Liverpool's new Lord Mayor, Councillor William Shortall, the city's first wheelchair user in its 819-year history, has announced plans to highlight inclusion and accessibility during his tenure. He has also chosen the Greenbank Project as his charity of the year.
Councillor Shortall stated: "As the first wheelchair user to hold this office in our city's 819-year history, I am deeply proud to represent a community that values inclusion, resilience and opportunity for all."
Born and educated in Liverpool, Councillor Shortall earned his law degree through part-time study with The Open University and the Chester College of Law, balancing community volunteering with life as a wheelchair user due to muscular dystrophy, a progressive muscle-wasting condition.
As chair of the city council's Corporate Access Forum, he leads efforts to champion accessibility, strengthen inclusive policy, and ensure disabled residents' voices shape decision-making.
The Greenbank Project, based in Greenbank Lane, provides education, sport, and employment opportunities for disabled people. Founded by wheelchair users Gerry Kinsella and Vincent Ross, who now co-runs DaVinci Mobility in Gillmoss, the charity raised £30,000 through a tandem wheelchair marathon from Land's End to John O'Groats.
Those wishing to donate to The Lord Mayor's Charity should contact Liverpool Town Hall at 0151 351 2200 or email lord.mayor@liverpool.gov.uk.
Access to Work Scheme Gets Boost
Meanwhile, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that tens of thousands of disabled people needing support to enter or remain in work will have their claims processed faster. Nearly 500 new staff are being recruited to speed up the heavily criticised Access to Work scheme, which funds specialist equipment, support workers including British Sign Language interpreters, and travel costs for people with health conditions and disabilities.
The recruitment drive will see 480 new case managers and caseworkers employed to clear the backlog by September 2027, a 72% increase from the current 658 staff. Demand has surged, with claims more than doubling since 2018/19, leaving around 60,000 applicants awaiting decisions, including a backlog of 48,270 from June 2024.
Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: "Access to Work is a lifeline for disabled people and those with health conditions, helping them to start and stay in work, but when I came to the DWP it was clear there was a major issue with people waiting for a decision. That's why I'm taking action to clear the backlog, because we know that the right support can change lives. This is part of our wider commitment to move from a welfare state to a working state, building an economy that works for everyone."
Wider reforms are being considered, with evidence from disabled people, employers, and representative organisations shaping future changes to ensure the scheme remains fair and sustainable.
Roisin Jacklin, RNIB policy lead, commented: "This is a much-needed step towards tackling the severe backlog that has left blind and partially sighted people waiting around a year, and in some cases far longer, for vital support. It's had a devastating impact, with many affected unable to carry out large parts of their role, and some even losing their jobs altogether. If the Government is serious about enabling more disabled people to enter and stay in work, Access to Work must be adequately resourced, responsive, and consistent."
Evan John, policy adviser at Sense, added: "Sense is really pleased to hear the Government is investing in Access to Work scheme. It pays for essential support such as British Sign Language interpreters and refreshable braille displays. We hear far too often from people we support that they have waited too long for this support to come through, which in the worst scenarios has resulted in people turning down job offers or leaving employment. Every disabled person who wants to work deserves a fair opportunity to do so."
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Mencap, said: "This recruitment drive is a positive step in tackling the systematic delays and bogged down administration that has threatened this vital programme. People with a learning disability can be fantastic employees, but many will need the right support to thrive in the workplace."
Harriet Oppenheimer, chief executive of RNID, stated: "We are pleased to see the Government have acknowledged the scale and impact that Access to Work delays are having on disabled people and are investing in clearing the scheme's backlog. Being able to access the tools and support needed to work is essential. For many people who are deaf, especially BSL users who rely on interpretation, the scheme is vital to get the communication support they need to be able to do their jobs effectively."
