Partners
The Disability Resource Centre has an outstanding record of supplying high quality information, advice and support services to disabled people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Northamptonshire over the past 20+ years.
We are pleased that our standards and rigour have been recognised in our award of PQASSO level 1, endorsed by the Charity Commission.
Along with our partners, we deliver:
- Advice and Information Services to Disabled People and their families
- Advice and Information Services to Carers of Disabled People
- Support under our Personalisation Services
- Support to enable disabled people to work
- Improving Health, Learning and Work opportunities
- Disabled Sport
New Partners
We welcome the opportunity to work with new Funding Partners, Supply Partners and Customers.

Big Health and Fitness – Gym for larger people
Watch this space – The Disability Resource Centre is going to be working with Graham and Jude from BIG health and fitness to make a healthy lifestyle accessible to our service users who wish to lose weight and get fitter.
Fitness is an essential tool in managing many different health conditions, but people that are disabled, obese or mobility impaired can feel intimidated or unsure that exercise and healthy eating is achievable for them.
There are many situations where people feel that they lack the confidence to try a mainstream gym or fitness class. It may be that you have left hospital and need to build up your fitness again or perhaps you have gained weight through injury and therefore do not feel ready to go back to the gym.
We are working together to make BIG’s approach to fitness accessible for all of our service users.
As the programme develops we will issue more information. In the meantime please contact Big Health and Fitness directly.
The Social Care Sector Skills Agency, Skills for Care are one of DRC’s funding partners. We work closely with them to assure that the wealth of educational and training resources they produce are provided free of charge to both aspiring and experienced Personal Assistants. This in turn benefits our service users, who are individual employers, by providing qualified Support workers. It adds value to the other services that we provide on behalf of local authorities, which ensure the smooth facilitation of Direct Payments.
As we continue to grow our Personalisation Service offer ,we are bringing in other partners who we work with in other departments to join in and grow the service that we can provide to service users, local authority partners and each other.
Recently we created a project using existing funding streams between Skills for Care, DWP and unemployed residents of Luton and Dunstable. We were delighted when we were invited to present this at Skills for Care Link-up event, which encourages partnership working to produce results for individual employers.

If your organisation would like more information about working in partnership with the DRC then please contact: Melanie Hawman, Head of Operations and Development on 01582 470900 or melanie.hawman@drcbeds.org.uk
Funding partners:
Luton Borough Council |
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Skills Funding Agency |
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London Luton Airport Limited |
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European Social Fund |
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Skills For Care |
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Bedfordshire and Luton Community Learning Trust |
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Bedford Borough Council |
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Central Bedfordshire Council |
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Bedfordshire Clinical commissioning group | |
Luton Clinical Commissioning Group |
Associated Partners
We have a supply chain network that includes charities, training companies and colleges. For our supply chain partners we offer excellent management; resources including training and marketing and a partnership culture of collaboration and cooperation.
Luton Law Centre |
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Luton Carers Network |
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Member of Disability Rights UK |
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Corporate Social Responsibility
We are pleased to work in partnership with companies fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility roles, and companies offering us charitable rates for their work.
Thank you to:
Whitbread for painting our offices |
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Partnership working in Northamptonshire
We have been working together with other local agencies in the following ways:
Our partnership Network includes:
- Independent Living Scheme – Northampton Borough Council
- South Northants Homes – Housing Association
- Northamptonshire Carers – ‘Drop in Café’
- Alzheimer’s Society Northamptonshire – Dementia Café
We are regularly involved with the following Organisations/services:
- Oakley Healthcare – for equipment
- Shire Mobility – for equipmentNorthampton Audiology Department
- Kettering Stroke Association
- Cynthia Spencer Hospice – Northampton
- Lakelands Hospice – Corby
- MS Nurse – Northampton
- Deafconnect
- Olympus Care
- Learning Disability Partnership Board
- Disability & Sensory Impairment working group
- Hate Crime group (REC)
- RDAC
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We are here for you…
During the new lockdown our team members are all working at home and available to help you, so please do get in contact.
Phone: 01582 470 900
Email: info@drcbeds.org.uk
WhatsApp: 07871 744157
Text us: 07871 744157
Talk to us via Facebook Messenger
Instant help
Simply click the pink ‘Chat with us’ button below, open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Have your say on the National Strategy for Disabled People
The Disability Unit from the Cabinet Office are looking for your help to complete a survey about the barriers that disabled people face. Deadline extended to 28th February…

Ways to look after your mental wellbeing during the pandemic
Read all about the support that is available to help with your mental health during this difficult time. We have compiled over 50 websites, apps, videos and services, so please do take a look…
Free online exercises classes
We are breaking down the barriers to exercising at home.
For people living in Bedfordshire and Luton only.
We are breaking down the barriers and are launching an exciting package of support to help people living in Bedfordshire and Luton to exercise safely at home including:
- Free beginner-level online classes by local fitness professionals
- Join the free classes online by live video or watch pre-recorded sessions and exercise any time
- Free exercise equipment hire of items like resistance bands and balls
Free tablet computer hire and technology training for people without a smartphone, PC/Mac or tablet, so they can join the online sessions
Employment support programmes
Choose from 5 brand new and free employment support programmes from our award-winning team…
Free training workshops for PAs in care
See the new timetable for November to December 2020 including full descriptions, dates and times.
We are running free workshops on these topics and more:
Emergency First Aid*, Health and safety*, Safeguarding adults, Epilepsy awareness, Emotional freedom technique and Covid-19, Learning disabilities awareness, Autism awareness, Deaf awareness, Infection, prevention and control*, Equality and Diversity* and more.

Care Academy
New timetable of free workshops for PAs in care and unpaid carers. Now you can access our popular free workshops online by live video or anytime with our free online courses.

New wellbeing course for Luton residents
Our brand new and free wellbeing course, Wellbeing Matters (for Luton residents), aims to help improve your mental and physical wellbeing.

AdviceCentral – Your open door to advice in Central Bedfordshire
We provide a free telephone and website service helping residents of Central Bedfordshire to access advice services both locally and across the UK. Funded by Central Bedfordshire Council.
Your open door to advice in Central Bedfordshire
AdviceCentral helps residents of Central Bedfordshire to find the best local and national advice on a wide range of topics including: