Sophie Fournel, a Kent Research Partnership’s Training and Research Fellow and Chief Executive Officer of Disability Assist, recently joined Anna Cookson on BBC Radio Kent’s The Wakeup Call to discuss the impact of the government’s Spring Statement and proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on disabled people.
Sophie, whose research focuses on understanding the barriers people with MS face in employment, expressed deep concern about the government’s proposed reforms, describing them as “a massive blow to disabled people.” She emphasized that living with a disability is not a lifestyle choice and that benefits are not the reason people are out of work. Instead, she highlighted the complex and varied barriers preventing many disabled people from entering or staying in employment.
“Many disabled people want to work, but the reality is that fluctuating conditions, lack of appropriate support, and systemic challenges make it incredibly difficult,” Sophie explained.
The Role of PIP and the Potential Impact of Cuts
Sophie outlined how PIP is designed to help disabled people manage the additional costs of living with a disability, covering essential expenses like medical supplies, therapies, mobility equipment, and personal care. Crucially, PIP is not means-tested and is available to both employed and unemployed individuals.
The proposed reforms, which could see disabled people losing in excess of £5,000 per year, pose a significant risk of pushing more individuals into poverty and isolation.
“This funding is not a luxury – it helps disabled people live independent and active lives, and for many, it makes the difference between being able to work or not,” Sophie warned.
Concerns About Government Plans to Boost Employment
While the government has framed the changes as a way to encourage more disabled people into work, Sophie stressed that simply removing financial support will not address the real barriers to employment.
“I am an advocate for working – I know first-hand the benefits of employment for social connection, financial stability, and well-being. But we must ensure that people have access to the right support and opportunities,” she said.
Sophie highlighted that existing employment support systems, such as Access to Work, are not fit for purpose, and while new investment has been promised, there is little clarity on how these services will function. She urged policymakers to involve disabled people in shaping and designing employment initiatives to ensure they are effective. Sophie’s message was clear:
“We have so much to offer, but we need the right support to help us achieve it.”
Endorsement from the Kent Research Partnership
The Kent Research Partnership is highly proud of Sophie’s achievements, including this BBC Radio Kent interview. We are pleased to support her important research on employment barriers for disabled people – work that is more crucial now than ever.
Dr. Ferhana Hashem, Sophie’s fellowship mentor, shared: “Sophie has brought to Kent Research Partnership a wealth of experience on the barriers to employment for disabled people. While supporting Sophie as her mentor for her fellowship, she brought a fresh insight into how care services and employers can improve their interactions to enable people with disability to be supported when starting and staying at work.”
To listen to Sophie’s full interview, visit BBC Radio Kent.