Disability Champions: Phase II

2003 was the European Year of Disabled People. Grants were made available of up to £50,000 to fund projects: Amicus set about devising a bid. They had a vision of a new role for trade union representatives; a proactive role seeking to make workplaces truly enabling environments for workers and potential workers - a role that would promote concept the 'social model of disability' and attempt to sweep away many of the myths, fears and preconceptions that employers often have about disabled people.

Disability Champions are trained in the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act, the Government funding available to pay for adjustments under 'Access to Work' and conduct an interactive audit of their workplace against the 'two ticks, positive about disabled people' standard in partnership with their employer.

The project has been developed by Amicus in partnership with East Riding College the TUC and Scope and has proven to be very successful.

A key feature is www.disabilitychampions.com - the project web site. This website allows the Champions to network with one another and to share ideas, information and best practice. Much of the content is generated by the Champions including an area where actual examples of 'reasonable adjustments' are posted forming a database of real solutions that have helped solve real issues for real people.

The project held a series of road shows and events around the country promoting the concept not only within Amicus but to all trade unions. In the first 15 months the project engaged over 1000 people. The initial target was for 50 Champions to be identified by March 2004; this was achieved in July 2003. To date there are nearly 150. Many of the Champion have completed their accredited training course, written as part of the project. This has now been recognised by the TUC and will become part of the main programme of courses offered in trade union studies centres throughout the UK.

Disability Champions has now moved into its second phase. Amicus and the existing partners have been joined in the partnership by Scope, the cerebral palsy charity. Scope recently published and excellent report entitled "Ready, willing and Disabled" detailing many of the problems faced by disabled people trying to get into employment. Disability Champions will be able to help progress many of the issues this report raised. In return, Scope's experience will be an invaluable resource to the Champions in their day to day work.

The task for the team now is to spread the word: to promote the role and identify and train more and more champions. From the outset the 'Disability Champions' has been open to all trade unions. T&GWU, NUT, UNIFI, GPMU and PCS have all invited speakers from the project to talk to committees within their equalities structures and reps have been trained from these unions as well as Unison and the GMB. TUC events have also been invaluable for promoting the project. The recent TUC Disabled Members Conference in July 2004 instigated some key links with Prospect and PCS. New names and new unions are coming forward all the time.

What can you do to spread the word? We are looking for individuals to become champions, venues and delegates for conferences, contacts within trade union equalities structures etc etc. Please get in touch and join us.

For more information please visit the web site www.disabilitychampions.com and contact the project worker, Dave Parr on 01482 382512 or email him at dave@disabilitychampions.com