November Updates

I’m writing this with a mug of tea in hand and paint samples scattered across the kitchen – but after months of chaos, the renovation is finally (almost) done. Soon I’ll have a proper working space again (and perhaps fewer takeaways…).

November is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month before I sneak off for a well-earned holiday in Kendal. In the meantime, I’m thrilled to be kicking off two new community groups – a Bristol meetup for professionals supporting disabled people at work, and an Access to Work practitioners group to share knowledge and good practice. Both have been a long time coming.

Before we all get swept up in the festive chaos, this month’s newsletter is packed with practical updates and resources – including a Spotlight on Wenta, and a reminder that Mel is available for advice sessions if you need support.

So, grab a cuppa and let’s get into it.

Quick tips

• Use it or lose it! You need to purchase or arrange funded support within 13 weeks of your award being made.
• Purchased a wheelchair with Access to Work funding? The person who makes the purchase owns the wheelchair and is responsible for its insurance and maintenance costs.
• Working as a self-employed Support Worker or Coach? It is your responsibility to get the necessary insurance, qualifications, ICO registration, and contracts.

News roundup

2nd October – Stephen Timms admits to signing an order to apply guidance more ‘scrupulously’

The Disability News Service reported that Stephen Timms (the social security and disability minister) admitted to signing off on orders for Access to Work staff to apply the guidance more ‘scrupulously’ after being presented with a ‘proposal’ from civil servants.

Read the full story on the Disability News Service website: Minister admits signing off on order that led to widespread cuts to Access to Work.

8th October – The Access to Work complaints email closes

Claimants emailing the complaints email were sent an automated reply explaining, ‘We are no longer responding to emails sent to this inbox’. Claimants are being advised to phone the helpline to make a complaint. Whilst the auto-response does accept that some claimants can’t make phone calls and will need communication to be by email instead, it does not explain what email address they should use.

Sources also confirm that Access to Work is trialling the removal of two-way email communication between claimants and their Case Managers. This is going to cause a number of issues for claimants if it is rolled out more widely.

You can read more in my LinkedIn posts at the time:

• LinkedIn post about complaints email closing
• LinkedIn post above wider changes to email communication

14th October – Access to Work official statistics released

New government data for 2024/25 reports:

• +17% increase in real-term expenditure on assessments and support
• –10% decrease in the number of people approved for funding
• –10% drop in spending on software and equipment
• 54% of awards still include Support Workers

I believe that the extent of cuts is being masked in this statistical release – it only goes up to April 2025, and cuts have been widely experienced as escalating since May. We also know that many claimants are on 3-year awards so payments made last year were approved before the recent rounds of cuts began.

You can look at the full statistical release on the Access to Work Statistics webpage.

The release was also covered in an article by the Disability News Service: Government figures show first signs of ‘perverse’ cuts to Access to Work.

15th October – Petition delivered to Downing Street

Key members of the Access to Work Collective, led by Dr Shani Dhanda and Jacqueline Winstanley, delivered a letter with over 17,000 signatures to number 10. The letter urged Labour leadership to “…urgently reform the Access to Work programme so that no disabled person, whether employed or self-employed, is forced out of work because of preventable barriers within the system.”

You can read more about this on the Access to Work Collective’s LinkedIn post.

27th October – Questions asked in parliament

A handful of MPs from across the main politica parties posed questions to Stephen Timms about cuts and changes to Access to Work. His answer remained consistent with the DWP narrative so far – there have been no policy changes, existing policy is being applied more scrupulously, and spending on Access to Work actually increased this year by 17% (which is true but not the full picture – see section on stats release above).

You can read the full parliamentary questions and answers on Hansard.

30th October – Government publishes Green Paper response

The Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green paper set out proposals to reform how the government supports disabled people and those with health conditions. This included a chapter on ‘Supporting employers and making work accessible’ covering, among other things, how Access to Work should be run in the future.

The government received 47,983 responses to its consultation. Although this response only covers broad themes (rather than examples of individual responses), it seems clear that there was strong support for the Access to Work scheme to stay fundamentally as it is, but with more resources and easier to navigate.

You can read the full Government response to the Pathways to Work Consultation on gov.uk.

Simply click the underlined text above to read each article.

What I’m up to in October, November and December

1. Regular Free Talks from NeuroRocket

Access to Work talks aimed at neurodivergent workers, run by NeuroRocket and delivered by me. There is always plenty of time to ask questions.

