About BDRC

The Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (BDRC) is an organisation based in Yardley, Birmingham providing a range of independent support services to disabled people, their families and carers in Birmingham.

The BDRC also provides a range of services to support voluntary & community sector organisations, employers and businesses.

Constitution

The Centre was formed in 1994 and its purpose, as set out in its Articles and Memorandum of Association is:

‘To relieve persons whose impairment or the nature of their condition subjects them to physical, mental or sensory disability by the provision of a Centre, known as the Birmingham Disability Resource Centre through which persons with disabilities may realise their full potential as individuals and as members of society.  The Centre shall be provided for all people with disabilities, irrespective of the nature of their impairment or condition, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs or ethnic origin.’

Using the Social Model of Disability the Centre helps disabled people to take control of their own lives and supports their transition from the margins of society into the heart of the mainstream. The BDRC is committed to achieving equality of opportunity in all areas of service, whether people experience disability or not.  The BDRC recognises that whilst disability can be a specific form of social exclusion and oppression, disabled peoples’ experience of it may also be affected by their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, class, educational attainment, upbringing, income and other forms of social exclusion.

Services Currently Provided

The BDRC is a registered charity (No 1034581) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 2897250) and currently provides:-

• An information and advice service covering a wide range of disability issues
• Benefits advice and support
• Support groups and activities for disabled people including arts & crafts and music & prose
• A youth club for young people aged 16 to 25
• A confidential counselling service for disabled people with depression or anxiety
• Information, advice and guidance on employment, training and learning opportunities
• Voluntary and works experience placements for disabled people
• Fully accessible ICT facilities, conference facilities and meeting rooms
• A base for Strawberry Studios, a Local Authority funded training facility operating a café/restaurant and delivery service run by learning disabled people.

The BDRC also provides a range of fee-paying business services which have an emphasis on disability and which assist organisations and employers to become more aware of disability equality issues and their requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 including:-

• Disability Equality Training
• Disability Discrimination Act Training
• Access Audits
• Consultancy services such as advice & guidance on working practices, policies and procedures to help identify and remove barriers faced by disabled people

Service Quality

All of the BDRC’s information and advice services are MATRIX accredited.  As a minimum requirement, all of our staff are qualified to NVQ level 3 to deliver information, advice and & guidance service. Infact, all of our current staff have obtained their NVQ level 4 qualification.  Our trainers are also appropraitely qualified to teach adult learners.

The BDRC also possesses the Investors in People (IIP) and the Positive About Disabled People 'Two Ticks' standards.

Data Protection & Confidentiality

All of our services comply with Data Protection legislation and client information is kept strictly private & confidential in line with our Confidentiality and Data Protection policies.

Mission and Vision Statements

Our Mission Statement is:

“To support disabled people to take control of their own lives and to actively seek out opportunities to achieve their full potential as individuals in mainstream society."

Our Vision is:

To be the lead authority in the Midlands on disability issues

To be seen as a Centre of Excellence and of choice providing accessible person-centred services which meet the needs of disabled people and their support networks.

To actively work towards the creation of a fairer society through research, education, training, raising awareness and promoting the rights and needs of disabled people.

To be seen as a Centre of Excellence for the delivery of high quality services to business to assist them to work towards disability compliance and equity.

To find out more or to visit our Centre in Yardley, call us on 0121 789 7365.