Glasgow Disability Alliance

What Glasgow Disability Alliance does

Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) is a registered Scottish charity (SC034247) and disabled people-led organisation (DPO) founded in 2006, with community development roots dating to 2001. It is controlled by 6,000+ disabled members across Greater Glasgow and operates as the largest grassroots disabled people's community in Europe. The organisation delivers a portfolio of free, accessible programmes organised around four pillars: learning (GDA Learning, covering activities from mindful meditation to digital skills); information, advice, and 1-to-1 support (Rights Now! welfare rights, Hate Crime Reporting, Accessible Information and Signposting, GDA Connects digital inclusion, GDA Wellbeing); voices and peer support (Drivers for Change, Social Care Expert Group, BAME Network, LGBT+ Disabled People's Space, Disabled Women's Network, Young Drivers for Change, Purple Poncho Players, Star Clubs); and participation, policy, and partnerships (social security, health and social care, participatory budgeting, employability, tackling isolation, accessible public realm). All services are provided free of charge with transport, personal assistance, and communication support to remove participation barriers, and delivery is both in-person and online.

GDA operates a grant-funded non-profit business model with no commercial revenue and no charges to members. Annual income is not publicly disclosed, but the organisation is funded by 10+ institutional partners including Scottish Government, the National Lottery Community Fund, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, Glasgow City Council, The Robertson Trust, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, William Grant Foundation, Independent Age, Alliance Health and Social Care Scotland, and Impact Funding Partners. The core technology stack is minimal — Zoom for online delivery, Contact Scotland BSL for British Sign Language services, and consumer devices distributed through GDA Connects — and there is no proprietary platform. The 12-person staff team, more than half of whom are disabled, is led by founding CEO Tressa Burke (30+ years in disability rights) and Depute CEO Marianne Scobie, supported by a Board of Trustees including disabled community leaders and two disability research academics. Revenue concentration risk centres on the top tier of institutional funders, while member engagement is diversified across multiple disability identities and demographics.

Name

Glasgow Disability Alliance

Legal name

Glasgow Disability Alliance

Website

https://gda.scot

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Glasgow Disability Alliance is a disabled people-led Scottish charity controlled by 6,000+ members, delivering free accessible learning, welfare rights, digital inclusion, wellbeing, and policy advocacy programmes to disabled people across Greater Glasgow, funded by institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Advocacy

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Community support services
• Welfare rights advice
• Accessible learning programmes
• Digital inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: GDA operates primarily through grant funding from government bodies, charitable trusts, and foundations. Major funders include Scottish Government, Community Fund (National Lottery), Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, Glasgow City Council, Equality and Human Rights Commission, The Robertson Trust, Independent Age Grants Fund, William Grant Foundation, and Alliance Health and Social Care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Glasgow Disability Alliance is a disabled people-led organisation that delivers free, accessible community programmes for disabled people across Greater Glasgow. Its core offerings include accessible learning activities, welfare rights advice and representation, digital inclusion support (devices and coaching), wellbeing telephone support, social care advocacy, and peer-led Voices networks. All services are provided at no cost to members, with transport, personal assistance, and communication support supplied to remove barriers to participation.

Product overview

Glasgow Disability Alliance operates as a disabled people-led organization (DPO) providing a portfolio of interconnected community support programmes rather than a commercial technology product. The core offerings include: GDA Learning (accessible learning activities), GDA Connects (digital inclusion with devices and coaching), GDA Wellbeing (telephone support), Rights Now! (welfare rights advice), Future Visions (social care support), and multiple Voices networks (Drivers for Change, Social Care Expert Group, BAME Network, LGBT+ Space, Disabled Women's Network, Young Drivers for Change, Purple Poncho Players, Star Clubs). These services are provided free of charge to disabled members and are designed to build confidence, create connections, and enable disabled people to make their vital contributions to society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GDA: Disabled people-led organisation controlled by 6000+ disabled members, providing accessible learning, coaching, events, welfare rights support, and policy advocacy for disabled people in Glasgow.

