Disabled People's Forum

Join the Forum

If you would like to join the Forum or would like more information about the Forum and its work, please contact The Community Safety and Engagement Team by email [email protected].

• Agendas and minutes
• Forum’s code of conduct

Report a hate crime

A hate crime is any criminal offence or incident, which is perceived by any person as being motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic such as sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Find out more about hate crime and how to report it

Our priorities, aims and objectives

• give people a way to have a dialogue with us
• give feedback on issues of concern
• pass on ideas for future plans for the town and services provided locally, including those we provide
• help improve the quality of life for disabled people in West Northamptonshire

The Forum seeks to monitor the effectiveness of our policy and practices in relation to equality. The Forum looks to equalise access to the services and benefits we provide by:

• providing information about services and how to access them
• identifying and removing barriers to ensure access to services
• promoting dialogue about issues of concern between us, our members and officers and other people in the community
• identifying the specific requirements of disabled people

The Forum also has remit to discuss issues relevant to West Northamptonshire, but which are outside our direct remit.

The Disabled People's Forum recognises the following national days each year:

• Hate Crime Awareness Week: 8 until 15 October
• International Day for Persons with a Disability: 3 December 2023

Please email [email protected] for further information on our events.

Leisure centres report

As part of our International Day of People with Disabilities activities in December 2022 we asked whether people used Leisure Centres and, if not, what the barriers were.

During the development of the consultation we liaised with some of our major providers across West Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Sport.  The results have been passed onto them to help with shaping future plans and provision.

Read the report:

• ACROSS - Charity dedicated to helping sick adults and children, especially those who are terminally ill or suffering progressive illness, to enjoy the pilgrimage of a lifetime to the Christian shrine of Lourdes in France. Also volunteering opportunities for helpers
• Deaf Connect - Provide sign language interpreters, lip speakers and deaf-blind communicators to both deaf and hearing people
• Disabled Go - DisabledGo was founded to empower disabled people to judge for themselves which venues are suitable for their own individual needs
• Disabled Person's Railcard - Information about the railcard and the discounts it gives when travelling around Britain
• Equality and Human Rights Commission - Organisation concerned with promoting the rights of groups including disabled people
• Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities - Aims to promote the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families; also, to support local people and services to include people with learning disabilities. Part of the UK charity the Mental Health Foundation
• Home Safety Checks (free)
• Independent Living - Information about specialist furniture for the home and care environments, specialist bathroom fittings and accessories, communication aids, mobility, and transport#
• MIND -  Charity that helps create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress. Both local and national branches
• Motability - A national charity to help people with their mobility needs. They oversee the Motability scheme which enables people to obtain a car, powered motor scooter or wheelchair by using their government-funded mobility allowances
• Northampton Door to Door Service - Specialists in transporting people in Northampton who cannot use public transport
• SOLAR: HIV Charity 
• St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton - Leading national service provider for people with mental disorders, learning disabilities and acquired brain injury
• Street Doctor - for reporting potholes, uneven pavements, etc.
• Workbridge Centre, Northampton - Provides real work and training for people, giving hope for an independent future - earning a living and making a positive contribution to society - for adults with mental health needs, learning difficulties or an acquired brain injury. The garden centre on Bedford Road, Northampton, is open 7 days a week selling a wide range of plants grown by the centre's trainees