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The start of the #dpulo programme

In July 2011, a programme to strengthen Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations was launched by the Office for Disability Issues. This story captures the early phase of that programme.

.The programme was launched on 20 July

Strengthening Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations Programme: Office for Disability Issues – ODI projects

On July 20th Maria Miller, the Minister for Disabled People, launched the new programme to support disabled people’s User Led organisations (DPULOs). This will be a £3million investment over four years that will aim to promote the growth and improve the sustainability of user led organisations.
At the launch event, I made some remarks as the National Lead about what I hope the programme will
achieved.
Strengthening DPULOs programme — National Lead role

I was today announced as the National Lead for the Strengthening Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations (DPULOs) programme. The full press release is available here. Below is a copy of the brief speech I gave at the launch event, which was held at the excellent Vassall Centre Trust in Bristol.

After the launch, one of my main priorities was to meet each of the 12 Ambassadors who will work closely with me on the programme. Audioboos with some of those Ambassadors are below.

Berni has also written a blogpost about her appointment as an Ambassador:
Strengthening Disabled People”s User Led Organisations

Written by Berni Vincent My recent appointment by the Office of Disability Issues (ODI) as an Ambassador for the “Strengthening Disabled Peoples User Led Programme” comes as a pleasant surpr…
Amongst many other things, Cumbria CIL has an IT refurbishment service, a picture of which is below.
The home of Choices and Rights in Hull is called Jude Lodge – named after one of the member of staff’s hearing assistance dog, Jude (pictured below).
When meeting with Barry, he also took the time to show me how the Victoria & Albert Museum makes its items accessible.

I also visited Lynne, the CEO at Cheshire CIL. Unfortunately, the Audioboo disappeared from my phone. By small way of recompense for this, below is a picture of CCIL’s reception plaque!

The Strengthening DPULOs Programme builds on some work that has been undertaken before, including that done by Disability LIB.

Welcome to the Disability Lib site

Disability LIB is a partnership project of 7 organisations funded by the Big Lottery Fund to provide range of capacity building support to Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) in England (2007 – 2011). We are currently changing some of the content on the site and will be launching a range of videos and toolkits shortly as part of the legacy of the project.

My good friend Stephen heads up Disability LIB. Here we are talking with each other following our meet up about the learning we can share across our respective work.

Going forward, I’m keen to ensure the programme covers all impairment groups – including people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities. I’ve met NSUN already – an excellent mental health survivors / users network.

“ Really interesting couple of hours with Sarah and Fran from @NSUNnews. Great #mentalhealth #dpulo doing strong user voice work.
rich_w
August 8, 2011
“ I mentioned I met excellent @NSUNnews today. Here’s their site: useful if you’re interested in #mentalhealth and #dpulo: http://is.gd/kPm9l3
rich_w
August 8, 2011

I hope this has given a flavour of the work I’ve been doing out and about with the programme so far. I am keen to use social media and other communications as much as possible to get across what the programme is doing. Let me know what you think and what you think should be included in this type of communications.

(Note: These are personal views only!)