Six-figure grant to help unlock access to services

Disability Direct has secured a £200,000 grant, which will help give more than 1,200 disabled and older people in Derbyshire greater access to health and social care services.

It has received the National Lottery funding for its CommunITy campaign, which pledges to recruit, support and train 20 volunteers in Derby per year to help older and disabled people become digitally savvy.

It is committed to carrying out 1,632 hours of appointments per year and to working to improve the online services of at least 10 other charities.

Amo Raju, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We have long worried that older and disabled people have become marginalised because so many services can only be booked online.

“We wanted to remove inequality and ensure that everyone is able to access health and social care appointments.

“Therefore, we are going to develop the skills, experience and knowledge to access the online community, independently.”