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Disability News Service 17th August 2023

17 August 2023

In this week’s edition: Government side-stepping UN examination ‘shows contempt for disabled people’ The UK government has been accused of showing contempt for disabled people after it refused to give evidence on its progress since being found guilty of “grave and systematic” violations of the UN’s disability convention seven years ago. The government has told the… Continue reading Disability News Service 17th August 2023

Promoting potential through Bollywood and Ballroom

16 August 2023

By Dr. Rashmi Becker, MBE. Founder, Step Change Studios I have always loved dance. There’s something empowering about expressing yourself through movement and music. Growing up with an older brother with severe Autism, I developed an understanding of a non-verbal world in which communication and self-expression can be presented without words. As an adult, as… Continue reading Promoting potential through Bollywood and Ballroom

Disability News Service 3rd August 2023

3 August 2023

In this week’s edition: ‘Abysmal’ first year figures show government’s BSL Act ‘betrayal’ More than half of government departments have ignored new legislation that was supposed to boost the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in their communications, a new report has revealed. The report shows how often each department offered a British Sign Language… Continue reading Disability News Service 3rd August 2023

Tips for the future

2 August 2023

This is the seventh in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  In the Shaping Our lives report on the research project, we offer… Continue reading Tips for the future

Disability News Service 13th July 2023

13 July 2023

In this week’s edition: Ticket office closures will cut support for disabled rail passengers, papers show A government-backed programme to close most ticket offices across the country will lead to a significant fall in the number of staff available to support disabled passengers, analysis of consultation documents has shown. Several of the documents published last… Continue reading Disability News Service 13th July 2023

Disability News Service 6th July 2023

6 July 2023

In this week’s edition: Disabled activists vow fightback as nearly 1,000 rail ticket offices set to close Disabled activists have vowed to fight back against government-backed plans for sweeping closures of ticket offices across England – including at some major city stations – with legal action now almost certain. Even ticket offices at major stations… Continue reading Disability News Service 6th July 2023

A different kind of research

5 July 2023

This is the fourth in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  While it might not be an obvious priority for groups facing oppression,… Continue reading A different kind of research

Disability News Service 29th June 2023

29 June 2023

In this week’s edition: Focus group questions suggest means-testing PIP is back on the Tory agenda The Conservative party appears to be considering highly-controversial plans to means-test disability benefits as a way of cutting spending. Disability News Service (DNS) has been told that participants in focus groups have been asked questions about which people “deserve”… Continue reading Disability News Service 29th June 2023

Starting with history

27 June 2023

This is the third in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  Hello again, We’d started to talk about research and next I want… Continue reading Starting with history

Disability News Service 15th June 2023

16 June 2023

In this week’s edition: Anger over discrimination solicitor whose failings ‘amplified distress’, as he is fined £9K A high-profile solicitor who has spear-headed hundreds of disability discrimination court cases has been fined thousands of pounds after a tribunal found his actions failed to maintain “public trust” in the legal profession. Chris Fry has for years… Continue reading Disability News Service 15th June 2023

Disability News Service 8th June 2023

8 June 2023

In this week’s edition: Watchdog receives hundreds of complaints over Telegraph’s ‘toxic’ benefits article A press watchdog has received hundreds of complaints about a “toxic” article by the Daily Telegraph which asked its readers to calculate how much disabled people on out-of-work benefits were contributing to the country’s “tax burden”. The Telegraph wrote that millions… Continue reading Disability News Service 8th June 2023

Research made simple?

7 June 2023

By Peter Beresford This is the first in a series of blogs about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research but the aim of these blogs is to offer an introduction,… Continue reading Research made simple?

Meet the team – Becki

23 May 2023

This week we’re chatting with Becki Meakin, the Shaping Our Lives Involvement Manager. Becki has worked for Shaping Our Lives for over a decade, and brings her lived experience as a blind woman into her role. Tell us a bit about yourself I was born in a tiny hamlet called Ellenhall in Staffordshire. I lived… Continue reading Meet the team – Becki

Disability News Service 18th May 2023

18 May 2023

In this week’s edition: DWP hid vital evidence from starvation death inquiry, board confirms The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of “absolutely disgraceful” behaviour after confirmation that it hid vital evidence from a statutory safeguarding inquiry into why a disabled man starved to death after his benefits were wrongly stopped. DNS… Continue reading Disability News Service 18th May 2023

