Glasgow Disability Alliance

Glasgow Disability Alliance GDA builds the confidence, connections & contributions of disabled people, and works to influence pol SC034247
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Introducing GDA

Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) is an organisation led by disabled people and has a membership of over 5000. GDA has, by far, the biggest groundswell of disabled members in Scotland, if not the UK. Glasgow Disability Alliance was established in 2001 and began with a small group of disabled people who were fed up of being ignored by policy makers and feeling excluded from social, civil and political participation in the city. a city-wide organisation was set up to challenge such exclusion and discrimination. Over the last 11 years GDA has grown into a robust, representative and richly diverse disabled people's organisation (DPO). It is by far, the biggest groundswell of disabled members in Scotland. GDA was delighted to receive The Equalities Award at The Herald Society Awards 2010 and 2011 and was a proud runner up in 2012 and 2013. GDA believes in the social model of disability and believes that disabled people are disabled by barriers in society which has not planned for their inclusion. Disability is not about impairments or medical conditions - it is a complex social problem which requires joined up working across a range of agencies and the whole of society to remove barriers. In this way, disability shifts from being a private trouble and is identified as a public, social issue - a problem that has to do with the way society is organised rather than with individual deficit. GDA are delighted to have funding from The Big Lottery Fund for 'Pathways for Change'which supports disabled people of all ages. Full details can be found on the Pathways for Change page of our website. Our current funders include: The Big Lottery Fund, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, and The Scottish Government. We are based in:

Suite 301
The White Studios
Templeton Business Centre
Templeton Court
Glasgow
G40 1DA

Telephone: 0141 556 7103
Fax: 0141 550 4973

Email: info@gdaonline.co.uk

Scottish Charity No.

08/03/2026

"GDA Sisters" - a powerful song performed on Zoom during lockdown in 2021 by our amazing Purple Poncho Players: Stronger, Louder, Prouder! Featuring the late, great Paula Fummey on lead vocals.

Today we celebrate International Women's Day This year's theme, , encourages generosity and collaboration, and emph...
08/03/2026

Today we celebrate International Women's Day This year's theme, , encourages generosity and collaboration, and emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. At GDA we gain from the lived experience expertise of disabled women, and from peer support, learning, and the Voices of disabled women. Through this we lift each other up, support each other and drive forward our organisation's ability to support disabled people across Glasgow, Scotland and beyond. This year we remember and celebrate the strength, courage, resilience and leadership of disabled women.

We especially pay tribute to those GDA Sisters we have loved and lost, including Lilian Spiers and Lilian Woolfries who both died in the past few weeks.

Lilian Woolfries was a valued and active member of GDA's Drivers for Change and Social Care Expert Group, sharing her lived experience to bring forward change.

Lilian Spiers was one of the original Purple Poncho Players. We remember her tremendous skill of bringing warmth, humour and a great deal of fun to rehearsals and performances, even when dealing with the most difficult of subjects.

We also pay tribute to Jeane Freeman, who went above and beyond to support GDA's work and make things better for disabled people.

Along with photos of some of our amazing GDA women, we share a link to our PPPs "GDA Sisters" Song, filmed during lockdown in 2021, featuring Lilian Spiers, along with the late, great, Paula Fummey on lead vocals. vimeo.com/520872649

A great turnout today for the launch of 2 murals made as part of the Sensing Climate project with Dr Sarah Bell. Sensing...
06/03/2026

A great turnout today for the launch of 2 murals made as part of the Sensing Climate project with Dr Sarah Bell. Sensing Climate is a project that aims to create Disability-inclusive climate adaptation by placing disabled peoples participation at the forefront of research and decision making about the climate crisis. GDA members have taken part in interviews and have worked together on the 2 murals pictured, to express their views on climate change.
The murals can be seen at Greater Easterhouse Supporting Hands.

We just had week 3 of our Human Rights Defenders course with a special input from Eilidh Dickson from the Scottish Human...
05/03/2026

We just had week 3 of our Human Rights Defenders course with a special input from Eilidh Dickson from the Scottish Human Rights Commission. Members got together to learn about the various Human Rights bodies, treaties and and how governments are monitored and held to account on these. The afternoon's activity activity looked at how much progress has been made on the recommendations made to the UK government on the UNCRPD since 2017 (United Nations Convention On the Rights of People with Disabilities)

This Thursday saw week 2 of our Human Rights Defenders course. Policy and Participation Manager Karen Wylie kicked off w...
27/02/2026

This Thursday saw week 2 of our Human Rights Defenders course. Policy and Participation Manager Karen Wylie kicked off with a recap on the UNCRPD then members participated in Disability Equality Training delivered by GDA CEO Tressa Burke and Deputy CEO Marianne Scobie with a focus on our rights to Independent Living and the social model of disability.

Members took part in lively discussions and activities identifying the barriers facing disabled people and identifying the solutions to overcoming them. If you missed out this time we’ll be running the course again later in the year.

The Scottish Women's Budget Group 2026 Survey is now live! The SWBG’s survey researches women’s finances and caring resp...
27/02/2026

The Scottish Women's Budget Group 2026 Survey is now live!
The SWBG’s survey researches women’s finances and caring responsibilities across Scotland and with the Scottish Election approaching, this is a crucial moment to ensure women’s voices shape economic policy and budget decisions.
Last year, findings and recommendations from the SWBG’s survey were shared with MSPs and elected members across Scotland – strengthening evidence on women’s finances and caring responsibilities.
Take part here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/7LPU68 | Take the SWBG Survey 2026
🟣 Takes 10 minutes
🟣 Open until 23 March
🟣 £30 voucher draw available

GDA members met yesterday with Scottish Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Sommerville and members of the Poverty Commission...
26/02/2026

GDA members met yesterday with Scottish Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Sommerville and members of the Poverty Commission to discuss stigma around Benefits.

