Charity: Warrington Disability Partnership

Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) is an internationally acclaimed user led charity. With over 30 years’ experience of developing and delivering mobility and independent living services, our aim is to support disabled people and people living with long term health conditions. Our team of staff and volunteers believe that information, advice and guidance are the main keys to independent living. Since our launch in 1991 we have designed, developed and, now deliver, 27 mobility and independent living services, many of which are based in our Centre for Independent Living (CIL) in Warrington. The CIL includes a large mobility and independent living showroom and sales area, as well as a Wheelchair and Equipment Loans Service. Elsewhere in the CIL our teams of advisors offer support on employment, training, education, Direct Payments and Payroll Services, long term health conditions, Disability Help-line, community engagement and fundraising, and advice on welfare benefits. Our Access Advisor offers advice and support on making buildings and facilities suitable for the needs of disabled people. Other services include a Shopmobility service in Warrington Town Centre, an accessible holiday homes in North Wales, an accessible narrow-boat on the Bridgewater Canal and monthly meetings of our Staying Connected Forum, which brings together representatives from a wide range of local support groups and services, as well as individuals. We also operate a social enterprise, The Disability Trading Company, which offers a wide range of mobility and independent living solutions from four retail outlets, plus a Mobility Workshop and Service Centre, a Recycling Project and Community Café located at the Centre for Independent Living. For the past 30 years we have organised the internationally acclaimed Disability Awareness Day (DAD), which is acknowledged as the worlds’ largest, voluntary led, pan disability event. DAD has been replicated in countries across the world including India, Uganda, Thailand, Egypt, Dubai, Kenya, Sweden, Denmark, Cameroon and Gibraltar.