Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living

24/12/2025

The GCIL team have logged off and the office is now closed for the remainder of the year. We will be returning on the 5th January, upon which we will respond to your queries.

We would like to share a heartfelt thanks for another year of incredible support for GCIL as together we work towards a more equal and inclusive society. We look forward to continuing this work with you in 2026 💙💚💛

We would like to wish each and every one of you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎄

We understand that the festive period can be difficult for some people. Please do reach out if you need support.

Samaritans: Call 116-123 or www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

NHS: Call 111 or text SHOUT to 85258

Breathing Space: Call 0800838587

Scope- disability related support: Call 08088003333 or www.scope.org.uk/giving/cost-of-christmas

Scottish Women's Aid: Call 08000271234 or https://womensaid.scot/contact-us/

Abused Men In Scotland: Call 03300949395 or https://abusedmeninscotland.org/about/helpline/

[Image description- A festive red graphic with green pine branches, baubles, and stars along the top. Large white text reads “We are now closed.” Below, smaller yellow text says 'We will be closed from the 24 December, reopening on 5th January 2026, with a message saying 'we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year'. Snowy hills, Christmas trees, and two snowmen appear at the bottom of the image. The GCIL logo is shown in the bottom right corner]

21/12/2025

Our year in review 🎉

Thank you to each and every one of you who have been part of GCIL in 2025 💙



[Image description: Series of 3 Images that is a colour infographic in blue, yellow and white.

Image 1: Titles 2025, year in Review it says;
2025 has been a year of change for GCIL. Alongside challenges, we’ve seen growth, resilience and many successes. Here’s a summary of what we’ve achieved together — thank you.
It lists the number of people we have supported (1000+), the number of new cases (500+), the hours of support (2200+), number of payrolls processed (5800+), bills paid (2600+) and new members (40+).

Image 2: Under the heading 'Our team', is the text;
2 new Mental Health 1st Aiders and a beautiful wellbeing room.
26 different roles within GCIL evaluated and a new staff forum created.
2 new posts created for Recruitment specialist ILAs, and welcomed our 1st Social Work student.
18 core training, specialist training and Development sessions introduced.
PA adverts personalised and improved.
Under the heading 'Our organisation';
We celebrated our 30th birthday with a parliamentary reception.
Job adverts, applications and interview process reviewed and improved.
New database, new branding and new website.
2 Lanarkshire offices merged and contracts renewed in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire..
Became ILF award Managers.

Image 3: Under the heading 'Our projects';
Young people's project; Funded by the National Lottery, Worked with young people and school pupils from across Glasgow, Recommends a Transition focussed service within GCIL
Voices at work; Funded by Glasgow Futures (No-one Left Behind) / Scottish Government, Working with disabled people across Glasgow, Focussed on understanding what keeps disabled people in jobs.

18/12/2025

We recently took part in Beyond the Label, a powerful training session delivered by Elaine McTaggart.

Elaine is mum to Grant, a 20-year-old who she describes as “a great teacher of resilience and how to live a different – and sometimes very complex – life in an ordinary way.” Grant is also an employee of the family business and a Look for a Book - West Kilbride enthusiast, actively contributing to his community.

Through Elaine’s reflections, and the shared experiences of Grant and Team Grant, the session explored how disabled people are often described by their needs first, rather than as people — with strengths, individuality, qualities and potential.

The session highlighted how barriers within systems, services and societal attitudes limited Grant’s opportunities — not because of who he is, but because of perceptions placed upon him.

Moving beyond the “subtext”, as Elaine described it, challenges assumptions and attitudes, helping to create a society where disabled people are supported to truly thrive.

Sessions like Beyond the Label give us valuable space to reflect on the language we use, the expectations we hold, and the role we all play in building more inclusive environments. We explored how this learning applies to our everyday practice at GCIL, reinforcing how positive, person-centred language supports inclusion.

We thank Elaine and Team Grant for sharing their lived and living experience so openly and honestly.



[Image 1: Elaine sits behind a table in a meeting room has grey carpeted flooring, white walls and overhead ceiling panels. She has a burgundy top on, grey hair and is wearing a smart watch, she is smiling with her arms crossed over. On the table is papers with sticky notes, an open laptop, a reusable water bottle and a glass of water.

Behind Elaine is a large screen is mounted on the wall displaying a presentation slide. On the left side of the slide is an orange graphic with luggage-style tags reading “Beyond the Label.” On the right side, the slide reads “Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living,”. A radiator and power sockets are visible along the wall on the righthand side of Elaine. ]

[Image 2: A blue graphic with a clean, modern design featuring two participant quotes in white text, each inside rounded speech-bubble style outlines with quotation marks. The background includes soft abstract shapes and small star-like decorative icons. The GCIL logo is at the top on the right hand side.

The first quote reads:
“I really enjoyed the session. Elaine’s way of sharing her and Grant’s story was both brilliant and thought-provoking.”

The second quote reads:
“The session reinforced the need for person-centred language and why it matters. It really showed how small changes can make a big difference.”]

11/12/2025

The GCIL team are getting into the festive spirit by joining in with Christmas Jumper Day 2025 🎄

Staff each marked the day in the ways that suited them, from small nods to full-on Christmas vibes. As you can see, we have a range of Christmas jumpers, cardigans, T-shirts and even dresses — a small reminder that inclusion is about making sure everyone can take part comfortably and on their own term.



[Image description: A group of 10 members of GCIL staff wearing various Christmas jumpers, clothing and accessories in front of a white wall with a grey carpet. One woman with a festive headband sits on the left hand side in a wheelchair smiling. There are two rows of people standing close together. There are festive clothing, cardigans, jumpers and dresses alongside some staff wearing hats and headbands. They are stood in front of a Christmas tree with a gold star on top.]

