This website is for disabled people, employers and anyone with an interest
in disability, employment and independent living.

Website last updated 1st July 2009
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?
Breakthrough UK’s prestigious 2nd Biennial Independent Living Awards 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.
We are delighted to announce that the Award Winners are as follows:

Kevin Hyett Award for Best Independent Living Initiative
Two Winners:
- Bromford Support (West Midlands) www.bromford.co.uk
- Warrington Disability Partnership www.disabilitypartnership.org.uk
Award for Excellence in the Employment of Disabled People (Public and Private Sector)
Winner: BT www.bt.com
Runner Up: The Trafford Centre www.traffordcentre.co.uk
Award for Excellence in the Employment of Disabled People (Third Sector)
Winner: Body Positive North West www.bpnw.org.uk
Runner Up: DaDa – Disability and Deaf Arts (Liverpool) www.dadahello.com
Accessible Transport
Winner: NEXUS (North East) www.nexus.org.uk
Runner Up: Wiltshire Independent Travel Support www.wsun.co.uk
Accessible Information
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
Peer Support
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”.
Please visit the Independent Living Awards Page for more detailed information and photographs of the event here.
"Right to Control" Consultation Invitation
The Office for Disability Issues and Breakthrough UK are hosting a consultation event on Thursday 9th July 2009, 10.30am to 3.30pm at the Radisson Hotel, Liverpool. Speakers include Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disabled People.
“The right to control has the potential to transform people’s lives and promote equality for disabled people. It seeks to build on the work already undertaken by many local delivery agencies and to extend this to cover a wider range of funding streams and public bodies. We want disabled adults to have choice and control over all aspects of their lives and recognise that this means that personalisation has to extend beyond adult social care, to other services and support used by disabled people.”
(quote by Stephen Martin, Director of the Office for Disability Issues from ‘Right to Control: a guide for local delivery agencies’ which can be found at
http://www.odi.gov.uk/docs/wor/right-to-control-local-agencies.pdf - requires Acrobat Reader to open)
The North West consultation launch event provides the opportunity to understand the implications of the Right to Control and to feed back on key topics: for instance, what information and support will people need to enable them to exercise the right to control? What funding streams should be included? What are the obstacles to change and how can they be overcome?
For information please see the Office for Disability Issues website at:
http://www.odi.gov.uk/working/right-to-control.php
This event is free to attend but places will be given on a first come first served basis: please email Jayne McNay at jayne@g3events.co.uk outlining your request to attend and any access and dietary requirements. If you need support with travel expenses please let Jayne know. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. If you cannot attend and would like us to consider an alternative delegate, please get in touch as soon as possible. Places are limited so please do get back to Jayne as soon as you can.
Supporting the Development of User- Led Organisations in the North West 2008- 2010. The Department of Health commissioned Breakthrough and other partners in January 2009 to do a mapping exercise of User Led Organisations (ULOs) in the North West. It aimed to:
better understand the existing activity of ULOs, and
identify the key challenges and supports that will facilitate the development and sustainability of existing and new ULOs.
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)
We have been asked by NHS North West to pass on information about Swine Flu to as many of our contacts as possible. On the NHS North West website you will find the following:
A copy of the public information leaflet on Swine Flu
(This is a PDF document. Download Swine Flu Leaflet in Plain Text here.
We are waiting for an easy read version of this leaflet.)
North West Update – no 1 (Word Doc)
A copy of the Catch it, Bin it, Kill it A4 poster (PDF)
A copy of the flu information line artwork (JPG)
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
Breakthrough UK: Hate Crime & Disabled People Research Project
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:
A great lack of understanding about what constitutes disability hate crime
Confusion regarding whether disabled people are targeted because of hostility, perceived vulnerability or both
That disability hate crime can also be carried out by family members, carers or within an institutional setting
That organisations need to involve disabled people far more in policy development to help tackle disability hate crime.
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)
Read our latest newsletter online: Breaking Thru’ Issue No. 37 Spring 2009. Past issues can be found on our newsletter page.
Read about the impact of Breakthrough's work between January 2007 and March 2008. Download the full Impact Review 2007-2008 from our publications page.
Our Chief Executive, Lorraine Gradwell MBE, has recorded a podcast for Just Plain Sense. Their podcasts promote the equality and diversity agenda. Go to 'Half an Hour with Lorraine Gradwell' to listen to her podcast (external link).
BEVC Office Space Now Available to Rent. We currently have office space within our building in Ardwick available for rental to another small organisation. Please visit our Office Space page for further details.
To view older stories from Breakthrough UK please visit our news archive page.
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Head Office Contact Details:
Breakthrough UK Ltd. B.E.V.C. Aked Close Ardwick Manchester M12 4AN
Telephone: 0161 273 5412
Fax: 0161 274 4053
Answerphone Minicom: 0161 273 5727
Greater Manchester Information Service Email: advocacy@breakthrough-uk.co.uk
Contact details for other Breakthrough departments can be found on our Contact Us page.
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