Disability News Service 11th May 2023

11 May 2023

In this week’s edition: Errol Graham: DWP ‘hid key evidence’ from inquiry into starvation death The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) appears to have hidden crucial evidence from an inquiry into how a disabled man starved to death after having his benefits wrongly stopped, Disability News Service can reveal. The long-awaited safeguarding review into… Continue reading Disability News Service 11th May 2023

Timing is everything

8 May 2023

Short deadlines, tight turnarounds, late-stage applications, and last-minute plans – we advise against them. Not because of pressure – because of accessibility. Did you know timing can be a key accessibility issue? Here we explore the different ways timing is vital for inclusive involvement. In this blog: Involvement recruitment deadlines and participant preparation time You’re… Continue reading Timing is everything

Disability News Service 4th May 2023

4 May 2023

In this week’s edition: Work coaches with no GCSEs could decide on ‘fit for work activity’, DWP admits Job coaches with no academic qualifications could be making life-changing – and potentially life-ending – decisions on whether a disabled person must carry out work-related activity, if the government goes ahead with its plans to scrap the… Continue reading Disability News Service 4th May 2023

Featured poet: Andreena Leeanne

28 April 2023

Andreena is a writer, poet, and lived experience speaker. She speaks passionately and accessibly about intersectionality, discrimination, authenticity, and allyship. We had a great chat with her about her book Charred – A survivor speaks her truth to inspire. Did you know that charred wood is actually stronger? Neither did we! As Andreena explained, the… Continue reading Featured poet: Andreena Leeanne

Blog 16 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

18 April 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW). Blog sixteen is by Ulla-Karin Schön is Professor in social work at Stockholm University in Sweden. In this last blog within the framework of putting together the BJSW… Continue reading Blog 16 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 15 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW). Blog fifteen is by Mel Hughes, Associate Professor in social work at Bournemouth University, Academic lead for the PIER (Public Involvement in Education and Research) Partnership and… Continue reading Blog 15 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

We’re looking for our first Chief Executive Officer – could it be you?

28 March 2023

Location: Home-based with some travelSalary: £40,000 to £45,000 per annum (pro-rated for a 4-day week)Hours: Full time or four days per weekContract type: Permanent (six-month probationary period)Benefits: Working from home allowance, 3% Employer contribution to pension and 25 days annual leave (pro-rated for a 4-day week) plus bank holidays A key moment for Shaping Our Lives… Continue reading We’re looking for our first Chief Executive Officer – could it be you?

Disability News Service – 16th March 2023

16 March 2023

In this week’s edition: ‘Heartless’ reforms to disability benefits ‘defy logic’ “Heartless” government reforms that will eventually scrap the “fitness for work” assessment “defy logic” and pose significant risks to sick and disabled people who cannot work, say activists who have fought for years to highlight the test’s fatal flaws. The decision to scrap the… Continue reading Disability News Service – 16th March 2023

Featured author – Hannah Pearl

14 March 2023

I was diagnosed with ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2017. Whilst some people have heard of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, like many sufferers, I prefer the term ME because fatigue is only one of the symptoms that I can experience, although for me it is one of the most difficult to manage. The fatigue can be… Continue reading Featured author – Hannah Pearl

User-led groups in our network

8 March 2023

Did you know that Shaping Our Lives is a user-led organisation? That means we are run by and for the people we support. In our work on the Future of user-led organisations, with the National Survivor User Network (NSUN), we defined user-led groups in terms of value, power, and knowledge: We have a network of… Continue reading User-led groups in our network

Help Dave Lupton, Disabled cartoonist Crippen, to bring his works into the 21st Century

3 March 2023

Someone recently pointed out to me that my cartoons provide one of the most comprehensive records of the past 40 years of the disabled people’s movement in the UK. Sadly, many of the early ones created for printed publications such as Disability Arts In London (DAIL) magazine and the Trades Union Disability Alliance TUDA News… Continue reading Help Dave Lupton, Disabled cartoonist Crippen, to bring his works into the 21st Century

Blog 14 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

1 March 2023

01 March 2023 This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW). Blog fourteen is by Frank Golding. The lived experience of trauma such as child sexual abuse is sometimes described as historical. In contemplating how… Continue reading Blog 14 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 13 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

