Together an Active Future (TaAF) is one of 12 Sport England Place Partners, testing out new ideas and approaches that can help more people to be more active. You can find out a bit more about us by clicking here.
Let Me Move is a new and exciting workstream for TaAF, with an aim of creating fairness and equality of opportunity for disabled people, so that they can enjoy the benefits of being active in outdoor spaces.
This workstream has four key themes:
- To build and retain a network of wider partners with a shared purpose of embedding fairness of opportunities for disabled people in outdoor spaces.
- To share insight, barriers and learning to help improve access to outdoor spaces for disabled people.
- Working alongside leaders who have the influence to make positive strategic change to increase the opportunity for disabled people to be active outdoors.
- To bring and champion the authentic voice of disabled people in everything we do.
We are creating a group, bringing together people with lived experiences, to help increase the understanding of the barriers and challenges faced and to identify /co-design solutions.
Accessibility Advocates
We would like to invite you to join our Accessibility Advocates to help inform policy and practice so we can better include disabled people in outdoor places and spaces. As part of our Sport England Place Based way of working, we are looking for people with lived experience who can help make physical activity easier for disabled people in outdoor settings. Our work will mainly be focussed in the Burnley area from April 2025 – December 2025. It would be preferable if you live locally or know this area well.
What is Place Based Working?
We know there are a number of different challenges that make it harder for people to be more active. We also know that when we come together, take time and create the right environment, we can open opportunities to allow everyone in our places to move more. By growing relationships and building on the valuable things and people that are already in our place, we can collectively improve our understanding and address the gaps in support or knowledge that stand in the way of people benefiting from active lives.
What is an Accessibility Advocate?
As an Accessibility Advocate you will have lived experience of disability either personally or through a family connection. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and a long-term effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Accessibility Advocates will help other people understand disabled peoples’ barriers and challenges to physical activity and co-design the solutions. Together, we will ensure that the voices of disabled people are represented throughout decision making. It would be beneficial if you have knowledge and understanding of intersectionality and the Social Model of Disability.
Your role will include:
- Participation in meetings, forums, and online discussions.
- Reviewing and providing feedback on relevant strategy, policy documents and plans.
- Sharing your insights and experience from a personal perspective and as a representative of your community.
- Providing challenge and advice on inclusion to improve the knowledge and practice of system partners.
Proposed Work:
We are planning an afternoon or evening meeting on the Second Tuesday of every month, starting in May 2025. Meetings will last for 2 hours and there will be an option to join online if required.
You may be invited to attend the Active Burnley Forum and Burnley Outdoor Town events which take place at different locations and times across Burnley. Some events may last up to 4 hours. You are welcome to join any public events as a participant, but we cannot pay you for this.
You may be asked to try out and help to improve opportunities for physical activity participation, such as our inclusive cycling offer. Activities will take up to 2 hours. You are welcome to join any activities as a participant, but we cannot pay you every time you attend.
We may ask you to review or provide feedback on documents and plans. We expect this work to take up to 2 hours and it can be done online from home or in person.
We do not expect you to be available to attend everything. We will share out the opportunities based on the skills, experience and interests of the Accessibility Advocates.
Payment
In recognition of your time and expertise you will be paid as follows:
£30 per hour for up to 4 hours per month.
We anticipate that maximum payment per month will not exceed £120.
Reasonable Expenses
Reasonable expenses will be paid and can include:
- Transport to and from venues (these will be local to your area).
- Support to remove barriers to participation. For example, BSL interpreter, Personal assistant.
Payment options
- Direct Payment to your Bank Account (you will be responsible for your own Tax and National Insurance)
- Through a trusted organisation (organisational payment approach will apply)
- Receipt of a voucher (options available)
- No payment (if this is currently part of your paid job or you do not wish to receive payment)
We appreciate that individual circumstances are unique, so we are flexible in our approach to payment. We cannot offer advice on benefits (if this is applicable) but we will try to be as fair and inclusive as possible in our offer.
How to apply:
We are looking for 6 Accessibility Advocates. Please apply by telling us about your experience and skills in relation to the role.
Please apply in a way that best suits your communication preferences. This could be:
- A 500-word document
- A short video (up to 3 minutes)
- An audio recording (up to 3 minutes)
- Any other way that meets your needs.
Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd April 12noon.
Interviews: Tuesday 29th April.
Send your completed application to:
Email: rachael.mchugh@blackburn.gov.uk
Phone Number: 07484 412 923