GDA hears from our members that disability benefits are a lifeline not a luxury for disabled people. In our 2025 survey, members told us that applying for benefits is humiliating and traumatic. We heard that the process itself is complicated and inaccessible and the forms are long and never easy enough to find.

Most importantly, we heard that stigma played a significant, prohibitive role in how and when people apply for benefits. Many survey respondents described feeling judged, demeaned, made to share very personal details and constantly having to justify themselves.

Our members call for a change in narrative around social security so that it's seen as a human right that not only covers the basics but also covers the additional costs of being disabled and enables people to live full and participative lives with choice and control.

GDA Member Harley said it starts from the top down and we must acknowledge and value the varied contributions of disabled people in society.

26/02/2026

This months TGM and Learning festival was a chance for our members to come together, catch up with friends and try something new. Rachel chats to Holly at the event to hear her favourite parts of the day:
"I always love these events, because there's always something different to try"

What would life be like if GDA was not there? Some of these responses from our members are difficult to hear, and we hop...
26/02/2026

What would life be like if GDA was not there? Some of these responses from our members are difficult to hear, and we hope we won't have to face a life without the GDA! They highlight why it is so crucial to be a part of this community, build strong networks of support and friendship, and keep fighting for disabled people.

-More lonely. Less fighting for our rights and a lot less options to have one’s voice heard as a disabled person
-Sadder + darker
-Before GDA I was at home for 8 years
-If it wasn’t for GDA I’d be so lost
-Sit in the house and do nothing
-Would have been 100% worse off
-I be at a loss without the support and help I receive
-Less hope
-No voice
-Without GDA disabled people esp hidden disabilities WOULD BE INVISIBLE
-Nobody to talk to
-No social life
-Difficult to navigate
-I would have nothing to do, I’d be stuck in house 24/7
-Would not have my independence
-Less of us would be here
-We would be isolated. Wouldn’t have access to a reliable support network
-More restrictive
-Less recognition of our rights and needs
-Loneliness, isolation, regression

25/02/2026

In case you missed it, GDA members got together for our Triennial General Meeting and Learning Fesitval. Here's some of what they enjoyed from the day:
"it was good to hear though about the actual business of running the charity"
"It is amazing to know that we have accountability"
"I enjoyed silent disco, the dinners and being here with friends"

What does being a GDA member mean to YOU? We loved reading these responses to our discussion! Here's what some of our me...
25/02/2026

What does being a GDA member mean to YOU? We loved reading these responses to our discussion! Here's what some of our members had to say:

-I feel safe and happy
-Listened to and with others with some issues
-Community, respect
-Advice and guidance
-Understanding and compassion
-Feel at home at the groups
-The organisation feels like friends, not just a charity
-I am accepted at GDA!
-Make new friends
-Support from GDA -> Friendship, inclusion
-Help me meet new people
-See friends
-Purpose. We’re changing people’s lives
-Making changes together
-A source of strength so that we can carry on
-Helps take pride in being disabled
-Reassurance- not on your own
-Online classes
-They were there at a really low/important time in my life
-Built a network
-See us as a person 1st
-GDA is a blessing
-Feel seen + understood
-Common ground
-VITAL they’re a lifeline

24/02/2026

Hear GDA members chat to us about what they enjoyed at our TGM and learning festival earlier this month. "Just meeting with other disabled peers... and exchanging stories you feel less alone!"
"everyone has been so nice and so supportive"

Address

Templeton Business Centre Suite 301
Glasgow
G401DA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441415567103

Website

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Our Story

Introducing GDA Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) is an organisation led by disabled people and has a membership of over 5000. GDA has, by far, the biggest groundswell of disabled members in Scotland, if not the UK. Glasgow Disability Alliance was established in 2001 and began with a small group of disabled people who were fed up of being ignored by policy makers and feeling excluded from social, civil and political participation in the city. a city-wide organisation was set up to challenge such exclusion and discrimination. Since then, GDA has grown into a robust, representative and richly diverse disabled people's organisation (DPO). GDA believes in the social model of disability and believes that disabled people are disabled by barriers in society which has not planned for their inclusion. Disability is not about impairments or medical conditions - it is a complex social problem which requires joined up working across a range of agencies and the whole of society to remove barriers. In this way, disability shifts from being a private trouble and is identified as a public, social issue - a problem that has to do with the way society is organised rather than with individual deficit. Our current funders include: The Big Lottery Fund, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, and The Scottish Government.

Find out more at www.gda.scot

Image description: GDA Leaving no-one behind poster. 6 GDA Resilience Response services: Wellbeing: support on phone & online; Lifeline: deliveries of food, meds & essentials; Connects: IT equipment & coaching to get online; Learning: online & phone free, fun learning; Rights Now: welfare rights advice & support; Voices: sharing lived experience so Govt & decision makers respect our rights. Call: 0800 432 0422; text 07958299496; info@gdaonline.co.uk; or ContactScotlandBSL for support. We are based in: Suite 301 - 303 The White Studios Templeton Business Centre Templeton Court Glasgow G40 1DA Telephone: 0141 556 7103 Email: info@gdaonline.co.uk