21 February 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog thirteen is by Omar Mohamed, Children and Families Social Worker, Lecturer and Researcher Adaptations towards a global perspective As mentioned in the previous blog by Peter, ¼ of… Continue reading Blog 13 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Featured author: Lorna Collins

A big thank you to author Lorna Collins who wrote this guest post for us about her writing. I wrote my new book, ‘Squawk: A Book of Bird Adventures’, in response to the extraordinary, colourful, hallucinatory experiences I have, which respond to my damaged brain. When I was 18 (23 years ago) I had a… Continue reading Featured author: Lorna Collins

Disability News Service – 16th February 2023

16 February 2023

In this week’s edition: Anger over ‘disgraceful’ Network Rail plan for more inaccessible footbridges The organisation that runs most of Britain’s railway infrastructure is installing more inaccessible footbridges across the country, in apparent breach of its duties under the Equality Act. Earlier this month, Network Rail – whose directors report to transport secretary Mark Harper… Continue reading Disability News Service – 16th February 2023

Featured artist: Jem Clancy

14 February 2023

Jem is a dancer and an artist from Leeds. She is autistic and has a passion for inclusive dance and inclusive art. Here, in her own words, she tells Shaping Our Lives what matters to her. If you’re interested in arts, culture and campaigns from people from seldom heard and diverse communities, sign up to… Continue reading Featured artist: Jem Clancy

Meet the team – Roxane

7 February 2023

We’re proud to be user-led and have a variety of staff, associates, and National User Group members all contributing their knowledge and lived experience to our work. In today’s blog, we talk to Roxane, one of our associates. Tell us a bit about yourself  I am an inclusion and involvement consultant and trainer. I’ve been… Continue reading Meet the team – Roxane

Another brick in the wall

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog thirteen is by Peter Beresford, Visiting Professor at the University of East Anglia and Co-Chair of Shaping Our Lives. In the words and music of the wonderful Pointer… Continue reading Another brick in the wall

Blog 12 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

24 January 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog twelve is by Peter Unwin, Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Worcester. Recent weeks have been a time of much excitement and hard work for… Continue reading Blog 12 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Disability News Service – 19th January 2023

19 January 2023

In this week’s edition: Warning of ‘humanitarian crisis’ if governments fail to act on disability poverty The UK and Scottish governments have been warned of a humanitarian crisis among disabled people this winter if they fail to take “robust, immediate action” to deal with “devastating and intensifying” levels of disability poverty in Scotland. The warning… Continue reading Disability News Service – 19th January 2023

An open letter from a patient safety campaigner

11 January 2023

Richard von Abendorff is issuing an urgent call for patients and their families’ safety campaigners to help improved patient investigation and patient inclusive systems. Richard is an outgoing member of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) advisory panel. The HSIB is soon to become the Health Services Safety Investigation Body (HSSIB). I’m raising people’s awareness of… Continue reading An open letter from a patient safety campaigner

Blog 11 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

6 December 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog eleven is by Dr Frank Golding OAM, an Honorary Research Fellow at Federation University Australia. Care records often help Care leavers understand their childhood. Some find information about… Continue reading Blog 11 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

A tribute to Jeremy Browne

We at Shaping Our Lives were shocked and saddened by the passing of Jeremy Browne last month. Jeremy was one of our National User group members. He was a retired solicitor specialising in family law and was Chair of the Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers. As part of Shaping Our Lives Jeremy helped to guide… Continue reading A tribute to Jeremy Browne

Blog 9 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

9 November 2022

Reflections as a new social worker in practice on epistemic injustice This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog nine is by Omar Mohamed, Children and Families Social Worker, Lecturer and Researcher Now having entered… Continue reading Blog 9 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Thinking Outside the (Tick)box

We were delighted at how our conference Thinking Outside the (Tick)box went last week – the UK’s first user-led Inclusive Involvement conference. Shaping Our Lives has a very small team of staff and associates, so the day wouldn’t have been possible without lots of hard work from them, plus the invaluable help from volunteers and… Continue reading Thinking Outside the (Tick)box

In memory of Philip Mason

23 October 2022

Shaping Our Lives was recently saddened by the passing of Philip Mason, MBE. Philip was a pioneer of Independent Living for Disabled people. He was one of the founder members of ‘Project 81’ – named after the United Nations International Year for Disabled People. The project was formed by a group of Disabled people living… Continue reading In memory of Philip Mason

