Northumberland
England's most rural county, and one of the starkest illustrations of what disability, distance, and neglect look like in practice.
A vast, rural county with acute access challenges
Northumberland is the largest county in England by area, with one of the smallest population densities. For disabled people, geography compounds every barrier: distance to healthcare, sparse public transport, older building stock in historic towns, and limited local services. Our 2026 research found that across the North East, transport and access remain the biggest barriers to daily life, in Northumberland, the distances make this even more acute.
Access to the Everyday 2026 / ONS 2021
Scope, 2025, cited in Access to the Everyday 2026
Getting from A to B in rural Northumberland
Transport is the foundation of everything else. Our 2026 research confirmed it remains one of the biggest barriers to daily life, in Northumberland, sparse services and vast distances amplify every problem identified across the region.
What the Access to the Everyday Report 2026 found on transport
- 64% of disabled people who use public transport faced barriers in the last year
- Most common barriers: physical access (45%), service problems (30%), lack of staffing (25%)
- 58% of those who book travel digitally reported problems with websites or apps
- 66% were unable to go out at some point because there was no accessible toilet available, a particular issue in rural areas
- 44% noticed new buildings in their area that were still not accessible
- Time restrictions on disabled bus passes, including before 9:30am, shut people out of work, education, healthcare and caring responsibilities
Source: Access to the Everyday Report 2026, Difference North East
"I have a disabled bus pass, but I can't use it for free before 9.30am. They assume disabled people don't have jobs or kids to get to school."
Northumberland leads the region
Northumberland County Council already extends free travel for disabled pass holders beyond the national 9:30am restriction, providing all-day access. As Difference NE Policy Officer Charlotte noted: "Northumberland is a brilliant example of how it can work. Now it's time to deliver that same standard for everyone in our region."
Source: Minister Responds: All-Day Bus Access (Sept 2025)
But buses don't reach everywhere
An all-day pass only helps if there's a bus to catch. Across Northumberland's rural and coastal communities, frequency is low, routes are limited, and many areas have no realistic connections at all. At the Amble community discussion, residents flagged that timetables simply don't work for hospital days.
Source: Amble Community Access Discussion (May 2025)
Taxis: an unreliable lifeline
Where buses don't run, disabled people depend on taxis. Our 2026 research heard from George (54): "You can't pre-book a wheelchair taxi… you just get bounced." The cost of taxis as a substitute for public transport is part of the hidden "disabled tax", extra expenses that erode fixed incomes.
Source: Access to the Everyday 2026
The national campaign
Following our letter to the Secretary of State, Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed local authorities already have the legal power to extend hours, and that the North East Combined Authority has been allocated £23.7 million in bus funding. We are now directing the campaign at the Combined Authority to act.
Source: Minister Responds (Sept 2025)
What needs to change
The 2026 report calls for: lifting bus pass time restrictions; improved physical access and reliable staffing at stations; accessible digital booking with phone alternatives kept open; sensory-friendly travel; and better toilet provision. Rural communities, including much of Northumberland, are singled out as especially underserved.
Source: Access to the Everyday 2026, pp.18–19
A national embarrassment
The Commons Transport Committee (2025) described disabled people's access to transport as a "national embarrassment." Transport for All (2023) and the National Autistic Society (2025) have documented the same barriers, from poor information to sensory overload. Our regional research mirrors all of it.
Cited in Access to the Everyday 2026, p.17
Community voices: What Amble told us
In May 2025, Difference North East brought disabled people, carers, and local activists together at Dry Water Arts in Amble for an honest conversation about life in the town. What emerged connects directly to our wider 2026 research findings.
People spoke about pavements that don't work, doorways that are too narrow, and the exhausting expectation that disabled people must "label themselves" to receive basic consideration in public spaces. These themes echo what disabled people told us across the whole region throughout 2025.
"The physical access… drop kerbs. If there's one thing I want to try to push for… drop kerbs. The buildings around here are older… they won't have been built with widened doorways."
"I just want my son to grow up in a world that is more understanding and accepting of our difference."
