Rage, grief and justice: Disabled people’s resistance to austerity

Rage, grief and justice: Disabled people’s resistance to austerity

Date and time: Friday April 19th,13:00-14:30

Venue: Live Theatre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

This session will be held in the main theatre. Access information about the building can be found here.

A conversation between China Mills, Imogen Day, and Gail Ward honouring those who have died because of austerity and welfare reform, and talking about how our grief and rage has shaped our activism and our fight for justice.

This session will:

• Explore and celebrate Disabled people’s and bereaved families’ resistance and defiance in the face of life-threatening welfare policies and state austerity.
• Share information about the Deaths by Welfare project and the timeline of evidence linking government policy to disabled people's deaths.
• Explore local resistance to austerity in the North-East and how to get involved.
• Share ideas and practises on how our rage and grief can help us create community-led approaches to welfare, health, safety and justice.

Conversation speakers are:

• China Mills is Head of Research at Healing Justice Ldn, where she leads the Deaths by Welfare project. The project investigates how welfare policies harm and K*ll people, and focuses on what can be learned from the strategies of disabled people and bereaved families in fighting for justice.
• Imogen Day is the sister of Philippa Day, who died in 2019 after 28 mistakes were made in her PIP application. Imogen has campaigned for disability benefit reform ever since – working with Dispatches, Disability News Service, the Museum of Austerity, Rethink Mental Illness and Healing Justice London.
• Gail Ward joined DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts in 2010) when she found she needed support herself. For the past 15 years she’s been an active campaigner against austerity, and a vocal supporter of disabled people’s rights as well as supporting people with their claims. She ran DPAC North-East branch until recently but is still a member. She also leads the Hand2 Mouth Project, supporting people on Universal Credit. Gail is also with Black Triangle Campaign - the sister campaign group in Scotland Her hard work was recognised in 2022 when she received the Difference North East award.

This session will have a BSL interpreter.

Tickets are free but advance booking is required. While booking, you will be able to share any access requirements. If you'd like to discuss any aspect of this session in advance, please email [email protected].

Header image alt text: four people are stood outside in the street, protesting. The person of the far left is holding a placard and wearing a blue raincoat. The three people stood alongside are holding a white banner which reads 'DISABLED PEOPLE AGAINST CUTS 'RIGHTS NOT CHARITY''. Other protestors with placards and police officers can be seen in the background.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Live Theatre, 27-29 Broad Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom