We Want You!

Andy Rickell, Chief Executive, BCODP

At the November meeting the National Council agreed to take forward the proposal to build a National Disabled People's Centre. This would provide a national focus for the disabled people's movement. Amongst other things the centre would create a conference/meeting place for large gatherings of disabled people including the UK Disabled People's Parliament.

Two further suggestions that I made about the centre was that it could house (1) a permanent national exhibition space for Disability Arts (performances could also make use of the conference space already available), and (2) an exhibition/"museum" area for an exhibition on the history of the disabled people's movement (which goes back to the 19th Century). Funding for these parts of the centre could be available from the relevant lottery funds and would help to lever in funding for the rest.

The National Council are keen that people who are interested in either the arts side or the history side are able to use their experience/expertise to help design the centre and the way it will operate. One way to do this might be by a focus group or committee for the arts side and one for the history side – the National Council will be considering exactly how to involve the Movement at its February meeting.

In the meantime please let us know if you would be interesting in helping to design the arts or history project part of the centre, or indeed if you would like to help with the overall project of designing, raising the money and building the centre.

Once we have names we will discuss with everyone who is interested the best way that each person can get involved.

© Copyright British Council of Disabled People 2002