Action on Disability

20/10/2026

Access to Work should remove barriers to employment, not create them.

On Friday, Action on Disability welcomed Ben Coleman MP and Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, to discuss the growing challenges facing Disabled people who rely on Access to Work (AtW).

Our CEO, David Buxton OBE, and Project Lead, Louisa Noel, shared evidence from our frontline services, real-life case studies and the Access to Work Practitioner Network.

We raised concerns about long delays, cuts to essential support, inaccessible communication, inadequate funding and difficulties challenging decisions. These problems put Disabled people's jobs at risk, with some families having to pay towards support to help their loved ones stay in work.

We are calling for the Government and the Department for Work and Pensions to take action, provide clear answers and protect the support Disabled people need to work.

Access to Work is not a luxury. It is essential for equality, independence and employment.

Thank you to Ben Coleman for Chelsea & Fulham and Kamran Mallick for listening to our concerns.

12/10/2026

🌿 Come along to our Qi Gong Class!

Join us at Our Place for a relaxing Qi Gong session! Qi Gong combines gentle movements, breathing and relaxation to support your wellbeing, improve balance and reduce stress.
✨ Beginners welcome!

📅 Wednesday 14th October
⏰ 1:30pm – 2:30pm
📍 (Our Place) Action on Disability / Normand Croft School, Lillie Road, SW6 7SR.

Come along, meet others and enjoy some time for yourself!

If you want to come along or would like more information 👉 contact [email protected]

08/10/2026

📢 Action on Disability AGM 2026

We’re inviting all AoD members to our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11 November 2026, 6:00–8:30pm at Mo Mowlam House, London. Doors open at 5:30pm.

🎟️ Book your place via Eventbrite using the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aod-annual-general-meeting-tickets-2003052078688 — places are limited, so please register in advance. If you’re unable to book online, contact [email protected].

We’re also looking for members interested in joining the Action on Disability Board as a Trustee. There will be five Trustee vacancies, including Treasurer.

📅 Trustee applications close Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 12 noon.

Interested in becoming a Trustee or want to find out more? Contact David Buxton OBE at [email protected] or 020 7385 2098.

We look forward to welcoming you to our AGM! 💙

05/10/2026

🎭 Acting Group – Come and have a go!

Love acting, drama or just having fun? Come along to our friendly, inclusive Acting Group!

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced actor, it’s a great space to build confidence, meet new people, learn new skills, play games and express yourself. ✨

🎭 Every Thursday | 3–5pm
📍 Our Place (Action on Disability) / Normand Croft School
Lillie Road, SW6 7SR (to find us: Enter through the yellow gate and use the buzzer marked ‘Our Place’)

The group is led by Grace, our In Work and Communications Assistant, an experienced drama facilitator with a background in acting, theatre and inclusive performing arts.

💌 Interested? Contact [email protected]

Come along, get creative and have some fun! 🌟

28/09/2026

🎉 Fantastic news for our Young Lives & Families Service!

We are delighted to have received a generous £30,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation towards the core activities of Action on Disability’s Young Lives & Families Service.

This valuable funding will help us continue working alongside Disabled children and young people and their families — creating opportunities, building confidence and independence, and supporting young people to have their voices heard. 💜

A huge thank you to the Garfield Weston Foundation for recognising the importance of our work and investing in Disabled children, young people and their families.

👉 Read the full story: https://aod.org.uk/30000-garfield-weston-foundation-grant-supports-young-lives-families/

AoD receives a £30,000 Garfield Weston Foundation grant to support disabled children, young people and families.

25/09/2026

📢 We’re hiring! Our Place and Our Voice Service Manager

Action on Disability (AoD) is looking for an enthusiastic and committed Our Place and Our Voice Service Manager to lead our work in co-production, peer support, campaigning and community engagement.

You’ll help ensure Disabled people have a strong voice in shaping services, influencing policy and strengthening inclusion across our communities.

💷 Salary: £37,650–£41,250
⏰ Hours: 35 hours per week
📍 Location: London, with travel across Greater London
📄 Contract: Permanent
📅 Closing date: Friday 9 October 2026, 3pm
🎤 Interviews: Thursday 15 October 2026

We particularly welcome applications from Disabled people and value lived experience, co-production and Disabled leadership. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate applies.

Interested in applying? Download the job description and application form from our website by clicking the link below or email [email protected] for more information.

https://aod.org.uk/jobs/our-place-and-our-voice-manager/

23/09/2026

Last week, our Wheelchair User Group was joined by Disability Sports Coach (DSC) for an informative and engaging session exploring opportunities to get active and involved in disability sport.

It was a great opportunity for members to share sport experiences, ask questions and find out more about accessible sporting activities.

Interested in joining our future Wheelchair User Group meetings? The group is a space for peer support, sharing experiences, exchanging advice and connecting with other wheelchair users in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Get in touch with [email protected] to find out more.

22/09/2026

Come along to our weekly Music Jam Sessions at Our Place!

These are facilitated by professional musician Gregg Kofi Brown Artist Page and whether you play an instrument, love to sing, or simply enjoy making music with others, everyone is welcome to join in and have a great time.

📅 Every Tuesday
⏰ 1pm–5pm
📍 Our Place / Normand Croft School, Lillie Road, SW6 7SR.
📧 [email protected]

Come along, make some music, meet new people and have fun! 🎶

17/09/2026

We’re relaunching our Health & Wellbeing Group at Our Place and we’d love you to join us.

This will be facilitated by registered nutritionist Joan Viskant.

Our first session will explore:
“What does health mean to you?”

Come along for a relaxed and interactive session where you can share your thoughts, experiences and ideas, learn more about health and nutrition, and help us shape future Health & Wellbeing sessions at Our Place.

📅 Wednesday 23 September
🕐 1pm–3pm
📍 Our Place, Action on Disability / Normand Croft School, Lillie Road, SW6 7SR

Everyone is welcome!

We’d also love to hear from you through our short Health & Wellbeing survey. Your feedback will help us plan future sessions.

📧 [email protected]
📞 07776 512816

14/09/2026

Today, the Mayor of London published London's first Action Plan for Deaf and
Disabled Londoners. We were proud and honoured to host the official launch of the Disability Action Plan last week!

The Plan sets out the Mayor's commitment to tackling disability
inequality and building a city where Deaf and Disabled Londoners can fully
participate, thrive and influence the decisions that affect their lives
Developed in partnership with Deaf and Disabled Londoners, DDPOs and
community organisations, the Plan responds directly to what Deaf and Disabled
people told City Hall matters most to them.

The Action Plan includes commitments to:

• Improve support for Disabled Londoners experiencing financial hardship and
increase uptake of disability benefits.
• Pilot safer and more appropriate ways for Disabled Londoners to report crime
and strengthen support for victims of hate crime.
• Improve access to accessible and suitable housing and increase support for
Disabled survivors of domestic abuse.
• Improve the accessibility and affordability of transport, including strengthening
staff training and improving concessionary travel awareness.
• Remove barriers to employment and skills opportunities and embed lived
experience in employment support programmes.
• Strengthen the role of Deaf and Disabled Londoners in shaping policies,
services and decisions across City Hall.

This marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. Delivering meaningful
change will require ongoing partnership and collaboration with Deaf and Disabled
Londoners, DDPOs and communities across the capital.

The full action plan, executive summary and accessible versions of the Plan are
available here: https://www.london.gov.uk/action-plan-for-deaf-and-disabled-londoners?auHash=m59ocavHiMPRX54rzDBDvQXeMzyple7xShjGMjHTFyc

Mayor of London