Community & Social Inclusion – UK Disability Guide

Urgent help first

Emergency: call 999
NHS urgent help: call 111
Urgent mental health crisis: call 111 and choose the mental health option
Samaritans: 116 123
Shout text support: text SHOUT to 85258

Combating loneliness

Loneliness can affect anyone, including disabled people, carers, older people, young adults, people living alone, people with long-term illness, neurodivergent people and people with communication needs. The NHS has loneliness advice through Every Mind Matters.

Helpful routes:

Speak to your GP if loneliness is affecting your mental or physical health.
Ask your GP surgery about social prescribing or a link worker.
Contact your local council for community support, day opportunities, libraries, adult social care and local groups.
Try befriending services, peer support, local charities, carers’ centres, disability groups or faith/community organisations.
For older people, Age UK befriending services may offer phone or face-to-face friendship support in some areas.

Find local council: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
NHS loneliness advice: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/
Age UK befriending: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/befriending-services/

Community groups

Community groups can help with friendship, confidence, routine, skills and independence.

Look for:

Disability social groups
Autism groups
Learning disability groups
Mental health peer support
Chronic illness groups
Carer groups
Deaf clubs
Sight loss groups
LGBTQ+ inclusive disability groups
Faith and cultural groups
Community cafés
Library activities
Men’s sheds, women’s groups and mixed social groups
Craft, music, gardening, walking and wellbeing groups

Where to find them:

Local council community pages
Local libraries
GP social prescribing service
NHS community mental health teams
Carers’ centres
Scope online community
Mind local services
Mencap local services
RNIB and RNID local support
Community hubs and voluntary-sector organisations

Ask straight away:
“I have access needs. Is the venue step-free? Is there an accessible toilet? Can I bring a carer, PA, support worker, guide dog or communication support?”

Sports and recreation

Disabled people have the right to access sport, leisure and recreation. This can include gyms, swimming, walking groups, adapted cycling, wheelchair sport, boccia, football, dance, yoga, climbing, martial arts, sailing, horse riding, gardening and inclusive fitness.

Activity Alliance is a national charity focused on disabled people in sport and physical activity, and research has shown many disabled people want to be more active but face barriers.

Useful support:

Activity Alliance
https://www.activityalliance.org.uk

Sport England – inclusive facilities guidance
https://www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/facilities-and-planning/design-and-cost-guidance/accessible-and-inclusive

Sense – sports and physical activities for disabled people
https://www.sense.org.uk/information-and-advice/life-stages/information-sports-disabled-people/

Ask leisure centres for:

Step-free access
Accessible changing rooms
Hoists
Changing Places toilets
Quiet sessions
Adapted equipment
Personal assistant access
Concession prices
Accessible parking
Trained staff
Induction before attending

Volunteering

Volunteering can help with confidence, friendship, routine, skills, work experience and wellbeing. GOV.UK explains volunteering opportunities, rights, expenses, age limits and checks.

You can volunteer with:

Charities
Libraries
Community cafés
Food banks
Museums
Sports clubs
Animal charities
Disability organisations
Hospitals
Carer organisations
Online projects
Campaigning groups

Useful links:

GOV.UK volunteering: https://www.gov.uk/volunteering
Do IT volunteering: https://doit.life
Volunteer with Scope: https://www.scope.org.uk/volunteering
Volunteer with Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk

Ask for reasonable adjustments such as:

Flexible hours
Remote volunteering
Extra breaks
Buddy support
Accessible tasks
Step-free venue
Written instructions
Easy Read information
Support with travel
Communication support
Quiet role or low-sensory environment

Social activities

Social activities can be informal, low-pressure and accessible.

Ideas:

Coffee mornings
Book groups
Online groups
Gaming groups
Craft groups
Gardening clubs
Choirs
Drama groups
Walking groups
Accessible cinema screenings
Relaxed theatre performances
Museum quiet sessions
Library groups
Lunch clubs
Peer support groups
Carer cafés
Faith or cultural community events

For disabled people who need support to attend, ask about:

Bringing a PA, carer or friend
Transport help
Concession tickets
Quiet spaces
Accessible toilets
Step-free routes
Seating options
Hearing loops
BSL interpretation
Audio description
Large print
Easy Read
Assistance dogs

Accessible events

Accessible events should consider physical access, sensory needs, communication needs, safety and inclusion.

Before booking, check:

Step-free entrance
Accessible toilets
Changing Places toilet
Blue Badge parking
Wheelchair spaces
Companion ticket or carer ticket
Quiet room
Relaxed performance
BSL interpreter
Captions
Audio description
Hearing loop
Easy Read information
Large print
Clear signage
Staff disability awareness
Assistance dog policy
Emergency evacuation plan

Useful places to check:

Venue accessibility page
Event organiser
Local council events page
Euan’s Guide accessibility reviews
AccessAble venue guides
National Trust accessibility pages
Theatre and cinema access pages

AccessAble: https://www.accessable.co.uk
Euan’s Guide: https://www.euansguide.com