What Disability Information Bureau does

Disability Information Bureau (DIB) is a UK-registered charity (No. 1124371) and company limited by guarantee (No. 6452443), founded in 1994 and headquartered at Pierce Street, Macclesfield within the Cheshire East Council area. It serves disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, vulnerable adults, and carers through a portfolio of five interconnected human-delivered services: Welfare Rights Advice (benefits entitlement checks and application/appeal support for PIP, DLA, ESA, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, and Universal Credit), Support Coaching (mental health, digital inclusion, CV writing, and employment/volunteering assistance), IT Support and Training (computer basics, Microsoft Office, email/internet, and adaptive technology for the visually impaired), Information and Signposting (community resource referral), and Shopmobility (motorised scooter and wheelchair hire operated under contract with Cheshire East Council at Churchill Way, Macclesfield). A supplementary Room Hire service monetizes meeting and hotdesking space at the Resource and Training Centre.

DIB has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is entirely in-person at its two Macclesfield locations, supplemented by a basic WordPress website and organic social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook). The operating model is community-led: beneficiaries access services via self-referral, signposting from partner organisations, and word-of-mouth within the local disability community.

The revenue model is mixed. Core funding comprises charitable donations (solicited via LocalGiving.org) and a contracted relationship with Cheshire East Council to deliver Shopmobility. Transaction revenue is generated through Shopmobility annual memberships (£25), daily scooter/wheelchair hire (£10/day non-members, £2.50/day manual), RADAR key sales (£5-£7), and meeting room hire (£10-£15/hour). Pricing is low-cost and accessibility-driven rather than profit-maximizing, reflecting the charitable mission. The staff team consists of six named roles (CEO, Support Coach, Administration Officer, IT Tutor, Welfare Rights Officer, Shopmobility Coordinator) supported by volunteers, and there are no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, subsidiaries, or external investors.

Name

Disability Information Bureau

Legal name

Disability Information Bureau

Website

https://dibservices.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Disability Information Bureau is a UK charity in Macclesfield providing welfare rights advice, support coaching, IT training, and mobility equipment hire to disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, vulnerable adults, and carers across Cheshire East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAC), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Welfare rights advice
• Mobility equipment hire
• Community charity services
• IT training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bracknell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Funding: DIB is a registered charity (No. 1124371) relying on donations and charitable funding to support its operations. The website links to localgiving.org for donations.
2. Service Fees: Revenue from Shopmobility equipment hire (membership fees, daily hire rates), RADAR key sales, and room hire facilities.
3. Room Hire: Meeting rooms and small rooms available for hire at hourly rates, providing supplementary revenue for the charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Disability Information Bureau (DIB) is a registered charity providing a portfolio of human-delivered support services for disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, vulnerable adults, and carers in the Cheshire East area. Its core offerings include Welfare Rights Advice (benefits navigation and application assistance), Support Coaching (holistic barrier removal), IT Support and Training (digital skills tuition), Information and Signposting (community resource referral), and Shopmobility equipment hire (motorised scooters and manual wheelchairs), with supplementary meeting room hire.

