Research Questionnaire on Rest, Free Time and Disability

Invitation: You are being invited to take part in a questionnaire for a research study conducted by Ioana Cerasella Chis from the University of Glasgow.

About the project: This project seeks to explore the politics of rest and free time under disabling capitalism. To this end, in its first phase, it seeks questionnaire responses by UK-based people who self-identify as being disabled, chronically ill, learning disabled, d/Deaf, neurodivergent, having impairments, or experiencing mental distress.

This project will gather stories and evidence that show, for example: what societal change is needed so that rest and free time are available to everyone (regardless of their employment status), what social restrictions create barriers for using free time in a way that is meaningful to respondents, what restful activities are most meaningful to the respondents, how they define these activities, and more.

Questionnaire

What will happen after questionnaires and (later) collective discussions: alongside other publications, a Manifesto for Rest and Free Time will be written and shared widely.

The questionnaire: Responses can be submitted any time until (it is anticipated) the end of November 2026. If you do not have time to complete it in one sitting, you can close the online link to return to it at a later time (your previous responses should be remembered by your device for 2 weeks from the last edit). Alternatively, you can use the Word Document version linked above. If you wish to submit audio-recorded files (instead of typing your answers), you can upload them in the online questionnaire.

Sharing it with others: If you are interested in sharing the questionnaire with others, please forward this email or share this page with them: https://breadrosesdisability.uk/questionnaire/. More information about the project can be found at https://breadrosesdisability.uk

Latest

West Midlands Multibank Reaches One Million Milestone to Help Families in Need

One million essential items have been distributed to families in need across the region through the West Midlands Multibank since the project was launched just over a year ago. The milestone was celebrated by BVSC, who oversee the West Midlands Multibank alongside funders Comic Relief and Sport Relief. The West Midlands Multibank receives donations from businesses such as Amazon to distribute to a network of over 200 community partners who then distribute them to families most in need.
CYP Preventative and Early Mental & Emotional Help - External Stakeholders Engagement

Early Help Mental Health Services provide voluntary, preventative support for children, young people, and families facing challenges to prevent future escalations into secondary care mental health services. The way our young people want to access support, and their needs have changed a lot over the last 10 years. We are reviewing our services to ensure we deliver them effectively and to check if our current delivery model meeting patient needs.
Letters, Promises and Belonging: The Children Of Windrush
Birmingham Windrush Service of Commemoration, Thanksgiving and Celebration

The service will include contributions from clergy, community leaders, and the Birmingham Windrush Celebration Legacy Choir.

CYP Preventative and Early Mental & Emotional Help - External Stakeholders Engagement

Early Help Mental Health Services provide voluntary, preventative support for children, young people, and families facing challenges to prevent future escalations into secondary care mental health services. The way our young people want to access support, and their needs have changed a lot over the last 10 years. We are reviewing our services to ensure we deliver them effectively and to check if our current delivery model meeting patient needs.
Shape CYP Mental Health Services survey

Early Help Mental Health Services provide voluntary, preventative support for children, young people, and families facing challenges to prevent future escalations into secondary care mental health services. We are really keen to gain your view as one of our stakeholders and your view will be part of wider engagement, including mental health services staff, commissioners, parent/ carers and young people.
The National Youth Sector Census 2026

National Youth Agency are inviting all frontline youth workers and organisations to complete the National Youth Sector Census. If you deliver youth work directly, your insight is crucial.
Call for participants - Marie Curie research on end of life care experiences of first generation migrants in the UK

Marie Curie and University College London are looking for people to take part in a new research project exploring the end of life care experiences of first-generation migrants in the UK.
BT Don’t Put Off The Switch Campaign

The UK's copper landline network is being retired and moving to digital landlines, providing a safer, more reliable service ahead of the industry‑wide switchover in January 2027. In the final year of the nationwide upgrade, BT is reminding customers that support is available and that failing to respond to messages may result in disruption to their phone or broadband services as the switchover deadline approaches.
Are you interested in joining Birmingham’s first Inclusion Health Living Library?

Following the launch of the Inclusion Health Living Library initiative, we are looking to identify individuals who may be interested in joining Birmingham’s first Inclusion Health Living Library. The Living Library model is designed to bring together system leaders, practitioners and voluntary sector partners with people who have direct lived experience of exclusion and inequality.
Do you use the Access to Work scheme?

The Government is planning reforms to Access to Work. RNIB want to make sure some of the most expensive aspects of the scheme – including support workers – are protected, whatever the outcome of these reforms. If you are blind or partially sighted and use Access to Work, please complete our short survey.
Website Survey: Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership

The Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) oversees how organisations work together to safeguard and promote the wellbeing of children and young people in Birmingham. We would love to hear your thoughts on our website (www.lscpbirmingham.org.uk) so we can improve it for you and other users.
Work in social care? Help University of Birmingham research into hospital discharge

The University of Birmingham is seeking individuals involved in providing social care to those aged 65 or over to participate in important research regarding hospital discharge.
Have you experienced neck pain? Contribute to a University of Birmingham research study

University of Birmingham are recruiting people who have experienced neck pain in the past but are currently pain-free for a research study which is trying to understand why some people develop repeated episodes of neck pain and others do not.

Crisis and Resilience Fund

Help for Birmingham households experiencing financial hardship is being developed as part of Birmingham’s Crisis and Resilience Fund (previously known as Household Support Fund/ Hardship Grant Community Fund) programme.
Become a volunteer

Volunteering involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that is of benefit to others or the environment. Find out how you can get involved in volunteering in Birmingham.
The Weather Model

This model uses the weather as a metaphor for different elements of reflective practice.
What we do

BVSC aims to support a vibrant and resilient sector which in turn ensures that people from across the city feel included and engaged and have access to appropriate support from people who understand the issues and challenges they face.
Join BVSC

There are several ways that you can engage with BVSC to stay informed, grow your organisation and connect with others.
Neighbourhood Network Schemes in Birmingham

The aim of Neighbourhood Network Schemes (known as NNS) in Birmingham is to help older adults in Birmingham to lead healthy, happy and independent lives in their own homes and communities.
Funding

Find out how BVSC can help you with fundraising
Compliments, Comments and Complaints Process

At BVSC we strive to provide our customers with the best service possible. We know that some of the best ideas come from people outside of our organisation and we therefore welcome feedback at every level to help us continuously improve what we do. This means that we want to hear from you when things go well, and when things could have gone better.
Quality Standards
Promote your organisation