Disability groups merge to form largest user-led charity

The National Centre for Independent Living, Radar and Disability Alliance (DA) are to merge to form the country’s largest disability organisation led by disabled people themselves.

Radar chief executive Liz Sayce is due to take the helm of Disability Rights UK, which will launch on 1 January.

It will bring together NCIL’s work to support personal budget holders, DA’s welfare rights advice service and Radar’s work to develop disabled people’s organisations, as well as all three groups’ campaigning work on social care, welfare and equality.

Sayce said the merger would “enable many more disabled people to have a voice”, while NCIL chief executive Sue Bott said she expected the merged organisation to expand on the services now provided by the three bodies.

“We aim to increase the services, consultancy, training and support we offer to disabled people, governments, employers and beyond as an ambitious new organisation dedicated to achieving equality for disabled people,” said Bott.

“With so much change in public services it is now more important than ever that disabled people and the people supporting disabled people have one source of expertise and advice to call on,” said interim DA chief executive Richard Gutch, who has project managed the merger, which follows more than a year of negotiations.

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