Apply for the Disability Reference Group

Enfield Council is currently looking for people to express their interest in becoming a member of a Disability Reference Group that will help to shape projects delivered through the Council's Journeys and Places programme.

Enfield Council's Journeys and Places programme enables and encourages people in Enfield to make sustainable daily journeys for themselves and for our planet. We are connecting local people to local places for a greener, healthier future.

Apply here

The purpose of the Disability Reference Group

The Journeys and Places Disability Reference Group will be made up of Deaf and Disabled people who live, work or study in Enfield. The purpose of the group is to ensure that the views of Deaf and Disabled people are heard throughout the design phases to inform our Journeys and Places projects.

The role of group members is to:

• Contribute feedback on designs of Journeys and Places projects based on their lived experience as a Deaf or Disabled person who lives, works or studies in Enfield
• Share their personal experiences and/or views to help build an understanding across the Journeys and Places team of the needs of Deaf and Disabled people in relation to access; public spaces; road safety; walking, cycling, using public transport and getting around the borough in other ways; and other themes related to the Journeys and Places programme.

Who we’re looking for

We want to hear from people who are interested in sharing their personal experiences and views as part of the Disability Reference Group to help us build an understanding of the needs of Deaf and Disabled people in Enfield. The group is also open to Personal Assistants of Deaf and Disabled people in Enfield. The conversations had within the Disability Reference Group will inform Journeys and Places projects, but members’ comments and personal experiences will not be shared outside of the group members to protect the privacy of each person.

We are interested in hearing from people who:

• Have physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental health impairment(s), and
• Live, work or study within Enfield

You don’t need to have any previous experience of being in a similar group to take part – if you are interested in helping to shape projects on streets, in neighbourhoods and town centres in Enfield, then we want to hear from you. We will support all members to fully participate and contribute their opinions in a safe, respectful and inclusive space.

What you’ll be expected to contribute

Members of the Journeys and Places Disability Reference Group will be involved in conversations inviting them to share their personal experiences and opinions in relation to schemes which may impact accessibility, public space, road safety, walking, cycling, using public transport, and getting around the borough. We ask that members of the group:

• Commit to the Disability Reference Group for a 12-month period
• Attend at least two Disability Reference Group meetings a year (lasting no longer than 2 hours per meeting), sharing their views on the proposals presented
• Agree and sign the Terms of Reference for the Journeys and Places Disability Reference Group

Each member will be paid £100 per meeting for their attendance as compensation for their time, as well as any travel expenses.

How we will support members

Members of the Journeys and Places Disability Reference Group will be supported by a Chairperson, secretariat and Council officers. We will work with each member to understand how we can support them to attend meetings, interpret and understand any materials presented at meetings, contribute their views, and feel safe and able to do so. This will be discussed with each volunteer invited to become a member of the Journeys and Places Disability Reference Group.

How to apply

If you are interested in being part of the Disability Reference Group and meet the criteria set out above, please fill in our application form here (also in the tab 'Apply here' below).

Alternatively, you can email or call us using the details below and provide us with:

• Your name
• Your preferred email address and/or phone number, so that we can get in touch. This could be contact details for your personal assistant if that is easier for you.
• A brief statement of no more than 300 words on why you’re interested in volunteering as a member
• Confirmation that you live, work or study in Enfield, and which impairment(s) you live with. This will allow us to form a group of members which provides as wide a range of experiences as possible.

We will be selecting members to ensure a range of impairments are represented through the membership of the group. We will arrange a short phone call with shortlisted volunteers to speak about the role and brief you on what it means to be a member. If you require this to be a face-to-face meeting please make this clear in your application.

Applications have now closed

Discussions with shortlisted volunteers will take place from 25 to 29 September 2023

Enfield Council will inform people of the outcome of their application during the week of 9 October 2023. The first meeting of the Disability Reference Group with those selected as members will take place in early November.

If you have any questions, please contact us via the Q&A tool here (also below), by email to journeysandplaces@enfield.gov.uk or phone to 020 8132 2504 (please leave your name and number and we will call you back if not answered when you ring).