DPO COVID-19 NET Emergency Fund

98 Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs)*, of various sizes in both rural and urban locations across the UK, who found it difficult to access funding to respond to the COVID-19 needs of disabled people, received funding from the DPO COVID-19 NET Emergency Fund.

The DPO COVID-19 NET Emergency Fund was managed and administered by The DPO COVID-19 Coalition, led by Disability Action NI in partnership with Disability Wales, Inclusion Scotland and Inclusion London, who submitted a proposal to NET* Coronavirus Appeal requesting funds which was successfully awarded in August 2020.

A total of £1,092,906 of emergency COVID-19 funding was made available by the NET Coronavirus Appeal and was awarded to 98 Disabled People’s Organisations of various sizes in both rural and urban locations across the UK. The fund was inundated with applications, with over £3.4 million applied for, after a month-long application process.

The purpose of the funding was to provide direct support to grassroots DPO’s across the UK to ensure that:

• Disabled People are less isolated and their rights to independent living are protected
• Disabled People have access to advice/support on income
• Disabled People's voices are heard and reflected in recovery strategies, and that
• DPO’s themselves are strengthened and sustained to provide vital advice and support and enable local action for local needs.

*A Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) is an organisation that is controlled by disabled people (at least 51% disabled people at the board and membership levels). A DPO is different to other disability sector organisations because it is led by disabled people, for disabled people.

** The National Emergencies Trust (NET) is a charity set up to raise funds from the general public in the event of a domestic disaster or emergency. When a disaster hits, NET will collaborate with charities and other bodies to raise and distribute money and support victims. The funds collected are distributed by local partners on the ground in the areas affected by the emergency event. 

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DPOs tell their stories

These stories highlight the importance of DPOs and the impact that the NET funding is making / has made on grassroots DPOs across the UK in 3 key areas - Independent Living, Isolation and Income. We'll be adding more stories each week throughout July and August.