of the Disability Equality Group within the North West”.

One of the major aims of the group was to draw attention to the fact that it is estimated that 71% of all disabilities are hidden in NI.

Hidden disabilities can include dyslexia, asthma, autism and mental health issues. As a result of the lack of understanding of these conditions many individuals in the North West are misunderstood by society and labelled. This concern was one of the reasons why Disability Equality Group established their recognised training qualification.

For enquires about the services that Disability Equality Group offer, email: [email protected] or telephone: 07801296131.