CLYDEBANK’S Disability Group will now be helping people across the country find out what support and advice is available to them as it expands its operation after only 17 months.

Kevin Crawford set up the group to inform people in Clydebank living with disabilities what help is available for them after finding it difficult himself to get support, despite there being many places out there.

Kevin told the Post: “We have been so lucky since setting up our charity in June last year that there has been a constant demand for our services.

“Due to this growth and our passion to help as many people as possible, we have decided to change the name of our charity to The Big Disability Group.”

The group became a registered charity earlier this year in February and the volunteers and committee team have helped more than 1,000 people through phone calls, messages, open days and focus groups.

Kevin added: “Everyone involved in The Big Disability Group is excited about moving forward and covering a much larger area.

“We have already been dealing with many people, groups, and organisations outside of the Clydebank area but now we can focus on these a bit more and will now be covering the whole of West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow.

“This obviously means a lot more work for us and we are always looking for more volunteers or anyone who would like to get involved in helping out. We’re always looking to the future and have a host of things in the pipeline.

“I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to our management committee who have always supported the vision I have had for The Big Disability Group and are always working hard in the background to ensure we keep helping as many people as possible.”

The charity’s latest project – their blog, You Me and My Disability – will be up and running in the next few weeks to raise awareness of disabilities, with a different person telling their story each month.

As well as providing information and support, the charity helps the local community and will soon be hosting a fundraiser to help Awestruck Academy install a chairlift to ensure the arts and music centre is accessible for everyone.

For information contact thebigdisabilitygroup@gmail.com.