Did You Know?

Next year, 2003, has been officially declared “European Year of People with Disabilities”. At the end of 2001 the Ministers of the Employment and Social Policy Council unanimously adopted the European Commissions proposal and subsequently thousands of events have been organised to promote the rights of the more than 37 million EU citizens with disabilities.

The European Commission has allocated 12 million Euros to finance a wide range of initiatives, events and studies. Each member state’s allocation will be distributed by a national European Year Committee, where a wide range of disability organisations and other interested parties are represented. The UK will receive around £50,000 for launch events and £500,000 for project activities.

In the UK, the year is being supported with the theme "Promote Rights and Participation". A budget of £1million has been contributed by the UK Government and grants are being made available by a National Coordinating Committee, led by the Department for Work and Pensions. Applications for projects that promote the rights and participation of disabled people are being considered. It is anticipated that eighty local grants of £10,000 and ten regional or national grants of £50,000 will be awarded.

The EYoDP is seen as an excellent opportunity to involve the UK population in disability issues and to progress the disability agenda. The Department for Work and Pensions, Secretary of State and Maria Eagle, the Minister for Disabled People are keen to see a successful programme of activity in the UK.

Further details are available from leading disability organisations or from www.disability.gov.uk.

Watch this space for further information of how Movement Management will be marking the European Year of People with Disabilities.