Catch up with Ceara Chamberlin, Newlife’s Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager, after her recent visit to Westminster to launch a new All Party Parliamentary Group.
There’s a unique kind of energy that comes with walking into Westminster; a mix of tradition, responsibility and possibility. Last week, marked a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to champion the needs of children with disabilities. Alongside our colleagues at the British Healthcare Trade Association, we were proud to support parliamentarians launch a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Access to Disability Equipment, which will act as a powerful platform with the potential to influence real change.
But first, you might be thinking, what is an APPG?
APPGs are informal, cross-party groups made up of MPs and members of the House of Lords. They bring together Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to focus on specific issues. While they don’t have formal legislative power, their role is vital in shaping discussion, raising awareness, and building consensus on matters that might not always make the headlines.
So, what do APPGs actually do and why are they important?
APPGs are able to provide a platform to share lived experience, research and professional insight to be shared directly with policymakers. They shine a light on underrepresented issues, that may not always be on the political agenda.
Members of the APPG come together for regular meetings and events and work to publish reports which can advocate for policy change.
APPGs are important as they have the potential to drive systemic change. They influence government policy by engaging policymakers. As they’re cross party in nature they build cross-party support, ensuring that issues gain traction regardless of political shifts.
What role will Newlife play in the APPG?
Working collaboratively with our colleagues at the British Healthcare Trade Association, we will ensure parliamentarians are aware of the key issues people face when trying to access specialist equipment.
By contributing to APPG discussions and reports, we can ensure the concerns of the families we support, especially those who are often overlooked, are heard loud and clear. By working with other organisations, professionals and industry leaders, our collective voice will be louder and by sharing real-life experiences we can propose recommendations that ensure real challenges are being addressed with practical, informed solutions.
At the inaugural meeting, we were joined by 12 parliamentarians and were able to elect our Chair, Daniel Francis MP, who brings a personal perspective with insight and empathy as a parent of a child with cerebral palsy and an equipment user. We were also delighted to be joined by Josh Newbury MP, our constituency MP who has been a great champion of our work.
We had some interesting discussions on issues like equipment recycling, long assessment waiting times and the role of local authorities in providing essential equipment.
While the issues we’re tackling aren’t new, the level of engagement and interest shown by MPs was genuinely encouraging. With a mix of newly elected parliamentarians and those with personal lived experience, there’s a clear appetite for action.
This APPG gives us not just a voice, but a seat at the table and we’re excited about the opportunities it brings to advocate for meaningful, lasting change.