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Apr 11 2023

West Sussex Adult Services Conference

West Sussex County Council are hosting its Adults’ Services staff conference on Monday 24 April at the Avisford Hotel, Arundel. The event will bring together 250 staff, customers and carers, to celebrate and recognise our achievements, with a strong focus throughout on wellbeing and resilience. The programme will feature the Leadership Team, the Cabinet Member
A hand holding a coin over a blue piggy bank.

Mar 23 2023

April pay increases for personal assistants on national minimum wage

We want to make sure you are aware that starting from 1 April 2023, if you pay your personal assistants (PAs) at the current National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, you will need to increase their pay, as the rates are increasing. The amount you will need to pay varies depending on your PAs

Mar 14 2023

Independent Lives raises funds for community hub with Drop 360 event

Employees and friends of Independent Lives will be experiencing a taste of the high life this June with a unique fundraising event. 30 fearless folks will be lowered 138 meters from the top of the iconic i360 in Brighton to raise funds for the Worthing-based disability charity. The funds raised will be used to support
An elderly couple walking together in a park.

Feb 16 2023

Independent Lives announces continuation of carers respite service

Independent Lives is proud to announce the continuation of its ‘Short Breaks’ respite service. This service has been providing carers of people with dementia with much-needed respite and day trips since 2018 and will now run until 2026. The service, which is funded by West Sussex County Council, provides activities for older people, people with
A smart meter being held in a person's hands

Feb 10 2023

Charities call for a social tariff on energy

Over 100 organisations have written an open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for a social tariff on energy. The cost-of-living crisis has affected millions up and down the country this winter. And while most are having to choose between heating and eating, disabled families are having to choose between heating, eating and

Jan 27 2023

Study finds disabled people among hardest hit by cost of living crisis

A new report has revealed an enormous income gap between disabled people and non-disabled people, resulting in many more disabled people unable to afford essentials like heating and food. Analysis by the Resolution Foundation has found that two in five disabled people were unable to heat their houses this winter, and over a third had

Jan 19 2023

New Changing Places toilet coming to Worthing

Following a survey by council staff and the borough’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Worthing Borough Council is planning to build a Changing Places toilet. Officers and Councillor Vicki Wells inspected the town’s public toilets to determine their condition. The “Toilet Tour” findings revealed several upgrades that could be made to ten toilets throughout the

Dec 19 2022

Jill’s story

Jill lives in Croydon with her husband and her dog. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000 and has been using Direct Payments since 2014. She joined Independent Lives in 2020. Jill began receiving Direct Payments in 2014, after reaching a point where she needed extra support. When my impairment began to worsen, my

Dec 11 2022

Santa’s dash to give Independent Lives some cash

On 10 December, a brave team of Independent Lives staff and friends got into the festive spirit and took part in a 5K run past Hove Lawns – whilst dressed as Santa. An intrepid team of twelve Santa’s and one dog (all the reindeer were busy) walked, jogged, and ran to raise money for Independent

Dec 9 2022

Street collection raises over £230 for Independent Lives

On Thursday 8 December, seven members of Independent Lives staff braved the elements and took part in a street collection in East Worthing alongside members of Worthing Lions. Formed in 1952, Worthing Lions are a group of people whose mission is to make life better for others and over the last 32 years they’ve raised