Product overview

Disability Information Bureau (DIB) is a registered charity offering a portfolio of support services for disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, vulnerable adults, and carers in Cheshire East. The core offering consists of five interconnected services: Welfare Rights Advice (benefits navigation and application support), Support Coaching (holistic barrier removal and mental health support), IT Support and Training (digital skills and adaptive technology tuition), Information and Signposting (community resource referral), and Shopmobility (mobility equipment hire). An ancillary Room Hire service provides meeting facilities. Together, these services aim to empower individuals to maintain independence, build resilience, and achieve their full potential through practical assistance, skills development, and community integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Welfare Rights Advice Advisory service helping disabled individuals navigate the welfare benefits system, including benefit entitlement checks, application assistance, mandatory reconsideration, and tribunal support for benefits such as PIP, DLA, ESA, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, and Universal Credit.
• Support Coaching One-on-one coaching service to help individuals overcome practical, financial, social, and emotional barriers through direct support or signposting, including mental health support, digital inclusion, social activities, CV writing, and volunteering and job search assistance.
• IT Support and Training IT tutoring and training courses covering practical everyday skills including computer basics, Microsoft Office, email and internet usage, employment-related IT, and adaptive technology for people with visual impairments.
• Information and Signposting Information and referral service helping individuals find details on sports and leisure, local support organisations, equipment suppliers, home adaptations, and other community resources.
• Shopmobility Equipment Hire Equipment loan service operated on behalf of Cheshire East Council, providing motorised scooters and manual wheelchairs for hire to help people with mobility issues navigate Macclesfield town centre. Includes £25 annual membership option (members pay £1 for first 2 hours, £1 per additional hour), £10 daily non-member rate, and £2.50 daily manual wheelchair hire with £20 refundable deposit.
• Room Hire Meeting room and workspace rental service offering a large boardroom-style room for 12 people (£15 per hour), small rooms for 1-2-1 meetings or hotdesking (£10 per hour), and a resource centre small room for 3 people/hotdesking (£10 per hour). Facilities include free Wi-Fi, accessible toilets, kitchen facilities, lift access, and car parking. RADAR disabled toilet keys are also sold for £5 (collection) or £7 (postage).

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cheshire East CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIB operates Macclesfield Shopmobility on behalf of Cheshire East Council. This is a core operational partnership where the council delegates the delivery of mobility equipment services to DIB, demonstrating official government recognition of DIB's capabilities and providing a stable operational relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Citizens Advice: UK-wide network providing free, independent advice on welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment. Comparable to DIB because both deliver welfare rights and benefits-navigation support, though Citizens Advice operates at national scale with digital and telephone channels that DIB lacks.
• Leonard Cheshire: UK disability charity supporting disabled people through employment programmes, transition services and advice. Comparable to DIB because of overlapping disability-services mission and benefit-related guidance for working-age disabled adults.
• Mencap: UK learning disability charity providing information, benefits advice, advocacy and supported services. Comparable to DIB because both serve disabled populations needing welfare rights support, though Mencap focuses specifically on learning disabilities.

Direct peers

• Carers UK: UK national charity providing advice, information and advocacy for unpaid carers, including Carers Allowance guidance. Comparable to DIB because DIB explicitly serves carers as a customer segment alongside the people they care for.
• Disability Rights UK: UK national organisation led by disabled people that provides welfare benefits advice, disability-related training and policy advocacy. Comparable to DIB because both focus on disabled beneficiaries seeking benefits support and broader rights navigation.
• Turn2us: UK charity helping people in financial hardship access welfare benefits through an online benefits calculator and grant information. Comparable to DIB because both focus on benefits entitlement navigation for low-income and disabled claimants.
• Scope: Major UK disability charity offering information, advice and support on benefits, employment and daily living for disabled people. Comparable to DIB because both serve overlapping beneficiary populations with welfare and independence-focused services, though Scope operates nationally.
• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): UK charity for blind and partially sighted people providing advice on benefits (including PIP/AA), accessible technology training and daily living support. Comparable to DIB because DIB explicitly offers adaptive IT training for visual impairment, overlapping with RNIB's technology and benefits remit.
• Shopmobility UK: UK national umbrella supporting local Shopmobility schemes that loan scooters and wheelchairs to people with mobility impairments. Comparable to DIB because DIB operates a Shopmobility scheme under this national network in partnership with Cheshire East Council.

Regional players

• Macclesfield Borough Council (now Cheshire East Council) - Social Services: Local authority social services arm delivering statutory disability assessments, equipment provision and welfare advice in the same geography as DIB. Comparable because it is both a partner (commissioning Shopmobility) and a potential substitute provider for some services DIB offers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DisabilityInformationBureau
• Instagraminstagram.com/dib_services
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disability-information-bureau
• Xx.com/DIB_Services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Disability Information Bureau