Products and services

• GDA Learning A free, fully accessible learning programme offering a wide range of activities including mindful meditation, keep fit, cooking classes, DJ-ing, Tai Chi, crafts, woodworking, and dancing. Most events are online with some in-person options, providing transport, personal assistance, and communication support for disabled members.
• Rights Now! Welfare Rights Service An accessible welfare rights service providing benefit advice, application support, form filling assistance, and representation at benefit tribunals for disabled people in Glasgow.
• GDA Connects A digital inclusion project that sources, sets up and distributes devices (iPads, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, smartphones) to disabled people, provides internet connectivity, and delivers digital coaching to build confidence in using technology.
• GDA Wellbeing A telephone-based wellbeing service providing emotional support, practical advice, and regular check-in calls to disabled people to reduce isolation and loneliness, complemented by online wellbeing activities such as Mindful Meditation and Wellbeing Wednesdays.
• Future Visions for Social Care A project demonstrating accessible, holistic, community-based support to help disabled people achieve choice and control in their lives, working with the Social Care Expert Group to influence social care reform.
• Social Care Expert Group A group of over 100 GDA members who use or need social care, sharing lived experiences to help shape Scotland's social care system and contribute to the National Care Service development.
• Drivers for Change Network A network of over 200 GDA members who undergo additional training in peer support, facilitation, research, leadership, human rights, media skills, and campaign organizing to speak out, campaign, and collaborate for change on disability rights issues.
• BAME Disabled People's Network A dedicated safe space for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic disabled members to share experiences, celebrate culture, discuss intersectional barriers, and amplify their voices.
• LGBT+ Disabled People's Space A peer support group providing community, confidence building, accessible information about rights, and a forum for LGBT+ disabled people's collective voice with transport and accessible venues provided.
• Disabled Women's Network A network ensuring disabled women's voices are heard in the drive for both disability equality and gender equality, using an intersectional approach to empower women facing multiple oppressions.
• Young Drivers for Change A network for young disabled people aged 14+ to build skills, confidence, and peer support through sessions on storytelling, human rights, goal setting, leadership, facilitation skills, and online campaigning.
• Purple Poncho Players A theatrical group using music, comedy, and drama to convey disabled people's real-life experiences of barriers and oppression, challenging audiences to build a better world.
• Accessible Information and Signposting Service A service helping disabled people connect to information and support across various areas including participation, advocacy, peer support, communication support, social security advice, mental health, employment, social care, healthcare, transport, housing, and legal rights.
• Hate Crime Reporting Service A third-party hate crime reporting centre where disabled people can report harassment, hate crimes, or incidents they have experienced or witnessed, with GDA able to make reports on their behalf to police.
• Star Clubs Peer-led groups for older disabled people across Glasgow areas, developed with committee skills and funding support to reduce isolation, promote health, wellbeing, and lifelong learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• £191,115.47 gained for disabled people through welfare rights support during COVID-19 response
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Glasgow City Health and Social Care PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey local authority partner for health and social care integration. GDA contributes to strategic planning groups and the partnership funds GDA programmes through the Wellbeing for Longer Fund.
• Glasgow City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority funder and partner. GDA members contribute to participatory budgeting, local democracy initiatives, and the Poverty Leadership Panel.
• Equality and Human Rights CommissionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body promoting equality and human rights. GDA works with the commission on equality and human rights advocacy for disabled people.
• Alliance Health and Social Care ScotlandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational third sector health and social care organisation. GDA partners on social care reform and policy work.
• VOX ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisabled people-led organisation (DPO) member of Glasgow DPO Network. VOX represents the views of people with learning disabilities.
• People First ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPO member of Glasgow DPO Network, run by and for people with learning disabilities in Scotland.
• Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPO member providing advice, support and services to enable disabled people to live independently in the community.
• Headway GlasgowsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrain injury charity and DPO Network member providing support to people with acquired brain injury in Glasgow.
