CEO and Founder.
Charlotte Throssel
I trust this website provides you with valuable insight into the work of Disability Support, the individuals involved, and our mission.
Let’s start with who I am.
I was born at the end of 1979 and am the eldest of three children. My disability took everyone by surprise and was a deciding factor in putting me up for adoption.
As someone living with phocomelia, I have a unique perspective shaped by personal experiences. I attended mainstream education in the early 1980s, despite my severe impairment, and I have spent more than 20 years advocating for disability equity and inclusion.
My diverse life experiences have given me a strong foundation in understanding different communities, cultures, disabilities, and societal beliefs.
In 2018, an organisation that offered a pan-disability service decided to close its Nottingham office to focus on its home city. This left a significant gap in support, highlighting the urgent need for services in the Nottingham area—a city which has a growing population of disabled individuals.
In response to this need and in consultation with disabled people, I established Disability Support to ensure essential services remain available to those who require assistance.
I strive to lead by example, engaging directly with clients, maintaining a hands-on approach, and continually listening to our communities.
I have always loved Nottingham and spent most of my childhood growing up in and around the city. Recently, I've been researching my family and am amazed to find information about relatives going back to 1733. Even found someone who was born in Old Basford, the same location as our office and activity centre.
**What Do We Do and How?**
We offer a variety of advice and guidance services to help you find the answers you need. Our services include:
**Benefits Advice and Welfare Rights:**
We provide assistance with entitlement checks, form-filling, appeals, and tribunal support for all disability and age-related benefits.
**Community Support:**
This service helps you find grants, manage forms and paperwork, complete Homelink applications, and locate activities and support in your area. Our community team also recruits and trains volunteers. These incredible volunteers assist people in their local communities with various tasks and through befriending support.
All of our services and groups are developed based on input from the individuals who use them. We promote positive change in a non-political and non-campaigning manner. Our organisation is deeply committed to empowering people to make their own choices and encouraging positive decisions about independent living opportunities. Our staff assist individuals in self-advocacy to effect changes that impact their lives.
** Changing the world**
Our entire team—including volunteers, staff, management, and board members— are actively working to change negative perceptions of disability. We share our life experiences and your feedback with decision-makers and policymakers to create better access and opportunities for disabled individuals and those with long-term health conditions.
We also foster an environment of support by offering peer support and mentoring programs that enable disabled people to connect with others who share similar experiences, gain insights, and build self-confidence.
In addition to providing direct assistance, Disability Support actively engages in community development.
We collaborate with local organisations, stakeholders, and disabled people to create inclusive and supportive communities for disabled individuals.
Together, we aim to bring about positive changes and advocate for the rights and dignity of disabled individuals.
A significant portion of the support we provide is made possible by the amazing people who join us as volunteers. For more information, please visit our volunteers page.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
01159785095