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Accessibility, Advocacy and Participation Lead: Cornwall Disability Alliance
disAbility Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Job Title - Accessibility, Advocacy and Participation Lead: Cornwall Disability Alliance
Salary - £35,500 per annum
Reports to - CEO disAbility Cornwall (on behalf of the Cornwall Disability Alliance)
Duration - Fixed term for 3 years, with potential for extension subject to funding
Place of work - Office-based in Hayle and various locations with partner organisations across Cornwall; flexible and hybrid working options available.
Working hours - 37 per week, Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4.30pm. There is also the possibility of an 8.30am start. On occasions activity may happen at weekends, so a willingness to work a Saturday once or twice a year.
Primary Purpose
To lead the strategic delivery of the Cornwall Disability Alliance (CDA), ensuring disabled people's voices influence policy, services and decision-making across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Working on behalf of the CDA's member organisations, the post-holder will build partnerships, coordinate co-production, translate evidence into action and represent the CDA within strategic forums. They will ensure the findings of the Big Disability Survey, together with wider evidence and lived experience, drive meaningful improvements in accessibility, inclusion and equality.
The post-holder will act as the CDA’s Accessibility Champion, leading strategic co-production and influencing improvements in accessibility, inclusion and disability rights.
The post-holder will be a confident relationship builder, strategic thinker and effective communicator who can identify opportunities for change, influence decision-makers and strengthen the collective impact of the CDA.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Representation
- Lead delivery of the CDA Strategy and annual delivery plan.
- Represent the CDA at strategic meetings, conferences and public events.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with CDA members, senior leaders, elected members, commissioners, public bodies and community organisations.
- Monitor emerging issues with legislation and policy where there is an adverse impact on disabled people, providing strategic intelligence and identifying opportunities to influence change.
- Act as the Alliance's Accessibility Champion, promoting accessibility by design and supporting organisations to embed inclusive practice across policies, services, environments, communications and digital systems, through resources and Toolkits.
- Act as an ambassador for the CDA, promoting its vision, values and collective voice.
- Identify emerging issues affecting disabled people and develop opportunities for the CDA to respond through policy, campaigns, partnership activity or new projects.
Participation, Evidence and Influencing
- Lead co-production and engagement activity that ensures disabled people meaningfully influence decisions affecting their lives.
- Lead the delivery, promotion and impact of the Big Disability Survey, ensuring findings inform policy, service development and strategic planning.
- Present evidence and recommendations to a wide range of audiences, including public bodies, health partners, elected members and community organisations.
- Produce accessible reports, presentations, policy briefings and consultation responses.
- Support and influence improvements in accessibility, inclusion and equality.
- Build and maintain networks of disabled people, carers and community organisations to support ongoing engagement and participation.
Alliance Coordination
- Coordinate the effective day-to-day operations of the CDA
- Provide administrative and organisational support to ensure the Alliance operates efficiently
- Organise meetings, prepare agendas, papers, minutes, action logs and speakers, ensuring agreed actions are progressed.
- Oversee and craft new website and social media content, in partnership with the marketing team
- Maintain effective communication across Alliance members and stakeholder networks.
Partnership Development and Communications
- Develop collaborative projects and initiatives that strengthen the Alliance and increase its impact.
- Plan and deliver engagement activities, awareness campaigns and communications that raise the profile of the CDA in partnership with the marketing team
- Support collaboration between member organisations through effective communication, networking and sharing of opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to secure additional funding, partnerships and investment that support sustainability.
Governance and Performance
- Monitor progress against agreed objectives and project outcomes.
- Prepare reports for funders and others as required, demonstrating impact and value.
- Ensure activity is delivered in line with funding requirements, governance arrangements and organisational policies and oversee allocated project budgets responsibly.
- Contribute to the continuous development of the CDA and identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Person Specification
Essential Knowledge
- Understanding of disability rights, equality legislation and the Social and Disability Justice Models of disability.
- Understanding of co-production, participation and community engagement.
- Understanding of the barriers experienced by disabled people and the importance of lived experience in shaping services.
- Knowledge of the public, voluntary & Community or health sectors and how policy and decision-making influences services.
- Travel Requirements: This role requires regular travel across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to visit partner organisations, attend meetings, events and visits to work sites. As some locations may not be accessible by public transport, access to a vehicle for work-related travel throughout Cornwall is essential. Mileage expenses will be reimbursed in line with the organisation's travel policy. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to ensure equal opportunity for all candidates. Please contact the hiring manager for an informal conversation about the role and its requirements.
