One Place East (OPE) is a user-led charity for Disabled people. We use the word Disabled as a term to include Deaf, Disabled, Neurodivergent, and/or Visually Impaired people, people with long-term health conditions, and/or with mental health conditions.
Over 80% of staff and volunteers at OPE are Disabled People. We support around 690 disabled people annually, our reach increasing as a result of a greater digital presence.
Created in 2017 through the merger of three user-led organisations: Redbridge Concern for Mental Health, Daffodil Advocacy and The Centre for Inclusive and Independent Living Redbridge (CiiLr). Our goal was sustainability and creating a modern user-led organisation.
Based in Redbridge but supporting people across North East London, our mission is to ensure our community have choices and improved lives. We provide befriending, peer support, information in many accessible formats, signposting and advocacy, creative workshops, support with digital and assistive technology, training and employment support. Since 2019, we have developed a range of creative user-led programmes aimed at improving wellbeing, skills, confidence and employability.
Our recent CreateAbles project trained Disabled People to lead and deliver workshops. Some of whom will be involved in delivering this project. It is this progression through our activities (user, volunteer, employee in some cases) that supports disabled people furthest from the employment market and people’s recovery from mental ill-health.
We like to think we are an inclusive and friendly bunch to be involved with. We always like to identify the talents of Disabled People and make sure they reach their potential.
