Difference North East - Changing Perceptions of Disability
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Category: Benefits

Budget 2025 Disability North East

Budget 2025 Disability North East: Fix the Systems, Not the Rules – What This Week’s Budget Means for Disabled People

December 1, 2025

Fix the Systems, Not the Rules
This week’s Budget affects disabled people across the North East. Some changes, like ending the two-child limit, could help families and lift children out of poverty. But many measures focus on more checks and assessments, not on fixing the barriers that make life hard. Disabled people need income security, accessible systems, and a say in decisions that impact them. Tougher rules do not make life better, fairer, well-funded systems do. Change happens when disabled people and allies speak up together. If you agree, join Difference North East and help push for real change.

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Autumn Budget Disabled People The chancellor stands holding the red budget box. overlaid people in a crowd holding protest signs that read "THESE CUTS WILL KILL" and "PIP = 0% FRAUD," with a purple tint over the image.

Add your name: Tell the Chancellor disabled people must not pay the price in the Autumn Budget

October 1, 2025

Add your name to an open letter to the Chancellor. The Autumn Budget should not make disabled people poorer. Many people in the North East are disabled and face extra costs every month. These costs cause debt and hardship. We ask the Chancellor to protect disabled people’s incomes, stop unfair welfare changes, and fund the support people need. Read the full letter below and sign the form to add your name. You can also join as an Ally. Sharing this page helps too. Together we can show decision makers that disabled people must not pay the price. Sign today please.

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Collage of disabled activists and disabled people protesting welfare reforms and gathering in Difference NE community events, overlaid with the words "Department for Work & Pensions" in bold black letters. Some protest signs read “THESE CUTS WILL KILL” and “PIP = 0% FRAUD”. The image is tinted purple and promotes solidarity and resistance in response to the Universal Credit Bill.

Reflecting On The Universal Credit Bill And Why We Now Must Rest To Resist

July 17, 2025

The Universal Credit Bill – What Happened and What’s Next

On Wednesday, 9 July 2025, MPs voted on changes to benefits. These changes will make life harder for many disabled people. Only 9 North East MPs voted against the changes.

This was upsetting. But we are proud of how disabled people came together to fight back.

The fight is not over. The Bill still has to go through more checks. More changes could happen.

We need to rest, take care of each other, and get ready for what’s next.
Because care is resistance. Rest is resistance. Community is resistance.

Join us. Together, we are a roar.

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Ramping Up Rights: Teesside. Three disabled speakers sit in armchairs during the “Ramping Up Rights” event at Stockton Library. The person in the centre holds a microphone and wears a T-shirt that reads “#TakingThePIP.” A Joy Division bag is on the floor nearby. The setting is relaxed and informal, with bookshelves in the background and water glasses on a table in front. The image is tinted purple.

Ramping Up Rights: Disability Power in Teesside

July 11, 2025

Celebrate Wins & Keep Fighting: Ramping Up Rights Ignites Hope!

Rachel Charlton-Dailey’s “Ramping Up Rights” book launch in Stockton was powerful! We celebrated a huge win: community action forced the government to change harmful welfare plans. This proves together we win! This is important even if we’ve not got everything we want!

The book shows how understanding our history helps fight today’s battles. We heard moving stories, like Joy Dove’s fight for justice after losing her daughter Jodey to cruel benefit cuts. Sadly, while Joy spoke, her MP voted for more cuts.

The fight isn’t over. We need everyone! Join Difference North East to build community power, sustain the fight, and win more rights for disabled people. Get the book!

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Disability Community Stockton-on-tees, Graphic promoting Stockton health challenges discussion. Blue slice of cake on a purple background. NeuroKey and Difference NE logo visible in the top right.

Disability Community Stockton-on-tees Teesside

June 29, 2025

People in Stockton-on-Tees met in May 2025 to share their experiences of disability and everyday life.
They talked about transport problems, with very few accessible taxis and buses that do not always provide clear information.
Shops and public places were often hard to use, with not enough Blue Badge parking or mobility equipment available.
Many people described stressful benefits assessments and systems that make them fight for support.
They also spoke about losing jobs, rebuilding confidence, and finding strength through community.
The group wants practical changes and to be involved in decisions, so access is designed with disabled people, not without them.

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Pathways To Work Ignores Disabled Voices: Abstract image of disabled people in the workplace, overlaid text repeating "pathways?" over and over.

“Pathways To Work” Ignores Disabled Voices: Here’s What’s Really At Stake

June 18, 2025

The government’s Pathways to Work plan ignores disabled people. It makes big changes to benefits (like PIP and Universal Credit) but won’t let people have a proper say.
❌ Key problems:
There were no meetings in the North East (only Leeds/Glasgow).
Online sessions filled up fast.
Easy Read versions came 3 weeks late.
💬 Disabled people say:
“I needed work adjustments but was ignored.”
“Train stations still aren’t accessible.”
“They said my cerebral palsy ‘wasn’t disabled enough’.”
We demand:
Stop the changes.
Listen to disabled voices first.
Fix the unfair system.
Act now! Sign our campaign or email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk.
“Nothing about us without us!”

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Disability Community Gateshead Tyneside. Background image used by Difference NE featuring a stylized, purplish painting of a steaming glass teacup with a teabag, set on a saucer. The background is soft and abstract with bubble and splash-like textures. The top left includes the Difference NE logo and a yellow tagline reading, “Do you want to fight for disability rights? Join!” There is a large blank grey box in the lower left area intended for overlaid text or digital content.

Disability Community Gateshead Tyneside

June 7, 2025

People met in Gateshead in May 2025 to talk about what life is like for disabled people.
Even getting to the meeting was hard because of transport, parking and access problems.
People shared stories about taxis refusing help, confusing signs, and public transport that is difficult to use.

They said services often expect everyone to use phones or read complex information, which does not work for many people.
Workplaces are not flexible, and support like Access to Work comes too late.
They want simple changes, better understanding, and more disabled people involved in decisions, so everyone can live well.

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