Essential Experience
- Building partnerships and working collaboratively across organisations.
- Advocacy, influencing or policy-related work.
- Delivering projects, programmes or engagement activities.
- Using evidence, research or lived experience to influence decision-making.
- Producing reports, presentations, briefings or consultation responses.
- Representing an organisation or partnership within stakeholder meetings or public forums.
- Experience of facilitating meetings, workshops or co-production activity.
Essential Skills
- Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to think strategically and identify opportunities for positive change.
- Ability to analyse complex information and communicate it clearly to different audiences.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver agreed outcomes.
- Excellent written communication and report-writing skills.
- Ability to engage, influence and build consensus across diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
Personal Attributes
- Passionate about disability rights, equality and inclusion.
- Proactive, self-motivated and solution-focused.
- Politically aware with sound judgement and professionalism.
- Confident representing the views of disabled people in strategic environments.
- Collaborative, approachable and committed to continuous learning.
Desirable
- Lived experience of disability, long-term health condition, neurodivergence or caring responsibilities.
- Experience of policy development, strategic influencing or public affairs.
- Experience of media engagement or public campaigning.
- Experience of grant funding or partnership development.
- Experience of research, survey analysis or data interpretation.
- Experience of creating accessible communications and using digital engagement tools.
What Success Looks Like
Within the first three years, the successful post-holder will have:
- Strengthened the profile, credibility and influence of the CDA
- Built productive relationships with CDA members, public bodies and strategic partners.
- Ensured the findings of the Big Disability Survey have been presented and are demonstrably influencing local policy, services and decision-making.
- Successfully delivered engagement, co-production and awareness initiatives that have improved accessibility and inclusion.
- Secured additional funding, partnerships or collaborative opportunities that strengthen the CDA's long-term impact.
- Helped establish the CDA as the recognised collective voice of disabled people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
- Established and maintained an active programme of co-production that influences local decision-making.
About Us
disAbility Cornwall & Isles of Scilly is a disabled people’s user led organisation, a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Our mission is to represent, include, support and empower (RISE) people living with a long-term health condition or disability, their families and carers in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We do this via an extensive range of services and activities and by working at a strategic level to ensure the voices of disabled people are heard.
Values
Our values represent what is important to us as an independent, user-led organisation. They guide our actions and behaviours as we work together towards our vision of ‘A fully inclusive society, with equity of opportunity for all’:
- Our passion for equity – inspiring each other and demonstrating fairness, commitment and accountability.
- Respect for self and others – being open minded, reliable and approachable, acting with integrity in everything we do.
- Being supportive – having an inclusive, positive, and empathic approach to supporting others and ourselves.
We have a diverse workforce, and we are always striving to enhance our diversity, we welcome applicants of all identities including disability, gender, ethnicity, faith, age, sexuality, and people who have caring responsibilities. We carry out work health assessments to ensure that the job is a good fit for the individual and that any necessary adjustments or support can be provided to help them succeed in their role.
Benefits
- Training & Development opportunities
- Generous annual leave allowance of 31 days in the first year and increasing year on year increasing to a maximum of 43 days (pro-rata for part time employees)
- Great facilities and free parking at our office
- A day off on your birthday
- A great work life balance culture.
We are a friendly and supportive team of people with diverse backgrounds, highly motivated to drive change and improve the lives of disabled people, their carers and families. We take a flexible approach to support each member of our team to reach their full potential.
How to apply:
Please apply via our secure online link.
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Complete the application form.
Interview dates: Arranged as suitable candidates are identified.
Successful candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK, two references, undergo a DBS check and a work health assessment.
Closing date: Wednesday 19th August 2026
Applicant Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring Form:
As an organisation we want to surpass the aims and commitments set out in our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. This includes following the appropriate equalities laws, including the Equality Act 2010, building an accurate picture of our workforce, monitoring our diversity and inclusion efforts, and striving to continuously improve. Completing the form is voluntary and anonymous. The information provided will be kept confidential and separate from the recruitment selection process. The information is only used for monitoring purposes.
Please copy and paste the link below into your browser if you would like to complete the Applicant Equity Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring Form:
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Pay: £35,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Hayle
