Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living

30/03/2026

Last Thursday, we welcomed members and partners to GCIL’s Biennial General Meeting, reflecting on the past two years and looking ahead to our future priorities.

We highlighted continued delivery of independent living support, growing influence through participation and policy work, and the evolution of our Equality Academy. We also marked our 30th anniversary, including our recent parliamentary reception and anniversary report.

We took time to remember those we have lost, including our former CEO Etienne d'Aboville, and Board members Alan Dick and Des McCaffrey, recognising their lasting contribution to GCIL and the wider disabled people’s movement.

We also marked the retirement of our Chair, Dr Jim Elder-Woodward, OBE, after 30 years of dedicated service to the organisation, with our sincere thanks for his leadership and commitment over three decades.

Our audited accounts show a stable position alongside increasing financial pressures, with a clear focus on sustainability and impact.

Looking ahead, we will build on new opportunities, including delivering the DPO Pilot with the Independent Living Fund and delivering a Disability Competence Programme for Scottish Government.

Pauline Boyce, CEO, said: “Over the past 30 years, GCIL has shown the power of disabled people leading change. As we look ahead, our focus is on building on that legacy, strengthening our impact, securing our sustainability, and ensuring lived experience continues to shape the systems that affect our lives.”

We thank everyone who continues to support our work and share our commitment to rights, equality and independent living.

(Image description continued in the comments)

22/03/2026

GCIL Update for Personal Assistants

The Scottish Government confirms an annual pay uplift for Adult Social Care workers rising to £13.45/hour from April 2026.

This uplift recognises the vital work PAs do every day.

Plus: £20 million extra funding from the Scottish Government to support fair pay across Social Care and move towards the Real Living Wage.

Thank you, PAs — you are the heart of independent living.

22/03/2026

The Foundation Inclusive Communication Toolkit for Scotland is launching!

Developed in partnership by Disability Equality Scotland and Communication Inclusion People, alongside a wide network of organisations and public bodies.

This online resource will help public bodies make communication with public services easier for everyone.
Save the date: 24 March

Image description: Graphic promoting the Foundation Inclusive Communication Toolkit for Scotland, launching 24 March 2026. Includes a calendar icon showing March 24, icons of two standing people and a wheelchair user, and logos for Communication Inclusion People and Disability Equality Scotland.

17/03/2026

Calling all PA Employers AND Personal Assistants!
Whether you employ a PA, are looking to hire one, or you’re a PA yourself, your local Personal Assistants Network Scotland (PANS) group is a fantastic place for support, networking, and job opportunities. 💬🤝 👇

PAs, prospective PAs, Employers and Employer family members can join our local authority groups. You do not have to be a PANS Member.

How-to get connected:
✅Select your closest local authority via the links below
✅Join Group
✅Answer the two joining questions – we ask everyone to complete this to ensure the group stays relevant and to prevent spam.
✅You will be accepted shortly by one of our moderators

Ayrshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bhrtt2rX3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Moray https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CCvcumJaa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Glasgow https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GuBFY6YW9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Edinburgh (New) https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FYgJqNjPp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Dundee + Angus https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BqmVzcqj7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

South Lanarkshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GLfezCkzz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Shetland https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Aba6YW9dj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Forth Valley https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1C7BADCCtV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Mull + Iona https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CEhGFH8M1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Aberdeenshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1QAYJ9kQ1i/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Highlands https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Fogx2UHHc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

East Dunbartonshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Hr9g5e88M/?mibextid=wwXIfr

West Dunbartonshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CB6SNfAcd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fife https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9QLuDP3q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Lochaber https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DbJdNtzKD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/03/2026

Our Support Service in South Lanarkshire recently visited South Lanarkshire college to talk all things Personal Assistants. With our aim to share the importance of this role in the work we do, link below to the article shared with permission from South Lanarkshire Council.

https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/view/news/article/2885/Students_show_enthusiasm_for_muchneeded_social_care_role

Image description: 6 people stood, 3 at each side, in front on two roller banners. These are for both GCIL South Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership. , and a mounted tv screen. It reads 'What are the job opportunities?'.

