We Want to Hear Your Access to Work Story
January 13, 2026
Has Access to Work helped you or let you down? Your experience matters and can help make real change in the North East. Deadline: 23rd Feb
Has Access to Work helped you or let you down? Your experience matters and can help make real change in the North East. Deadline: 23rd Feb
We want to hear from disabled people in the North East who are not in paid work. Share your experiences and help shape better employment support. You will be paid for your time.
We’re also looking for three employers who want to show what inclusive work looks like.
Take part in interviews, discussion groups, creative photography, or filmed stories.
Sign up today using our online form or email us. Every voice matters, and together we can make work fairer and more accessible for everyone.
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.
On the 1st of October we held our third meeting of our new regional forum for disabled people, their organisations and their allies. This time, we talked a lot about barriers to employment.
Learn About Disability History Month
Join a friendly one-hour online session to explore disability, inclusion, and accessibility. Our trainers all have lived experience of disability and share real stories and advice.
Choose from topics like reasonable adjustments, everyday ableism, the social model of disability, or inclusive design. Each session helps your team understand how to make workplaces fairer for everyone.
These sessions are perfect for staff learning or awareness events.
Book now to save money or combine with a full training course for even better value.
To book or ask questions, email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk
We’re delighted to welcome Charlotte Hall to the Difference team
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.
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!”
What is happening with welfare reforms? How will it affect the North East of England?
Watch Bex Bowsher, Chair of Unfolding theatre and Difference North East Development Manager, talk about the positive impact of making governance accessible.