Equal Lives is a user led disability rights organisation working across Norfolk and Suffolk. All our services are designed to promote independence and give Disabled people choice and control in their lives. We strive to remove the disabling barriers of our society to create an inclusive world for all. Find out more about this approach, called the Social Model of Disability, here. 

We are proud to be a user led organisation. This means that the majority of our Board of Trustees identify as disabled. This also applies to our staff and volunteers. 

 Our services include:

• Equal Lives Shopmobility 
• Advocacy 
• Independent Living Services 
• Advice and Membership 

Our fantastic Advice and Memberships service has been supporting our clients through the rising cost of living crisis, which has been having a detrimental effect on all disadvantaged groups across the UK. Last year, 47% of our enquires related to welfare benefits and finance. With your support we can continue to provide vital advice, signposting and support to Disabled people across Norfolk to improve their financial wellbeing. 

Our highly skilled Advisers, Welfare Benefits Adviser and Financial Hardship Adviser support Disabled people through a person-centred approach, ensuring their service is accessible and tailored to suit the needs of their clients. Without funding, we are at risk of losing this support.  

Our Financial Hardship Adviser recently saved a client over £19,000 and helped them to take back control of their finances. This figure is compiled on savings from a comprehensive review of outgoings, accessing to free school meals and utilising available grants, to name a few of the ways they were supported. The Financial Hardship Adviser also increased the client's income through a review of the welfare benefits they were entitled to, following a change in employment status due to a new diagnosis. We aim to support clients as well as empower them so that they can advocate for themselves in their future. The resilience, strength and determination of the client was evident throughout our interactions with them. 

We are raising money to fund our Adviser roles and their activities at Equal Lives so that they can continue to support Disabled people throughout Norfolk .  This includes salary costs, marketing materials, such as leaflets and posters, and training costs.  With your support we can ensure that these vital roles can remain in place to help Disabled people to improve their financial wellbeing. 

From all the team at Equal Lives - thank you!