Northumberland voices also featured directly in our 2026 survey: "Work with me and use creative thinking to get the best outcome, don't just say no" (Lesley, 69, Northumberland) and "This is not something we choose and it can happen to anyone at any time. Helping disabled people helps others" (Natalie, 56, Northumberland). And on inaccessible workplaces: "I can't go to lots of work events as they hold them in inaccessible venues... I have a right to be there" (Joan, 56, Northumberland).
Full account: Voices from Amble: A Conversation on Disability and Community (May 2025)
What accessible Amble & Northumberland could look like
- Dropped kerbs on key routes through town and to the harbour
- Wider doorways in local businesses and community buildings
- Well-maintained accessible toilets, clearly signed
- Universal design as default in any new development
- Bus services that actually work for hospital appointment times
- Healthcare that takes all bodies seriously
- Benefits rules that don't punish people for saving for equipment they need
- Disabled people recognised as parents, neighbours, leaders
of disabled people have been unable to go out because there was no accessible toilet. In rural Northumberland, where facilities are sparse, this is a particular barrier to participation.
Source: Access to the Everyday 2026
Access to the Everyday: what 77 disabled people told us
Published January 2026, our Access to the Everyday Report draws on in-depth focus groups with disabled people from Amble to Teesside, plus a regional survey. Three priorities emerged clearly: Getting from A to B, Being Respected, and Getting Better Information.
Source: Access to the Everyday 2026, p.36–37
"Living with a disability or long-term health condition in the North East often means feeling invisible to the very systems meant to support us."
PIP cuts & the MPs who must answer
Proposed reforms to Personal Independence Payment threaten to remove vital support from thousands of disabled people in Northumberland. Difference North East organised a drop-in for North East MPs before the vote, 18 did not attend.
The Chairs Were Empty
On 30 June 2025, Difference North East hosted an online drop-in for North East MPs to hear from disabled constituents before voting on welfare reforms. 18 MPs did not attend. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill passed its third reading on 9 July 2025 by 336 votes to 242, with only 9 North East MPs voting against. The Bill now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Read: The Chairs Were Empty. The Issue Remains. · Reflecting on the Universal Credit Bill · Event: North East MPs Welfare Cuts Meeting
Northumberland's MPs, where they stood
David Smith
North Northumberland (Labour)
✗ Voted for welfare cuts
Est. loss to disabled constituents: £10.2M (~19,284 people, ~£200/person)
Joe Morris
Hexham (Labour)
✗ Voted for welfare cuts
Est. loss: £845,968 (~16,860 people, ~£158/person)
Emma Foody
Cramlington & Killingworth (Labour)
✗ Voted for welfare cuts
Est. loss: £13.2M (~19,151 people, ~£221/person)
Ian Lavery
Blyth & Ashington (Labour)
✓ Voted against welfare cuts
Potential protection for ~23,915 disabled constituents worth £19.4M
Data: Difference NE MP tracker (June 2025) & Universal Credit Bill reflection (July 2025)
Disability organisations in & serving Northumberland
The following organisations operate in or cover Northumberland. For the full regional directory, see the Difference North East resources page.
Adapt North East
Disability support in Northumberland (Tynedale area)
generaloffice@adapt-tynedale.org.ukadapt-ne.org.uk (opens in new tab)
Blyth Valley Disabled Forum
Disability forum for the Blyth Valley area of Northumberland
blythdisabledforum.co.uk (opens in new tab)Northumberland County Blind Association
Visual impairment support across Northumberland
info@ncba.org.ukncba.org.uk (opens in new tab)
North Tyneside Coalition of Disabled People
Covers North Tyneside and parts of Northumberland
ntcdp@ntcdp.co.ukntcdp.co.uk (opens in new tab)
MS Research and Relief Fund
Supporting people with MS in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear
info@ms-researchandrelief.orgms-researchandrelief.org (opens in new tab)
Journey
Learning disability and autism support in Northumberland, County Durham & Newcastle
journeyenterprises.co.uk (opens in new tab)Dry Water Arts, Amble
Community arts venue in Amble. Accessible, ground-floor premises. Hosted the May 2025 community access discussion.
drywaterarts.uk (opens in new tab)Difference North East
Disability rights campaigning and voice organisation for the whole North East, including Northumberland. DDPO-led. Free membership.
differencenortheast.org.ukCommon questions about disability in Northumberland
Can disabled people use their bus pass all day in Northumberland?