• Mental Health Network GlasgowsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork organisation and DPO Network member representing mental health interests in Glasgow.
• GAMH (Glasgow Association for Mental Health)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health charity and associate member of GDA, supporting the organisation's aims.
• Enable GlasgowsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supporting people with learning disabilities and associate member of GDA.
• Common Knowledge UKsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation providing learning disabilities services and associate member supporting GDA's mission.
• Spinal Injuries ScotlandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supporting people with spinal cord injuries and associate member of GDA.
• Glasgow LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArm's length cultural organisation of Glasgow City Council. GDA partners with Glasgow Life on mystery visitors scheme, young person's guarantee volunteering, and museum/workshop access.
• Glasgow Council Voluntary Sector (GCVS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrastructure body for Glasgow's third sector. GDA partners with GCVS on participatory budgeting pilots and city-wide initiatives.
• Inclusion ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational DPO representing disabled people in Scotland. GDA co-chairs the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group with Social Security Scotland and works with Inclusion Scotland's People Led Policy Panel.
• LGBT Health and WellbeingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing LGBT health and wellbeing services. Supported GDA to establish the LGBT Disabled People's Space in 2018.
• Equality NetworksecondaryScottish equality and human rights charity. Partnered with GDA on establishing the LGBT Disabled People's Space.
• Social Security ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish Government's social security agency. GDA's CEO co-chairs the Disability and Child Benefits Expert Advisory Group. Members participate in Experience Panels and co-designed the Agency's Charter.
• Wise WomensecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's equality organisation. GDA worked with Wise Women on the Daisie Project researching disabled women's experiences.
• EngendersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's equality organisation. GDA contributed to Engender's 'Our Bodies Our Rights' report on disabled women's rights in Scotland.
• Scottish Women's Budget GroupsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation promoting gender budgeting. GDA co-delivered with SWBG a gender budgeting project on the impact of cost of living crisis on disabled women.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Enable Scotland: Major Scottish charity supporting people with learning disabilities, with comparable service areas (independent living, advocacy, family support) and overlapping Glasgow/Scotland footprint. Larger and more established than GDA but addressing similar populations.
• Leonard Cheshire: UK-wide disability charity supporting disabled people through services, advocacy, and employment programmes. Comparable in social model of disability approach, employability focus, and rights-based advocacy, though operating at significantly greater scale.
• SCOPE: National UK disability equality charity running disability employment, information and advice, and social model advocacy programmes. Comparable in welfare rights support, accessible information, and policy influence on disability rights.
• Sense (UK disability charity): Large UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities, including deafblindness. Comparable in providing accessible information, learning, peer support, and advocacy for disabled people, though at much greater scale and national footprint.
• Disability Rights UK: National UK-wide disabled people's organisation leading on rights, policy, and welfare benefits advice. Comparable in disability rights advocacy remit and welfare rights information services, but operates nationally rather than regionally.

Direct peers

• VOX Scotland: DPO representing the views of people with learning disabilities in Scotland, a Glasgow DPO Network member. Highly comparable as a disabled people-led organisation with peer-led advocacy and member-controlled governance.
• Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL): Glasgow-based DPO providing advice, support, and services to enable disabled people to live independently. Directly comparable in geography and target population, with overlapping programmes (independent living, peer support) and shared DPO Network membership.
• Inclusion Scotland: National disabled people's organisation in Scotland that, like GDA, advocates for disabled people's rights and runs policy, participation, and rights-based programmes. Direct comparable as a DPO operating in Scotland with co-chairs of advisory groups and similar partnership models.
• Headway Glasgow: Brain injury charity and Glasgow DPO Network member providing support to people with acquired brain injury. Comparable as a regional disability support organisation with member-led ethos and peer support services.
• People First Scotland: DPO run by and for people with learning disabilities in Scotland. A Glasgow DPO Network member alongside GDA, with similar member-led governance, peer support focus, and advocacy remit for disabled people.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glasgow-disability-alliance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Glasgow Disability Alliance