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| Breakthrough UK | | Including disabled people |
This website is for disabled people, employers and anyone with an interest in disability, employment and independent living.
Website last updated 9th February 2010 *Please note that we are currently experiencing some technical issues with our website. Stay tuned as the Breakthrough site will be relaunching soon. We apologise for any inconvenience in the meantime.* To search our site select www.breakthrough-uk.com below the Google search box. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us. Visit the Metrolink Design Reference Group page to find out more about the project, what the group have been doing and how the disabled people involved were recruited. What's New?
This event will showcase those initiatives that have led the way in supporting disabled people to be independent. Nominations, including self-nominations, are sought for the following categories, which are based on the “Seven Needs of Independent Living”
Download full category information (Word doc) Why should you enter or nominate another organisation? 1) Breakthrough Independent Living Awards is national event which Download nomination form (Word doc) This can be returned by email to Terry Holmes Or post to: Or call on: 0161 273 5412 Or fax to: 0161 274 4053 For further information relating to the categories or the event which is due to be held at Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square Manchester on 16th June 2009 please contact Theresa Cartmill on 0161 273 5412. All applications must be received by 17:00 on Friday 19th March 2010. Download sponsorship opportunities (Word doc) Details of last years Awards can be found on the: Independent Living Awards 2009 page.
We are delighted to announce that the Award Winners are as follows:
Two Winners: - Bromford Support (West Midlands) www.bromford.co.uk - Warrington Disability Partnership www.disabilitypartnership.org.uk
Winner: BT www.bt.com Runner Up: The Trafford Centre www.traffordcentre.co.uk
Winner: Body Positive North West www.bpnw.org.uk Runner Up: DaDa – Disability and Deaf Arts (Liverpool) www.dadahello.com
Winner: NEXUS (North East) www.nexus.org.uk Runner Up: Wiltshire Independent Travel Support www.wsun.co.uk
Three Winners: - The Trafford Centre (Manchester) www.traffordcentre.co.uk - Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (Scotland) www.lothiancil.org.uk - Choices and Rights Disability Coalition (Hull) www.choicesandrights.org.uk
Winner: Body Positive North West www.bpnw.org.uk Runner Up: Full Circle Arts www.full-circle-arts.co.uk Download the Press Release announcing the winners here. Speaking about the theme for the awards, Lorraine Gradwell MBE, Chief Executive of Breakthrough UK said: “Independence is about making our own decisions about how and where we live, about being part of our communities and about having the support we need to be active, contributing citizens. We know that there is still a long way to go to achieve that independence, and we will continue to work for that achievement. These awards are about celebrating progress, recognising and applauding work which supports independence”. As part of his visit in support of Breakthrough UK’s Independent Living Awards Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People visited Sarah Short at her place of work at the Cheadle branch of Sainsbury’s. Sarah was supported by Breakthrough UK to develop her confidence and in securing employment with Sainsbury’s and has now worked in this role for just over one year. The Minister was keen to hear about Sarah’s experiences in the past where she had faced discrimination and set backs, and on how her experience with Sainsbury’s had been very different. He was also interested in hearing the support that Sarah has received both from Breakthrough and from Sainsbury’s. Sainsbury’s have always treated Sarah as an important member of the team and have made reasonable adjustments where appropriate. About the visit Sarah said “I was very nervous at first at meeting the minister, particularly with all the press there. When I met him I found he put me at ease and was very easy to speak to. Although I was apprehensive I ended up enjoying the experience and now feel a bit like a local celebrity as customers are coming up and speaking to me about it." "I am really grateful to Jobcentre Plus, Breakthrough and my colleagues and friends at Sainsbury's for their help and support. I was nervous at first, but having this opportunity has increased my confidence, given me independence and enabled me to make new friends." The photo above shows Sarah and Jonathan Shaw in the foreground with Jackie Driver (Breakthrough Chair), Ben Wickens (Sarah’s Employment Officer) and Chris Jacobs (Deputy Store Manager) in the background from left to right.
ULOs and Local Authorities were involved in the research process. Read the findings and recommendations in the report below: Download Summary ULO Report (Rich Text Format) Download Full ULO Report (Rich Text Format) Download Full ULO Report (Plain Text)
(This is a PDF document. Download Swine Flu Leaflet in Plain Text here. We are waiting for an easy read version of this leaflet.)
The Swine Flu Information Line can be contacted on 0800 1 513 513. Further online information is available at www.nhs.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu
March 26 saw the successful launch of Breakthrough UK’s research into the complex issues surrounding disability hate crime. The event took place in Breakthrough’s Ardwick head office. Lorraine Gradwell MBE, Chief Executive of Breakthrough UK opened the conference and welcomed the key note speakers, Paul Giannisi Police Superintendent at the Office for Criminal Justice Reform Race, Confidence and Justice Unit and John Hunt, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Greater Manchester. The audience included senior officers from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, police authorities, local community organisations and members from the Crown Prosecution Service. Lorraine outlined that the project, funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, examined how organisations have developed understanding and responses to disability hate crime. The researchers worked with local authorities, the CPS and a wide range of voluntary agencies. Key findings include: Lorraine Gradwell said: “We are very proud of our research into disability hate crime and how organisations are working to provide greater support to disabled people. Much more needs to be done to ensure that disabled people are fully involved in helping organisations improve their policies and practices. We also want to ensure that disabled people’s independence is not threatened by the fear or direct experience of hate crime. Breakthrough has reached a wide audience today with the launch of our research and we intend to continue to promote our work and develop partnerships to maintain the profile of this very important issue”. Download Hate Crime and Disabled People Full Research Report (Adobe PDF) Download Hate Crime and Disabled People Full Research Report (Rich Text Format) Download Hate Crime and Disabled People Easy Words Executive Summary (Rich Text Format)
Head Office Contact Details:Breakthrough UK Ltd. B.E.V.C. Aked Close Ardwick Manchester M12 4AN Telephone: 0161 273 5412
Contact details for other Breakthrough departments can be found on our Contact Us page. |
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were held at Manchester Town Hall on Thursday 18th June 2009. The Awards recognise and celebrate organisations which have ‘gone the extra mile’ in promoting and supporting independent living. DWP Minister for Disabled People, Jonathan Shaw MP was the ceremony’s Key Note Speaker and the Awards were sponsored by the Office for Disability Issues, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, NHS North West and Manchester City Council.