Yes. Northumberland County Council extends concessionary travel hours beyond the national 9:30am weekday restriction, meaning disabled pass holders can travel for free at any time of day. This makes Northumberland the only part of the North East with all-day access, and a model Difference North East is campaigning for the rest of the region to match.
Read more: Minister Responds: The Fight for All-Day Bus Access Continues
What did the 2026 Access to the Everyday report find about transport?
Difference North East's Access to the Everyday Report 2026 found that 64% of disabled people who use public transport faced barriers in the last year. The most common were physical access (45%), service problems (30%) and lack of staffing (25%). 58% had problems booking travel digitally, and 66% had been unable to go out due to lack of accessible toilets. 44% noticed new buildings in their area that still were not accessible.
How many disabled people in the North East felt disrespected in the last year?
According to the Access to the Everyday Report 2026, 88% of disabled people said they had felt disrespected, judged or dismissed in the last year. Strikingly, not a single respondent said dealing with services left them feeling supported or more in control.
What happened with the PIP welfare reform vote for Northumberland's MPs?
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill passed its third reading on 9 July 2025 by 336 votes to 242. Northumberland's MPs David Smith (North Northumberland), Joe Morris (Hexham) and Emma Foody (Cramlington & Killingworth) all voted for the reforms. Ian Lavery (Blyth & Ashington) voted against. Before the vote, Difference North East organised a drop-in for North East MPs, 18 did not attend.
Read: The Chairs Were Empty. The Issue Remains. · Reflecting on the Universal Credit Bill
What disability organisations serve Northumberland?
Key organisations include Adapt North East (Tynedale area), Blyth Valley Disabled Forum, Northumberland County Blind Association, North Tyneside Coalition of Disabled People (parts of Northumberland), MS Research and Relief Fund, Journey (learning disability and autism), and Dry Water Arts in Amble. Difference North East operates across the whole region. See the organisations section above for contact details.
How can I get involved with disability campaigning in Northumberland?
You can join Difference North East for free as a member or become an ally. You can also share your story, this feeds directly into our research and campaigns. If you want to contact your MP about welfare cuts or bus access, their emails are listed on this page.
All Northumberland-related resources
Access to the Everyday Report 2026 (PDF)
Findings from 77 disabled people across the North East on transport, respect, and information. Includes voices from Amble and Northumberland.
Long Read · May 2025Voices from Amble: A Conversation on Disability and Community
Stories, barriers, and aspirations from disabled residents of Amble, built environment, healthcare, grassroots activism, and what an inclusive Northumberland could look like.
Event · May 2025Amble Chat: What Would Make Life Here Easier?
Community discussion at Dry Water Arts, ten residents sharing what works and what doesn't for disabled people in Amble and across Northumberland.
Campaign Update · September 2025Minister Responds: The Fight for All-Day Bus Access Continues
The Minister for Roads and Buses confirms local authorities have the power, and the North East has £23.7M in bus funding. Northumberland already leads.
Campaign · June 2025The Chairs Were Empty. The Issue Remains.
18 North East MPs skipped our welfare reform drop-in. Full breakdown including North Northumberland and Hexham MPs, and the financial impact of PIP cuts.
Reflection · July 2025Reflecting on the Universal Credit Bill, Rest to Resist
Who stood with disabled people, what the concessions mean, and what comes next as the Bill moves to the House of Lords. Care is resistance. Community is resistance.
EventNorth East MPs Welfare Cuts Meeting
The online drop-in Difference North East organised for North East MPs to hear from disabled constituents before the PIP reform vote.
Report Summary · 2026Access to the Everyday: What Disabled People Are Telling Us
The online summary of our landmark 2026 report, key statistics, quotes, and recommendations for change.
Get involved in Northumberland
Whether you're in Amble, Hexham, Alnwick, Morpeth or anywhere across the county, your voice matters. Join Difference North East for free and help build a more inclusive Northumberland.