Timetable

7th November- Part 1: Before you apply

28th November- Part 3: Using and managing your grant

12th December – Part 1: Before you apply

Don’t worry if you can’t make it on the day – you will be sent a link to the recording to view later.

FREE 1:1 SUPPORT – After attending one of NeuroRocket’s talks, you will be eligible to book a fully funded 30-minute advice session with me. These sessions are funded by The People’s Postcode Lottery and NeuroRocket. Spaces are limited and aimed at those for whom cost is a barrier to support and who need help with their personal situation, rather than generic information.

2. Attending WECIL’s 30th Anniversary celebration ‘Access All Areas’, 4th November

Catch me hanging out at WECIL’s ‘Access All Areas’ event in Bristol. In addition to being an annual event, this marks their 30th anniversary. For 30 years, WECIL has challenged any barriers to independent living for Disabled people, working together to enable choice and providing services for all Disabled people, no matter their background or needs.

3. Bristol Professionals Meetup, 6th November

I’m really excited to invite you to a casual networking meetup for professionals in the Bristol area who support disabled people in the workplace.

I’ll be providing tea, coffee and hopefully cake!

If you have a professional interest in disability and work, then you are extremely welcome. Some examples might be: DEI professional, Assistive Technology trainer, Workplace Coach, Workplace Needs Assessor, Support Worker, HR professional, disability consultant, Job Coach, researcher, Supported Employment organisation, Assistive Technology supplier.

Please pass on this invite – the room has plenty of space 🙂. 

• What: FREE casual meetup for disability and work professionals in Bristol
• When: 6th November 2025, 2-4 pm
• Where: Pulp Room, St Anne’s House, Brislington, BS4 4AB
• How: let me know you’re coming, and if you have any dietary or access requirements 
• Access: carpark, 4 disabled spaces, ramp and accessible electric door, room is on the ground floor, accessible toilet

You can read more about St Anne’s House and accessibility at St Anne’s House.

4. Access to Work Practitioner’s Discussion Group, 11th November

I have set up a new discussion group for professionals who regularly support people with Access to Work – to share experiences and knowledge, develop community understanding, and share best practices. 

Our first meeting will focus on introductions and deciding how the group will run – including session frequency, topics, objectives, confidentiality, and roles.

Please get in touch if you would like to join.

5. Attending the second AtW Collective Stakeholder meeting, 12th November

I am a member of the Access to Work Stakeholder Advisory Board, supporting an academic study into the socio-economic impact of Access to Work, its value to the economy, workplace inclusion and individual wellbeing.

6. Facilitating discussion in London, 25th November

Urban Partners has asked me to facilitate a lunchtime discussion on ‘supporting disabled employees in the workplace’. This event will only be open to member organisations.

7. LinkedIn Live with Hazel and Devon, 10th December

I’ll be joining the fabulous Devon Lowndes and Hazel Lowndes for a webinar as part of their brand new leadership webinar series, ‘Beyond the Typical’. The webinar will go out live on LinkedIn at 11am, and we’ll be chatting all about disability in the workplace: Access to Work, adaptations, and support.

My regular monthly slot to showcase products, services, organisations, tools and strategies that you might find useful. This month, it’s Wenta.

Wenta offer practical, accessible support for people running their own business (including disabled entrepreneurs as well as self-employed Support Workers and Coaches). Their free 1:1 advice sessions cover everything from starting up to developing or restructuring a business, with advisers who understand the realities of self-employment.

They also provide help with writing business plans and run frequent webinars on useful topics such as time management, marketing, and AI. The sessions are friendly, down-to-earth, and designed to give you information you can actually use.

If you’re looking for clear, no-nonsense business guidance, Wenta is a great place to start: wenta.co.uk

Get help from me (and Mel!)

Mel is calm, practical and incredibly knowledgeable about Access to Work – the kind of person who makes even the most confusing government form feel (almost) manageable. Like me, she blends lived experience with professional expertise to help you prepare for assessments, sort out support, and generally feel a lot less lost in the process.

Working with Mel means you can get timely, compassionate support even when I’m knee-deep in consultancy work – and honestly, she’s fabulous company while helping you make sense of it all.

👉 Book a session with Mel today and get the clarity, confidence (and calm) you need to move forward:

• 30-minute advice session with Mel
• 60-minute advice session with Mel
• 90-minute advice session with Mel

Simply click the underlined text above to visit each session and my website.

That’s all for now

See you next month,

Alice 😊

P.S. Missed an issue of the newsletter? You can catch up in my newsletter archive.