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The History of Herefordshire Centre of Independent Living (HCIL)
CILs were first developed in the USA during the 1970s as part of the civil rights movement and individual disabled people claiming their rights in law. During the 1980s CILs were created in this country by groups of disabled people who argued that things would not change unless disabled people themselves achieved control of the services and resources. During the early 1990s this was being recognised more acutely by disabled people in Herefordshire. A conference was organised in Ross-on-Wye, and disabled people voted unanimously that this would be their aim, and enthusiastically agreed a mission statement: ‘to use the skills and talents of disabled people to create a Centre for Integrated Living for Herefordshire.’
In the initial stages HCIL was a sub-group of GILD (Group for the Improved Living of Disabled People) and was nurtured and supported by them throughout its first two turbulent years. However, when local disabled people realised that they were not to be in control of this project, it was their collective wish to take back ownership of the idea, and form their own organisation to take this forward. Three public meetings gave HCIL a clear mandate to fulfil the mission statement.
The experience of other CILs had suggested that there are seven particular needs of independent living:
- Information
- Peer Support
- Housing
- Aids and Equipment
- Personal Assistance
- Transport
- Access
In 1996, after some lobbying, the Social Services recognised both their duties under new legislation, and the integrity of the newly formed Herefordshire Centre of Independent Living (HCIL), by negotiating a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with HCIL to provide the Support Service to disabled people assessed as being entitled to Direct Payments (cash for the individual person to buy their own Personal Assistance). This was a major step forward not only for the individuals involved but also of HCIL. Also, a giant stride towards addressing those seven needs.
Now included in HCIL’s growing services is a more sophisticated Independent Living Service (ILS) that is something midway between Direct Payments and other Home Care Agencies. It facilitates independent living but still under the control of the service user. A newsletter covering all aspects of independent living and a Service User Involvement Forum has been set up that involves service-users in the running of HCIL. For a full list of HCIL’s services go to Our Services page.
HCIL has yet, however, to address that part of the original vision that wants to see not only a display of aids and equipment for daily living, but also a sympathetic environment where people can try them out. The aim is to develop an accessible resource centre.
Having achieved so much already, who knows what may be possible in the future!
If you are interested in becoming involved in HCIL please go to the Contact Us or Join Us page. We welcome non-disabled people as non-voting associate members, as well as organisations that subscribe to our aims.
