Voice and Influence

This project was commissioned by Disability Sheffield with funding from Sheffield City Council.

Sheffield City Council values the role that organisations such as Disability Sheffield play in representing the views of disabled people across the City and, despite budget cuts, remain committed to funding Voice and Influence work.

There are many opportunities for closer working, mutual signposting and capacity building across organisations working in the equalities area, and the need for innovative and creative solutions is greater than ever. It is clear the significant knowledge, expertise and commitment in organisations across the City has the potential to ensure the voice of the diverse population of disabled people can continue to be represented effectively. Disability Sheffield has an important role to play in this.

The report prepared as part of this project highlights many opportunities, challenges and tensions and can be viewed in its entirety by clicking on the link to the left of this page.

Disability Hub and the Equality Network

The city-wide Equality Hub Network has been set up to enable under-represented communities in Sheffield to be able to have a say on issues that affect them and influence the decisions that are made in the city.

The Network is made up of the following Equality Hubs based on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010: Age Hub (young people and older people),BME Hub (Black and Minority Ethnic),Carers’ Hub,Disability Hub, LGBT Hub (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans)Religion/Belief Hub (includes no religion/belief)Women’s Hub

Disability Sheffield has been pleased to receive funding for the 2nd year running to support the Disability Hub. This has included helping to facilitate the meetings and sending out of the monthly Equality Network news. We have had someone sat on the Equality Board representing the Disability Hub and contributed to discussions and events. You can find out more about the Hub meetings on the council website Keep an eye on our events page for Hub meetings coming up.

Disability Hub – Disability Equality Roadshows

The Equality Roadshows were set up to hear first-hand from disabled people and their carers and families about the issues affecting them. This was to help the council focus on the biggest challenges and ensure they move forward. To do this effectively it’s important that disabled people and those with a long term health condition highlight the issues they themselves think need to be tackled.

One of the main objectives was to further the 3 aims of the Equality Act; to eliminate unlawful discrimination; advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. Partner organisations also brought people up to date with what’s happening in different parts of the City.

Download a copy of our findings from the left-hand side of the page along with a summary presentation given to City Leaders at a Breakfast meeting held by Disability Sheffield over the summer.