Organisation Info

Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, 259 Whitegate Drive
259 Whitegate Drive
FY3 9JL

Cumberland
Westmorland and Furness
Blackburn with Darwen
Blackpool
Burnley
Chorley
Fylde
Hyndburn
Lancaster
Pendle
Preston
Ribble Valley
Rossendale
South Ribble
West Lancashire
Wyre

Disability First Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) has supported people since 1992, providing services across Lancashire and Cumbria. We celebrated our 25th Anniversary last year.
The organisation provides a portfolio of overlapping services that aim to promote health and wellbeing, enabling people with long term health conditions of all ages, to live independently. We provide a range of projects and services for Disabled People in Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and also in Cumbria.

We are one of the few charities on the Fylde Coast that provide a comprehensive Welfare Benefit Service. At grass roots level we help people with disabilities and their families to complete disability benefit forms, on a one to one basis. We also give advice by phone and support clients through the benefits appeal process. Our volunteers support the clients emotionally at what can be a daunting and stressful experience, and express our client’s difficulties in their forms, to ensure they receive the financial support they need. This is especially important for our clients with mental health problems, autism or learning difficulties.

Our Specialist Advice Service for Asbestos Related Conditions has existed since 2010 and aims to reduce the stress and worry of completing complex welfare benefit forms. We are members of the nationally recognised Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK (AVSGF) and work closely with Mesothelioma UK, a national specialist resource centre specifically for the asbestos related cancer. We also facilitate Cumbria & Lancashire Asbestos Support Advice Group which has specialist nurses in attendance and speakers with specialisms in asbestos related conditions.