As part of our dedicated work to tackle disability hate crime United Response is launching a new research project to help make public transport more inclusive, funded by the Motability Foundation.

The grant will allow us to explore the impact disability hate crime on public transport has on people with disabilities by undertaking a year long project.

Research will be led by people with lived experience to ensure co-production from design to delivery, to understand the prevalence and long-lasting impact of disability hate crimes, while actively engaging in real life solutions.

Why is this needed?

The need for research and awareness on disability hate crime is critical. Our 2022 report found that police forces across England and Wales received over 10,000 reports of disability hate crimes in 2022/23, yet less than 2% of reported crimes result in a charge or summons.

Gáibhin McGranaghan, Lead Researcher on the disability hate crime project, said:

United Response is delighted to have been awarded funding from the Motability Foundation to continue our research into disability hate crime. In the six years we have worked on this issue, we have consistently found that public transport is one of the riskiest areas where disabled people will experience harassment and discrimination. As our ‘Am I Your Problem?’ campaign highlights, one in four will have suffered victimisation in such places.

Now more than ever, we need innovative solutions to these challenges, with successful prosecutions of disability hate crime offences at their lowest in five years.

We are eager to contribute to this process as we work to centre the lived experiences of disabled victims and self-advocates at all levels of the project and in our final proposals for change.

Chelsea Fleming, Innovation Manager at the Motability Foundation said:

We are really pleased to be supporting United Response on this important research into disability hate crime on public transport. It’s really encouraging that this work will be led by people with lived experience of this issue, and we look forward to seeing the solutions that come from this project.

The Motability Foundation funds, supports, researches and innovates to help all disabled people make the journeys they choose. It oversees the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year.

The Motability Foundation awards grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. It also carries out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.