• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / Activism and Campaigning / DRILL ‘could help fight back against impact of austerity on independent living’
Baroness Campbell, in her wheelchair in the centre of a richly-decorated room

DRILL ‘could help fight back against impact of austerity on independent living’

By John Pring on 18th September 2015 Category: Activism and Campaigning

Listen

A new £5 million initiative – believed to be the world’s first major research programme led by disabled people – is set to fund 40 projects that aim to find solutions to barriers to independent living across the UK.

The Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning (DRILL) programme is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund, and will be delivered by the disabled people’s organisations Disability Rights UK, Disability Action Northern Ireland, Inclusion Scotland and Disability Wales.

The programme launched in England and Northern Ireland this week, and will launch in Wales next week at the University of South Wales in Pontypridd.

Lis Sayce, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said: “This is the first research programme in the world which ensures disabled people, and the issues that matter to us, are central to research funding decisions.

“The aim is to build a better evidence base on the initiatives and support that enable disabled people to take full part in society.”

DRILL is expecting to fund 40 research proposals and pilot projects over the next five years, investigating how public money can enable disabled people to take part in society socially, economically and politically.  

Some of the research will be carried out by the four national, user-led organisations, but most of it will be carried out by other organisations.

The aim is to carry out six large research projects, at about £100,000 each; 20 smaller research projects at up to £40,000 each; and 14 pilot projects at around £150,000 each.

Funding criteria will be decided after engagement events with disabled people, under the themes of peer support, autonomy, resilience, and social, economic and civic participation.

Proposals will not be accepted unless they can show the projects will be co-produced by disabled people and that disabled people will be closely involved in every part of the schemes.

Speaking at the DRILL England launch, in London, Baroness [Jane] Campbell (pictured) said: “I have been involved in campaigning for a high quality independent living infrastructure for most of my adult life. It was my first campaign, and it will probably be my last.

“For me, independent living – conceived, developed and implemented by disabled people –lies at the heart of our emancipation.

“Without independent living, we would never access our equality and human rights; without it, we would be destined to be dependent forever.”

But she said the impact of economic austerity had created “our biggest challenge ever”.

She said: “Economic austerity has decimated hundreds of independent living support packages.

“Disabled people’s expectations have changed immeasurably, and we demand a different social deal when it comes to our equality and human rights.

“Institutionalisation and charitable handouts are no longer an answer to our right to independent living, and yet there is a tangible danger that this could return.”

Baroness Campbell said the “exciting” DRILL programme – with disabled people “in charge” as “the informers, the drivers and the thinkers” – was “precisely what we need in order to understand the contexts in which we now live, and solutions to our future support and life chances”.

A national advisory group will include disabled people, academics and policy-makers, and will provide advice, examine research proposals, make recommendations and help promote and disseminate findings.

A central research committee – chaired by the disabled academic Dr Tom Shakespeare – will make the final decisions on which research proposals receive funding.

The first stage in England is a series of roadshows, which will help to decide on the programme’s priorities.

The roadshows will take place in Stockport (22 September); Southampton (29 September); Darlington (1 October); Essex (6 October); York (7 October); Derby (13 October); St Austell (22 October); London (28 October); and Worcester (29 October).

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn

Tags: Baroness Campbell Big Lottery Fund Disability Rights UK DRILL

A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears
3rd July 2025
Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords
26th June 2025
‘We will not give a single inch,’ disabled activists vow, as Kendall publishes disability cuts bill
19th June 2025

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Silence from MP sister of Rachel Reeves over suicide linked to PIP flaws, just as government was seeking cuts

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

Disabled activists warn Labour MPs who vote for cuts: ‘The gloves will be off’

GB News says it has nothing to apologise for, after guest suggests starving disabled benefit claimants

SEND inspections find services in just one in four areas usually lead to ‘positive’ outcomes for disabled children

Disabled MP who quit government over benefit cuts tells DNS: ‘The consequences will be devastating’

Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web