PIP Tales: Reflections from the Consultation Event
- Alan Van Wijgerden
- May 29
- 4 min read
Earlier this month, Grapevine and the Central England Law Centre hosted an open consultation event at the Belgrade Theatre to give local people a platform to submit their evidence to the government's Timm's Review.
Alan Van Wijgerden from Action Rayz went along to see how the plans are being received on the ground, capturing a beautiful, cross-generational reflection on disability rights, history, and what real community solidarity looks like...
An Introduction to the PIP Changes
The government's proposed overhaul of health and disability benefits has sparked deep concern across the country. As outlined in recent national news reports, including coverage by the BBC, proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) could mean significant shifts toward more face-to-face assessments, changes to voucher systems, or longer gaps between reviews.
To voice these concerns, local communities are gathering. I went along to the recent consultation event at the Belgrade Theatre to see how the DWP's Green Paper is being received on the ground.
Finding My Feet at the Belgrade
It was incredibly busy at the Belgrade, and as soon as I arrived, several people asked if I wanted a drink. As I went to register, I couldn't help but feel like a bit of a fraud; I’m not on PIP myself, yet this is such a vital, lifeline benefit for so many people in the room.
Despite my initial unease, the atmosphere was very friendly. I spent time catching up with old friends and meeting many new faces. Some of them I recognised but couldn’t quite place their names—which is always a bit embarrassing when so many of them seem to know exactly who I am!
The event got straight into the big questions (with Coventry Youth Activists listening table):
How do you feel about disability? * Would you like to put a little sticker on a line to represent how you feel? While the activities were interactive, I knew that for the people here who depend on PIP, this is deadly serious. The Law Centre was in attendance, along with many others who had thoroughly read through the government's Green Paper.
I managed to get a first look at the "Easy Read" version of the document. I’ve long suspected there might be errors in translation between these simplified summaries and the dense text of the original 75-page document (although, in reality, you only have to read the first 18 pages of that heavy text to get the full story).
Capturing the Day Upstairs
I thought that by getting to the venue early, it would be quiet, but it was absolutely packed. We were sat upstairs on the balcony of the Belgrade. Most of the Grapevine crowd was there. Melissa was running some of the graphics, and I had promised to step in and do some video interviews. I was still feeling a bit spaced out from a photography show I had run earlier in the day, but I was determined to stay focused and not get distracted by the sheer volume of people talking around me.
Being there brought to mind statistics I know well from council meetings: Only 2.2% of people who go through the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) actually go on to find employment. Anecdotally, I know a huge number of disabled people who would love to work if there were meaningful jobs out there for them to do. Or perhaps I should say, jobs left for them to do?
Looking Back to Move Forward
This made me think back to my own time at school in the mid-1960s. Back then, it was just assumed that everyone leaving Sherbourne School would go straight into a "Sheltered Workshop" to do repetitive tasks like sorting out nuts and bolts for mere pocket money. There definitely wasn’t a wider world waiting for you after those workshops. We were told at the time that, by law, the only jobs officially reserved for disabled people were doorkeepers and lift attendants.
Being back in the present at the Belgrade, there was a real mix of emotions in the air—a general feeling of affection and goodwill among the attendees, heavily contrasted against some systemic, institutional horror stories. Once again, a few people kindly asked if I wanted a tea or coffee. As someone now in their seventies, most of the crowd around me seemed very young.
"Security" is the one word I kept hearing over and over again. It took my mind back to the old days of the DHSS. Ultimately, everyone deserves a happy, secure life.
As the event buzzed around me, I thought, let’s interview someone. I wanted to ask a fundamental question: What is this event really all about?
The answer I got back summed it up perfectly: "Campaigning against a system that makes life hard for young people."
Don't let anyone fight these battles in isolation.
As Alan beautifully captured, the atmosphere at the Belgrade Theatre was defined by affection and goodwill, standing up against systemic barriers. That is what community organising is all about.
If Alan's words sparked something in you, or if you want to help us campaign against systems that make life hard for people in our city, we want to hear from you.
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