Human Rights Archives - Difference North East

A colorful collage featuring overlapping protest imagery, banners, and circular date markers reading “1971,” “1980,” “1987,” “1999,” “2011,” and “2021.” A central figure holds a sign that reads “Cuts Will Kill — I am disabled not disposable.” Other visible text includes “Justice Not Charity” and “Block Telethon.” The artwork uses bold purples, yellows, blues, and greens with a textured, layered effect symbolizing decades of disability rights activism.

Join Us for Disability History Month 2025

October 20, 2025

Join Us for Disability History Month, 2025
Events, Learning and Action in the North East. November 15th to December 20th 2025

A collage showing Difference North East community activities with purple, yellow, and teal overlays. Features disabled activists at meetings, protest actions with "Benefit or Bust" and "Cuts Kill" signs, Books with title reading "Ramping Up Rights", and a sign stating "Eat More Warfare". Images show collective organizing, direct action, and disability rights campaigning across the North East.

Annual General Meeting 2025

October 10, 2025

Come to Difference North East AGM 22nd October 2025

Community event promoting Cleveland Police & Crime Plan 2024–2029 highlighting priorities such as improving safety and tackling Cleveland Disability Hate Crime, with Difference Members standing beside awareness banner and with PCC Matt Storey

Shaping Cleveland’s Disability Hate Crime Strategy

September 22, 2025

On 15th September, Difference North East joined Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey at a Hate Crime workshop. Claire spoke about Disability Hate Crime. She said many crimes are not reported, and we need better awareness, education, and training. Deaf and Disabled people must be involved from the start in planning safer communities.

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.

Hartlepool Disability Rights: A group of twelve people stand together, smiling, in front of a white wall at an indoor event. They are of varying ages and genders, some using mobility aids.

“We Want What You’ve Got”: Hartlepool’s Rights Fight

June 10, 2025

Hartlepool disability rights – Direct summary of community experiences from

Oxevision Lampard Inquiry NHS surveillance - A black and white hand-printed poster with the words “STOP OXEVISION.” The text is surrounded by images including a person slumped over, another figure looking at a screen in a room decorated with lights, and a third figure sitting or kneeling. The style is expressive, with rough textures and bold line work

Surveillance is not safety: Now more than ever

May 20, 2025

Rose Powell from ‘Stop Oxevision’ tells how her group was stopped from speaking at the Lampard Inquiry on 14 May 2025. They had worked for two years to collect stories from mental health patients. They were meant to share this, but the hospital trust sent in another statement and their talk was pushed back. Rose explains why cameras in hospital bedrooms can be harmful and why public money should not be spent on unsafe tech instead of real care.

A stylised image on a deep purple background shows a floating porcelain teapot pouring milk onto a slice of dark teal cake suspended mid-air. The cake is falling toward a teacup, splashing milk dramatically upwards. In the bottom right corner is a black banner with green and white text: “Do you want to fight for disability rights? Join! Difference NE

Making Everyday Life Easier: Share Your Experiences at Our Local Events

May 6, 2025

Join a small, friendly event to share everyday access issues in your area. Your voice can help improve local shops, services, and spaces. No diagnosis needed—just your experience.

A digitally manipulated image features a protest sign with bold, handwritten-style text reading 'NO MORE DEATHS FROM BENEFIT CUTS.' The background is a collage of people engaged in various types of work, including wheelchair users and standing individuals. The image has a glitch-like effect with blue, purple, and green tones.

Austerity 2.0? Announced Welfare Reforms

March 25, 2025

All the cuts are making disabled people poorer. This article looks into this and says it’s like the last time there were loads of cuts.

Category: Human Rights