Bury Coalition for Independent Living (BCIL) is a charitable User Led Organisation. It was established through the involvement of several local user led organisations and disabled individuals to aid the wider community of disabled people, as well as the friends and family who support them.
It has been tasked to offer services and products in and around The Personalisation Agenda and, in particular, those in connection with Self Directed Support and the Right to Control.
Self-Directed Support (SDS) gives disabled adults choice and control over their social care, whether through the issuing of a Direct Payment or through the receipt of services via more traditional means.
The Right to Control is an extension of SDS and is the means by which disabled adults have more choice and control, not only over funds relating to their social care needs, but also over those relating to their housing, and/or employment related needs.
BCIL’s intention is to work towards becoming a Centre for Independent Living (CIL) and to be able to provide an array of independent living services to disabled people and their friends and family, in-house and under one roof, as per the integral concept behind a CIL. At the moment, BCIL is developing its signposting services and practices, as well as developing the capacity of its member organisations to offer independent living services, before being in the position to offer professional advocacy, peer support, brokerage, support planning, assessment and information and advice services itself.
Some of the local organisations that have been key in the establishment and future development of BCIL include Bury and District Disability Advisory Council (BADDAC), Bury Blind and Partially Sighted People Society, Bury Involvement Group in Mental Health and Bury Deaf Society. These and other organisations, as well as disabled individuals firstly got together over two years ago, following local and central government departments’ recognition to involve the third sector and service users in delivering aspects of the Personalisation Agenda impartially from council relevant departments.
Ron Shambley (Manager of BADDAC) said: ”through BCIL, we are not only setting out to tackle disability discrimination and poor service delivery, but to identify and recognise examples of excellence already in existence within the community, and direct people to them.”
BCIL is currently based at Seedfield Resource Centre, Parkinson Street, Bury BL9 6NY. If you require any further information, please phone: 0161 253 6901.