Disability Positive has taken on key services from Dial West Cheshire (DWC), making sure that valued, disability-led support continues to be available to people across West Cheshire.
The move will bring DWC’s Advice Service, West Cheshire Autism Hub and associated Volunteering and Community Offer into Disability Positive.
The services transferred on 1st November 2026.
It follows several months of work to find a sustainable long-term home for the services at a time when reduced funding has put pressure on DWC’s organisational infrastructure.
Disability Positive has stepped forward because the services match with our mission and values, and are too important to local disabled people and their families to lose.
Lynne Turnbull, Chief Executive of Disability Positive, said:
“This is a positive and practical step to protect services that local people rely on. Disability Positive has the local knowledge, disability-led expertise and operational experience needed to give these services a secure and sustainable home.”
“Whilst we are saddened to see a fellow Disabled People’s Organisation like DWC have to close, our priority is to preserve specialist disability-led services, retain staff expertise and volunteer contribution, and provide a sustainable platform for future delivery.”
Disability Positive welcomes seven paid staff, together with volunteers from DWC. Teams will work together during the mobilisation and integration period to support a smooth transition and minimise disruption for people using the services.
Patricia Bell, Interim Chair of the Board of Trustees at Dial West Cheshire, said:
“The Board’s decision reflects our determination to safeguard effective, community-based services for disabled people. Disability Positive understands Cheshire, knows the communities these services support and has the skills and strong local relationships to provide stability at a critical time. This transfer provides a clear route to keeping these services available and strengthening them for the years ahead.”
The transfer will also strengthen collaboration across Cheshire’s disabled people’s movement by bringing services, staff expertise and volunteer involvement together within one disability-led organisation.
