Independent Lives

Independent Lives Independent Lives is a user-led charity working to change the lives of disabled people, people with support needs and carers.

Our vision is for a fair society where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Be part of our community! 📬Sign up to receive our newsletter every 3 months with updates on Direct Payments, social care...
28/04/2026

Be part of our community! 📬

Sign up to receive our newsletter every 3 months with updates on Direct Payments, social care developments, upcoming local events, and stories from Independent Lives.

Subscribe now - https://www.independentlives.org/newsletter-sign-up/

MEET OUR PATRON 👋You've probably seen his name, but let's properly introduce you to George Dowell MBE!George is the owne...
23/04/2026

MEET OUR PATRON 👋

You've probably seen his name, but let's properly introduce you to George Dowell MBE!

George is the owner of Worthing Football Club and has been championing Independent Lives as our Patron. His commitment to inclusion and breaking down barriers in our community is exactly why we're lucky to have him on our side.

We recently watched his brilliant TEDx talk together at our Thrive Conference, if you haven't seen it yet, search "George Dowell TEDx" on YouTube. Trust us, it's worth a watch! 🎥

21/04/2026

What an incredible day! 🙌

Thank you to everyone who joined us for THRIVE, your energy, ideas, and passion made our 25th anniversary celebration truly special.

A huge thank you to our speakers, our Patron George Dowell MBE, Lisa Kerr of Think Exceptionally and Simon Wilson, for inspiring us all, and to every single person who shared their insights and helped shape the future of our work.

We're also incredibly grateful to our sponsors, Bowers & Wilkins, Pear Properties, Kendricks Coffee and Mark Bates, who made this event possible, your support means the world to us and the communities we serve.

Here's to the next chapter! 💙

Today we're celebrating 25 years of changing lives! 🎉For a quarter of a century, we've been proud to work as a user-led ...
16/04/2026

Today we're celebrating 25 years of changing lives! 🎉

For a quarter of a century, we've been proud to work as a user-led charity and social enterprise, supporting disabled people, those with support needs, and carers across our community.

We're marking this milestone with our Spring conference 'THRIVE', bringing together supporters to celebrate how far we've come and shape where we're headed next, alongside our Patron George Dowell MBE, Owner of Worthing FC.

Watch this space for highlights throughout the day! 👀

💜 As a Personal Assistant, you're often closer to someone's daily life than almost anyone else.Coercive and controlling ...
14/04/2026

💜 As a Personal Assistant, you're often closer to someone's daily life than almost anyone else.

Coercive and controlling behaviour is a form of domestic abuse that can affect people of all gender, and it can be easy to miss. It's also a criminal offence carrying up to 5 years in prison.

If something feels off, trust that instinct. Use professional curiosity, ask open, gentle questions and give the person space to talk.

If you're concerned about someone:
✅ Raise a safeguarding with your local authority
✅ Make a report to the police

Support is available through organisations such as:
🔹 Refuge
🔹 Women's Aid
🔹 Paul Lavelle Foundation

Your awareness could make all the difference.

10/04/2026

🌟 We're looking for our next Chair of the Board!

Independent Lives is entering an exciting period of growth, and we're searching for an experienced leader to help guide us forward.

As Chair, you'll work closely with our CEO and a passionate, user-led Board, where 75% of trustees have lived experience of disability, to shape our strategy, strengthen our governance, and ensure disabled people remain at the heart of every decision we make.

We're looking for someone who:

✅ Is passionate about choice, control and independence for disabled people
✅ Has experience chairing a board or leading strategic discussions
✅ Values diversity and the importance of lived experience
✅ Communicates confidently with a wide range of people

Personal experience of disability or caring is highly valued, but what matters most is your commitment to our values.

This is a voluntary role, but the difference you'll make is real. If you want to help shape the future of our organisation and the lives of the people we support across the Southern Counties, we'd love to hear from you.

👉

Finding the right PA, or the right role, makes all the difference. 💜 So far this year, we've helped 58 people make that ...
09/04/2026

Finding the right PA, or the right role, makes all the difference. 💜

So far this year, we've helped 58 people make that match.

👉 Head to our PA Pages, comment below, or DM us to see how we can help you too.

Our work is directed by the people who know best - our members and customers. 🙌We are run by the people who use our serv...
07/04/2026

Our work is directed by the people who know best - our members and customers. 🙌

We are run by the people who use our services and led by a board of trustees directly accountable to all other members.

Head over to our website to find out more about our board members.

👉 https://www.independentlives.org/about-us/meet-the-team/meet-our-board/

🌸 BIG NEWS! Our 25th Anniversary Spring Raffle is HERE! 🎉For just £2 a ticket, you could win some incredible prizes, inc...
03/04/2026

🌸 BIG NEWS! Our 25th Anniversary Spring Raffle is HERE! 🎉

For just £2 a ticket, you could win some incredible prizes, including Bowers & Wilkins headphones worth £379, family days out, restaurant vouchers and so much more!

Tickets are just £2 and every single one supports Independent Lives.
The draw takes place on 16 April, don't miss out!

Use the following link to enter - https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/thrive-2026-25th-anniversary-celebratory-conference

🚨 The way Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) works is changing from 6 April. 🚨 SSP will be paid from the first day of sickness, in...
02/04/2026

🚨 The way Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) works is changing from 6 April. 🚨

SSP will be paid from the first day of sickness, instead of the fourth day. All employees will be eligible for SSP from 6 April, regardless of what they earn.

For more guidance, use the links below or contact our Information, Advice and Guidance team on 01903 219482 (option 3).

👉 https://pa-pages.org/news/employment-rights-act-2025-what-direct-payment-employers-need-to-know/

👉 https://www.acas.org.uk/checking-sick-pay/statutory-sick-pay-ssp

2025 in numbers: Our advisers delivered 14,511 hours of phone support to Direct Payment employers.That’s thousands of co...
26/03/2026

2025 in numbers: Our advisers delivered 14,511 hours of phone support to Direct Payment employers.

That’s thousands of conversations helping people set up and manage their Direct Payments, understand their responsibilities as employers, and get the support they need to employ Personal Assistants with confidence.

Thank you to our team for the time, knowledge and support they provide every day.

👉 Learn more about our impact in 2025 https://www.independentlives.org/about-us/our-impact/

Address

11 Liverpool Gardens, Southfield House
Worthing
BN111RY

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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Independent Lives is a user-led charity working with disabled people, people with support needs, and carers

We work directly with disabled people, and parents and carers of disabled children

Providing a Direct Payments support service to help people arrange and manage their own personalised care and support. We offer banking, payroll, and recruitment services so people can manage their own budgets and personal assistants. Our Care Service provides personalised home-based care and support. We engage with disabled people living in the local community through user-led support and action groups and our volunteer programme, and campaign on the rights of disabled people.

We also work with health and social care professionals