Southampton Centre for Independent Living Limited (SCIL) is an organisation of disabled people firmly rooted in the British and international disability movement, born of the civil rights campaigns that shook the western world during the sixties, the guiding principle being that disability issues are human rights issues. We work to the Social Model of Disability which defines disability in terms of negative attitudes and discrimination caused by a society which fails to meet the needs of people with impairments.

We are a company limited by guarantee; have a membership comprising 'full members' (disabled adults) and 'associate members' (non-disabled allies); and operate a committee structure fully accountable to our membership. Our catchment area coincides with the geographical area of the county of Hampshire.

We are committed to the principle of equality of opportunity for all people, recognising that people are oppressed and can experience discrimination on the grounds of class, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, as well as impairment.

The centre is run by and for disabled people to promote the meaningful inclusion of disabled people into the community. By 'disabled people' we refer to people with a physical, sensory, intellectual, psychological, psychiatric, emotional, or any other hidden impairment. We therefore include people with learning difficulties, system survivors, cancer survivors and those with HIV/AIDS.

We believe that many services traditionally provided for disabled people have resulted in segregation, creating systems which actually increase passivity and dependence. We aim to work towards creating real opportunities for disabled people to live independently and participate in the community. Our services are directed at empowering or enabling disabled people.

Our philosophy is that all individuals can live independently in the community as long as they can communicate their needs. People who need support for everyday living can be independent if they have control over the way support is delivered. We assist disabled people by encouraging them to overcome the barriers preventing their independence. The most important thing we help people to realise is that independence is not a matter of doing everything for yourself but of having choice and control over your life and a say in what happens to you.

With the changes currently being introduced by the Government, SCIL believes that it has the experience, through its management committee, members and volunteers, to contribute to the debate on how these services should be designed and delivered, thereby influencing the decisions being taken now and in the future.

SCIL will become increasingly important in assisting disabled people, who comprise 14.2% of the adult population, to assume a productive role in society.

Since our formation we have worked to fulfil our aims by two means: campaigning and providing user-led services. Thus we not only have a commitment to an accountable network through which disabled people can voice their views, debate issues that concern them and find representation and mutual support as well as a sense of their common history and culture, but also to the creation of services which support and enable disabled people to take full advantage of whatever avenues exist to secure high quality lives by their own definition. Both these functions are seen as essential if not always easily combined and are explored further in this website.

Volunteering is a way of learning new skills and developing existing ones, as well as learning about the work of the organisation.SCIL was started by volunteers, and it was several years before we got our first paid worker. Volunteers are, and have been, an important part in the development and day to day running of our organisation. The duties carried out by volunteers include answering the phone, word-processing letters and reports and administering our membership register.Some of our volunteers have gone on to gain paid employment with us, but this is not guaranteed. If you have a few hours to spare each week, and would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer please contact us.

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