11/12/2025

As the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence closes today on Human Rights Day, 10 December, we're reminded that the work to end violence against women and girls doesn't stop here.

Women and girls with visual impairments face particularly high rates of violence - disabled women are 2.6 times more likely to experience violence compared to non-disabled women, and those with sight loss face unique barriers in recognising abuse, accessing support, and escaping danger.

Violence against women and girls takes many forms - from domestic abuse and sexual violence to harassment, coercion, and control. It can happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone. If you or someone you know needs support, list of Scottish helplines is available here: https://ow.ly/6ho050XFBUH



[Image description: "Disabled women are 2.6 times more likely to experience domestic violence in comparison to non-disabled women. Source: 'The Unseen' report by SafeLives 2022". Sight Scotland logo. A graphic of the outline of a person walking carrying a cane.]

10/12/2025

Working together for greater IMPACT.

GCIL came together with Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living to strengthen our partnership.



Image 1 - five people sitting around a table , one person kneeling wearing pink trousers and a black jumper with pink hair. One person is wearing a red and pink jumper wearing red antlers. Another person wearing a green jacket, one in a leopard print top with glasses to the left hand side of the table. On the right side one person wearing a pink jumper and a Elf hat, the other person wearing a black shawl.

Image 2 - Large community room filled with people seated at multiple tables, some people in power wheelchairs and one walker. The tables have cups and snacks. At the back of the room a speaker stands in front of a TV screen mounted on the walls. The room has white walls, bright ceilings lights and a grey carpet.

Image 3 - Two people sat side by side, smiling pulling a Christmas cracker. Person on left wearing a black t-shirt and a red paper hat. Person on the right side wearing a green and black dress wearing a green paper hat. Behind them on a white wall is a mounted TV screen which says IMPACT
Independence
Meaningful Involvement
Person Centred
Accessibility
Co-production
Transformation

02/12/2025

Joanne McGee, our Policy & Participation Lead, spoke to STV News last night about Glasgow City Council The Avenues upgrade project. She was joined by two of our IMPACT group members, Ryan Hughes and Shiobhan Knox, who shared their own experiences of the city centre’s
ongoing accessibility issues.

The STV report highlights that parts of the Avenues project have created major barriers for disabled people. Uneven pavements, potholes, missing or displaced dropped kerbs, and unfamiliar layout changes are forcing many into unsafe situations.

For disabled people like Ryan and Shiobhan, this has meant being cut off from shops, transport, essential services and community spaces that should be easily accessible from their front door.

This goes far beyond inconvenience. It is a breach of equality, equity, dignity and independence.

It is inaccessible, and it is unacceptable.

As Pam Duncan-Glancy rightly stated, disabled people must be central to decisions like this — consulted, valued, and treated as collaborators in the design of our city’s streets.

We will continue to challenge the barriers created by inaccessible design and demand better for disabled people.

A huge thank you to Ryan and Shiobhan for sharing their experiences, and to STV News for platforming the voices of disabled people in Glasgow.

You can report damaged pavements or roads directly to Glasgow City Council using this link: www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/1779/Report-Road-Faults

27/11/2025

In Scotland, only around half of disabled people are in work, compared with almost 80% of non-disabled people.

This gap represents barriers, not abilities — barriers in recruitment, retention and workplace accessibility that continue to exclude disabled people from fair and equal employment.

This week, Close the Gap (2025) reported that only 36.4% of disabled women received reasonable adjustments immediately, while 18.6% never received adjustments at all.
These figures show how far we still have to go.

Meaningful change requires disabled people leading the work — but employers and organisations must also play their part. Workplaces must commit to removing barriers, investing in accessibility, and listening to disabled people as equal partners in designing better systems.

Fair, inclusive and sustainable employment can only be achieved when disabled people are front and centre, with employers actively supporting and acting on that leadership and expertise.

If you are a disabled person with lived and living experience of work, join Voices at Work and help lead the change.

📩 Email Stacey.Highfield@gcil.org.uk

📞 Call 0141 550 4455



Source: www.mygov.scot/helping-disabled-people-access-work

[Image description: A graphic split into two sections. On the left, a blue background with white text reads: “Did you know? Only 45.9% of disabled people in Scotland are in employment compared to 81.7% of non-disabled people (Scot Gov, 2025).” On the right is a photo of a wooden desk with a laptop, notebooks, a pen, paperclips, a glass of water, and a person’s hand resting on the laptop keyboard. The GCIL logo appears in the bottom right corner ]

26/11/2025

Have your say !!!!!!!!!!

Have your say on Community Transport and Active Travel!

We are working with Transport Scotland to gather views from disabled people on travelling within Scotland. This work is helping to shape the successor to the Accessible Travel Framework (ATF).

Take part and share your experiences by completing our two short surveys:

Community Transport: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/atfcommunitytransportsurvey/
Active Travel: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/atfactivetravelsurvey/

Easy Read versions of all surveys are also available.

All surveys will close at 5.00pm on Monday 5 January 2026.

25/11/2025

The Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) noted the billions of pounds spent on various pandemic measures but drew on evidence that these schemes, intended to support the employed, self employed, job seekers and those unable to work, all had carve-outs which served to exclude Disabled people.  

24/11/2025

Our SDS Development Workers, David & Bethany, went along to the Autisfun Group sc054332 Parent's Group last week to share all about Self-directed Support.

They explained how to get started with SDS and the ways you can spend your budget as well as taking some referrals to support people through the process.

We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the group and are looking forward to keeping in touch with Autisfun Group sc054332 .
Thank you so much for having us!

If you want to know more about Self-directed Support, then please get in touch at 0141-550-4455 or by email at gcil@gcil.org.uk .