Our work October 2022

21 October 2022

It’s been a busy few months for the Shaping Our Lives team, with ongoing and new projects, a conference to plan for, and an expanding team! Here’s a run down of our work: We have completed our training support with the King’s College London Cicely Saunders Institute. We were approached and asked if we could… Continue reading Our work October 2022

Spotlight on: The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC)

20 October 2022

Shaping Our Lives focuses on inclusive involvement, especially when it comes to services, like health and social care, and research studies. But what about consumer products, the things we buy in shops, the technology we use, the cars we drive, and the holidays we take? RiDC ensures that disabled and older consumers are heard by… Continue reading Spotlight on: The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC)

Developing an Inclusive Approach to Research at Liverpool Hope University

20 September 2022

On the 25th May 2022 Shaping Our Lives were pleased to facilitate a workshop at Liverpool Hope University involving the Service User Group at Hope (SUGaH+) alongside academic staff from the Social Work team and wider School of Social Sciences. The aim of the workshop was to talk about what would make a great research… Continue reading Developing an Inclusive Approach to Research at Liverpool Hope University

Blog 6 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

7 September 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog six is by Ulla-Karin Schön, Professor in Social Work at Stockholm University, Sweden Being one of the guest editors of the special issue of the British Journal… Continue reading Blog 6 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

The Disabled Poets Prize – a new way of celebrating work by deaf and disabled poets

1 September 2022

This guest post was kindly written by Jamie Hale When I started writing as a poet it was against the backdrop of constant inaccessibility. Open Mic nights that were upstairs, big showcases without British Sign Language interpretation. As a wheelchair user many opportunities were immediately closed off to me – and this is why I… Continue reading The Disabled Poets Prize – a new way of celebrating work by deaf and disabled poets

Why health inequalities need to be addressed for the specific community

29 July 2022

This guest post was kindly contributed by Sukhjeen Kaur (She/Her), Founder/Director of Chronically Brown Within healthcare, we have all been impacted by the ‘one size fits all’ approach implemented by the National Health Services. We understand and are aware that individuals are individual which need to be treated as such. More recently, ‘health inequalities’ have become… Continue reading Why health inequalities need to be addressed for the specific community

Blog 5 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

28 July 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog five is by Frank Golding I grew up in out-of-home care in Australia, silent and silenced. I left the system carrying powerful memories and emotional baggage: resentment… Continue reading Blog 5 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 4 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

13 July 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog four is by Lia Levin Whenever I tell people (be they service-users, academics, professionals, or even people from outside the social work discipline) about the special issue… Continue reading Blog 4 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Featured poet – David Gilbert

24 May 2022

We’re delighted to feature this poem by David Gilbert. As well as being a poet, David is a leading thinker and doer in the field of patient and public engagement – co-founder of The Centre for Patient Leadership, and Director of InHealth Associates. He is a former mental health service user and has 35 years… Continue reading Featured poet – David Gilbert

NEW resources: Digital Communication Technology in Social Work

17 May 2022

Shaping Our Lives was pleased to work in conjunction with King’s College London and the British Association of Social Workers on a recent project to explore the use of digital technology to facilitate communication between Disabled people and social workers. The research was prompted by the major shift to digital communication (for example, Zoom, Teams,… Continue reading NEW resources: Digital Communication Technology in Social Work

Featured performer: Rona Topaz

30 March 2022

Rona is a Disabled performer who has mobility and hearing impairments. She has forged a career in the performing arts, and here writes about her career path, the challenges she has faced and overcome, and what performing means to her. If you’re interested in arts, culture and campaigns from people from seldom heard and diverse… Continue reading Featured performer: Rona Topaz

Poem; Shaping Our Lives Celebrates

10 March 2022

This year we celebrate with a big hooray, Since 20 plus years have passed, When this unique organisation of stature, Responded to the question being asked, Where are those service user led groups of calibre? There’s far too few, far too few, So began a momentous journey, the lack to fix,   A journey that’s attracted… Continue reading Poem; Shaping Our Lives Celebrates

What we’ve achieved

8 March 2022

2002 –the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and when the Euro became the official currency of 12 EU members. It was also the year Shaping Our Lives was officially constituted. Our constitution didn’t make front page news, but nevertheless, we have spent the last two decades (and more) working hard to ensure the voices… Continue reading What we’ve achieved