09/03/2026

Housing and accessibility can have a big impact on disabled people’s independence and daily life.

Housing is part of our Cost of Living 2026 survey series. This survey asks about your home, accessibility changes, and whether your housing meets your needs.

Your voice will help us influence decision-makers and improve housing and support for disabled people.

Easy Read versions of the survey are available.

Take part and share your views: https://disabilityequality.scot/news/cost-of-living-survey-2026

Please complete our cost of living surveys by Friday 13 March.

09/03/2026

🗳️Hustings Event for Women in Scotland

Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Elections, The Scottish Women’s Convention (SWC) is hosting an in-person women-only hustings conference.

📍 Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel, Glasgow
🗓 Saturday 11th April | 11am–1pm

This public forum gives election candidates the opportunity to present their manifestos, outline their policies and answer your questions directly. It’s your chance to hear from candidates, raise the issues that matter to you and be part of meaningful democratic discussion.

🥗 A complimentary buffet lunch will be served.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation.

Reserve your free place today: https://bit.ly/4u7d60K

03/03/2026

Please take a few minutes to take our survey.

27/02/2026

Our Policy & Participation Lead, Joanne McGee, recently attended Scotland's Disability Summit 2026 at The Scottish Government .

The event brought together disabled people, organisations and decision-makers, focusing on turning lived experience into action and shaping a more inclusive Scotland.

At GCIL, we are committed to keeping inclusion, accessibility and rights at the heart of everything we do.

Joanne is pictured here with Jeremy Balfour MSP and Alison Johnstone MSP.



Image description 1: Two women , Joanne McGee from GCIL and Alison Johnstone MSP, stood in front of screens that reads 'Scotland's Disability Summit. Thank you for joining us.'

2. Joanne McGee from GCIL and Jeremy Balfour MSP , stood side by side in front of a concrete pillar at Scotland's Disability Summit 2026.

26/02/2026

We have been asked to share something from our friends over at Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland they recently launched their Choose Opportunity Campaign and are requesting signatures for their call to action. These signatures should ideally come from professionals. The deadline for Signatures is Thursday 5th March, 5pm.

By signing, you would be showing your support for the following calls to action, alongside your own organisations’ calls for the Holyrood election:

1. A Disabled People’s Access and Opportunities Bill which would include measures to improve accessibility, act on the cost of disability, and give disabled people the chances to reach their full potential. Measures such as:
• Creating a proactive accessibility body, with inspection powers, ability to enforce improvements and promote universal design principles.
• Introducing a Transition to Adulthood Guarantee for all disabled young people, offering them support they need to plan and achieve their goals.
• Abolishing non-residential social care charges.
• Creating a Cost of Disability Commission, which would report annually on the cost of disability, the effectiveness of Scottish Government and Local Authority interventions and advise on increases to financial support.
• Setting legally binding targets to reduce disabled people’s poverty and reduce the disability employment gap.
2. Increase financial support as a central part of efforts to reduce disabled people’s poverty.
3. Improve access to respite making sure that respite is available quickly when parents and carers need it.
4. Support more and better quality job opportunities for disabled people.
5. Fairer funding for charities, giving them more long-term certainty to meet rising costs and rising demand.

19/02/2026

Today we launch our Cost of Living 2026 survey: What is it like to live in Scotland as a disabled person?

Last year, disabled people told us about the difficult choices they were facing due to rising costs. This included high energy bills, increased housing costs, and the cost of essential equipment. Prices are continuing to rise, and there have been changes to benefits and services. We want to understand what has changed.

If you are a disabled person living in Scotland, please take part in our surveys on household finances, housing, work and education, and access to services. Your experiences will help us influence decision-makers and improve support.

Easy Read versions are available for all surveys.

Take part and share your views:
https://disabilityequality.scot/news/cost-of-living-survey-2026/

10/02/2026

A charity is calling for an immediate halt to floating bus stops, branding them “dangerous and life-threatening” for people with visual impairment.