More funds will boost user-led independent living strategy

The government will invest extra funding in organisations run by disabled people over the next five years in order to move resources from care management to user-led support. 

Under plans launched today in the cross-government Independent Living Strategy six central government departments will work together to give disabled people more choice and control over their support. It aims to remove barriers to housing, health, employment and transport.

The five-year strategy, published by the Office for Disability Issues, was developed with disabled people and aims to build up single community based support systems in every locality to help disabled people live independently. 

Nine user-led organisations have been allocated £50,000 each to improve their business and organisation skills. In addition three larger user-led organisations have been given £100,000 to become mentors for areas where organisations do not exist.

Care services minister, Ivan Lewis, said: “User-led organisations are key to achieving independent living for disabled people.  Today’s announcement is a step toward a more self-sufficient system for disabled people so they can lead their own lives, with the availability of advocacy support if it is needed.”

The Office for Disability Issues is running a consultation until 20 June on how to implement and monitor the strategy to ensure national policy becomes reality at a local level. 

More information

Office for Disability Issues

Independent Living Strategy

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