About ECIL

ECIL is a membership organisation representing and supporting disabled people, of all types and of any age, who live and work in the borough of Ealing and surrounding boroughs. We are proud to be part of the Independent Living movement and are one of a growing number of Centres for Independent Living (CILs) around the country. The government strategy paper Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People published 2005 recommends that there should be a CIL in every local authority area. ECIL was formed as an independent organisation in 2002. We gained our charitable status in that year. We are now funded by Ealing Council and the Ealing Primary Care Trust. We also receive project funding from the City Bridge Trust, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund, in addition to funding from smaller trusts.

Our main activities are;

  • providing advice and information.
  • providing advocacy, (this means supporting people to access their rights and entitlements).
  • organising social events, courses and activities.
  • campaigning, for example we were recently involved in the Ealing Gazette's campaign for access at Ealing Broadway station and we have actively supported Lord Jack Ashley's Right to Independent Living Bill.
  • our consultancy, Disability Solutions offers Disability Equality Training and Access Auditing.
  • working with other disability organisations through Disability Connect, (the disability network in Ealing) and national organisations including the National Centre for Independent Living.
  • joint working with Ealing Council on, for example, the Physical and Sensory Disabilities Partnership Board.
  • hiring out our meeting room.
  • offering free use of computers and of a mobility scooter.
Lord Ashley cutting a cake at the ECIL Independent Living event

Mission Statement

ECIL is an organisation of disabled people working to eliminate the barriers preventing disabled people from living full and independent lives.

Our Values

We believe disabled people should be in control of their lives, organisations and choices. We believe in being:

  • welcoming
  • accessible
  • inclusive
  • supportive

Our Aims

  • to promote access to buildings, facilities, the environment, transport and information
  • to promote inclusive attitudes
  • to make the voices of disabled people heard
  • to increase awareness of disability issues within the community
  • to advocate for disabled people and encourage and empower them to advocate for themselves
  • to establish partnerships with disability organisations, to strengthen the voice of disabled people
  • to build partnerships with service providers (statutory, commercial and voluntary)
  • to ensure disabled people have access to information and services
  • to ensure ECIL is widely recognised in the borough as having expertise in the field of disability
  • to campaign for the comprehensive rights of disabled people, maximising the potential of relevant legislation and other powers

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