This summer, ILF Scotland and it’s Scotland and Northern Ireland Advisory Groups proudly marked the organisation’s 10-year anniversary in supporting disabled people to live independent lives, with special celebration events in Edinburgh and Belfast.
A celebratory event was held in Edinburgh on 25 June 2025 at the Novotel Edinburgh Park. ILF Scotland Advisory Group members, recipients, carers, personal assistants, and partners from across government, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations gathered to mark the occasion.
Speeches were delivered from advocates of disability and human rights. There was also a brilliant performance from GDA’s (Glasgow Disability Alliance) Purple Ponchos, heartfelt poetry, and inspiring stories from people sharing how ILF Scotland has helped them live with choice, dignity, and independence.
Attendees spoke enthusiastically about ILF re-opening in Scotland and overall, it was a day full of reflection and laughter and celebrated the amazing things disabled people achieved with their funding.
See more photos of the events.
Peter Scott OBE, CEO of Independent Living Scotland said:
“We’ve celebrated 10 years of ILF. A decade of empowering disabled people to live independently, with dignity, with choice and with control.
“ILF Scotland was born from a moment of uncertainty. A period of anxiety. But also of opportunity. It was created because disabled people raised their voices. And here in Scotland and in Northern Ireland, those voices were heard.”
Dr Jim Elder-Woodward, Chairperson, ILF Scotland Advisory Group said:
“ILF Scotland enables people to wake up in the morning to a purposeful day, be that, going to a football match, a college, or a job. A purposeful life is one in which the person can choose and organise what they do, where they go, and who they meet. But to have a purposeful life, people need to be supported by a purpose-led organisation. And that’s what ILF Scotland is – an organisation in unison with disabled people and their right to independence and participative citizenship.
“It is a breath of fresh air to trust such a trustworthy organisation as ILF Scotland. As we celebrate its tenth anniversary, we should be proud of having such a purpose-led organisation. It is a bright beacon, shining the way to purposeful lives for disabled people.”
Watch the live stream of the event:
Watch some highlights of the event:
Watch a montage of the event:
On the evening of Thursday 3 July 2025, ILF Scotland and the ILF Scotland Northern Ireland Advisory Group proudly marked the organisation’s 10-year anniversary with a special celebration event at Stormont entitled Life Worth Living.
The evening featured powerful and impactful speeches from advocates for disability rights including ILF recipients, members of the ILF Scotland Northern Ireland Advisory Group, disabled people who receive ILF funding and those who do not, all who shared personal stories about what independent living means to them and others.
It was a wonderful evening and one of the core messages was a renewed call for the re-opening of the Independent Living Fund in Northern Ireland, so that more disabled people can access the support they need to live full, independent lives.
See more photos of the events.
Mike Nesbitt, Minister for Health in Northern Ireland said:
“I want to acknowledge the significant contribution of the ILF Scotland Northern Ireland Advisory Group has made over 10 years in helping to ensure the delivery of the fund to recipients has been so effective and efficient in Northern Ireland.
“I understand fully the importance of ILF to those who receive its support and the very positive contribution it makes to their daily lives, enabling them to live independently in the community.”
David McDonald, Chairperson, ILF Scotland Northern Ireland Advisory Group said:
“The Independent Living Fund makes all the difference to disabled people. It makes life worth living. This cannot be expressed too strongly! We fought to keep it here in Northern Ireland and with the help of our politicians and Ministers we succeeded - but only for those already in receipt of it. It is a tragedy and a travesty that others like us are deprived of it and of lives worth living like ours. It is well beyond time for that to change."
Watch the live stream of the event
Watch speeches from David to Deena:
