Centre for Independent Living - Belfast, which was set up in 2001, is an organisation run by disabled people for disabled people. We work to promote the principles of independent living and in particular to provide a range of services for people using or considering using Direct Payments.

The Department’s mission is to improve the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland. It endeavors to do so by ensuring the provision of appropriate health and social care services, both in clinical settings, such as hospitals and GPs’surgeries, and in the community, through nursing, social work and other professional services. It also supports programmes of health promotion and education to encourage the community to adopt activities, behaviours and attitudes which will lead to better health and well-being.

Vela Microboard Association dedicates itself to honouring the rights of, and eliminating the barriers for, people with disabilities. This includes the right to freedom, equality, control over their own lives, and to be fully included as valued citizens in the relationships and the opportunities of community life.

Carers look after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid. Carers Northern Ireland is part of Carers UK. It is a membership organisation run by carers, for carers across the whole of Northern Ireland. There are approximately 185,000 carers in Northern Ireland.

The Independent Living Funds (ILF) are two funds set up and financed by UK central government. The funds were set up as a national resource dedicated to the financial support of disabled people enabling them to choose to live in the community rather than residential care