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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A community concert organised by Independent Lives and Ratcliffe Creative, has raised more than £1,100 in donations The concert, which took place at St. Matthews Church in Worthing on Thursday, 24 November, featured performances from local acts Broadwater Community Choir, After the Rain, Celtic Shore, Chalumeaux Too, and Peter Ridge. The event was compèred by