New DRILL research programme

Wed,11 February 2015
News

Lottery announces successful bidder for its big lottery programme – research for impact: disabled people

Disability Rights UK alongside partners Disability Action Northern Ireland, Inclusion Scotland and Disability Wales have been chosen to carry out a series of research projects intended to specifically engage disabled people and examine areas contributing to independent living and learning. 

The DRILL (Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning) is a Four Nation Research Project which will deliver the world's first major research programme led by disabled people.

Disability Action Northern Ireland, Inclusion Scotland, Disability Wales and Disability Rights UK have been working in partnership to develop the project over 30 months and are delighted to have been successful in the Big Lottery Programme - Research for Impact: Disabled People.

The research programme which will be delivered over five years will involve a number of significant research projects specifically engaging disabled people looking at areas contributing to independent living and learning.  The findings will lead to a number of pilot projects aimed at enhancing the lives of disabled people. We plan to work with a wide range of organisations to make the greatest difference: other disabled people’s organisations in the four nations, academics, and policy and practice leaders who can use research findings to transform services and opportunities for disabled people.

As partners we believe that there will be a profound, long-term impact of using in-depth research, co-produced by disabled people that is validated and quality assured. This will significantly strengthen our future capacity to influence decision making about independent living.  It will inform the policies, manifestos and campaigns of the disability sector for many years to come.

Inclusion Scotland

Bill Scott, Director of Policy Inclusion Scotland said: “We believe that over the lifetime of the project over £900,000 in research funding and additional resources will be brought into Scotland for use by disabled people and their organisations.  That will in turn help build the capacity of Scottish disabled people’s organisations and further the cause of Independent Living. The solution focussed research will also provide the evidence that we (disabled people’s organisations) need to influence the shape of future Scottish Government policy and public service provision so that they support disabled people to reach their full potential and be involved in all aspects of Scottish economic and community life”.

Disability Rights UK

Liz Sayce, CEO of Disability Rights UK said: ‘We are thrilled to be working with our sister organisations across the UK to push the boundaries of research based on what matters to disabled people’s lives. We hope the research will underpin new work to foster the full participation of disabled people in a rapidly changing world – including people from different communities and backgrounds, living with a wide range of mental and physical health conditions and impairments’.

Disability Wales

Rhian Davies, Chief Executive of Disability Wales said: ‘Disability Wales (DW) is a proud partner of the Four Nation collaboration between leading pan-disability umbrella organisations in the UK and to play its part in delivering the DRILL project over the next five years. It will complement DW’s work related to the Welsh Government’s Framework for Action on Independent Living and provide a long-awaited opportunity to drive forward the research agenda in Wales from a disabled people’s perspective working in partnership with academic bodies and others to identify and test out practical solutions to addressing barriers to achieving rights, equality and independence’.

Questions and Answers?

Who are the lead organisations?

The partnership is led by Disability Action Northern Ireland, Inclusion Scotland, Disability Wales and Disability Rights UK (England).

When will be project start?

The project will start in the next six months to allow time for planning this large scale project and putting in place the required resources in each of the nations.

How can people get involved?

The project will be launched in each of the regions in due course.  This will give disabled people and our organisations an opportunity to engage with the project in each of the nations.

How can I find out further information?

If you would like to keep up-to-date as the project develops please email your contact details to enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org