Public sector equality duty

Disability

Under the 2010 Equality Act, a person is disabled if s/he has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

While some disabled people may have impairments which are visible and immediately obvious, like using a wheelchair; other impairments like diabetes, dyslexia or mental ill health are often invisible and therefore people's needs are not immediately obvious.

The Equality Act also protects people who are caring for a disabled child or relative as they're be protected by virtue of their association with a disabled person.

Disabled people in Southwark

The following data from the Department for Work and Pensions show numbers claiming benefits related to ill health and disability in Southwark, London and England.

Figures shown here are subject to overlap where individuals receive more than one type of benefit.

The following data from the 2011 Census shows the numbers of people describing themselves as having a long term condition affecting their day-to-day lives in Southwark, London and England.

Here are some findings from the Census:

• despite fluctuations since the previous Census on 2001, the number of incapacity benefit claimants in Southwark has remained below the peak level of August 2006
• Southwark has a similar percentage of people claiming ill health and disability related benefits as England as a whole but higher than London
• day-to-day activities limited a lot - Southwark has a similar percentage of people describing themselves as having their day-to-day activities limited a lot by long term illness or disability as London but significantly lower than the country as a whole
• day-to-day activities limited a little - Southwark has a lower proportion of people describing themselves as having their day-to-day activities limited a little by long term illness or disability as both London and the whole of England
• day-to-day activities not limited: Southwark has a higher proportion of people describing themselves as having their day-to-day activities not limited by long term illness or disability than both London and England as a whole

Examples of how we're working to promote equality

• Southwark has adopted Inclusive and Active2 and through this programme the council supports a wide range of sporting activity for disabled people
• the council provides a number of disabled parking bays at key locations across the borough and makes every effort to provide disabled parking bays on our estates and streets on application
• we offer benefits advice to ensure disabled people receive all the financial help available to them
• we provide day centres for disabled people, including those with mental health problems and learning disability
• Building Bridges Southwark is funded by Southwark Council and run by Family Action; we aim to bridge the gap between adult mental health services and children's services, by providing support to families where one of the parents has a mental health problem (for more information, see their website or phone 020 3228 1846 / 7)

Further information and support

Local

• Blue Badge
• Disabled persons Freedom Pass
• Help with transport
• Children with disabilities
• Southwark Disablement Association is a local organisation for people with seen and unseen disabilities which supports disabled people to live independent lives and achieve their full potential
• Southwark Disability Forum (SDF) is a user-led disabled people's organisation which holds regular meetings to discuss local and/or national issues which impact on the lives of disabled
• CoolTan Arts is a charity run by and for adults with mental distress; believes mental well-being is enhanced by the power of creativity

National

• Office for Disabilities
• Disability Rights UK
• UK Disabled People's Council

Page last updated: 02 August 2022