Disability Design Reference Group
We are currently recruiting! Please use the following link for more details:
Vacancy for paid member: Transport for Greater Manchester, Disability Design Reference Group
Breakthrough UK Ltd manage the highly successful, award winning, Disability Design Reference Group (DDRG) on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
The DDRG was set up in 2008. It is made up of disabled individuals from across Greater Manchester who experience a wide range of disabling barriers.
DDRG members provide advice from their own lived experience, which assists TfGM to ensure that, as far as possible, an inclusive, barrier-free environment is developed across public transport and active travel in Greater Manchester.
The first locally controlled bus services launched in Greater Manchester in September 2023, alongside wide-ranging infrastructure developments for both active travel and public transport. The DDRG and its refreshed membership play a vital role in using its Greater Manchester voice to help design an inclusive Bee Network for the region.
Recent focus areas for DDRG have included being part of a working group to improve printed and digital customer information, attending a site visit to comment on the use of bus stop boarders and feeding back on plans for the future of Greater Manchester bus services.
In addition to attending four formal quarterly meetings a year, DDRG members contribute to ‘task and finish’ opportunities such as site-visits and reviewing sessions.
For further information on TfGM and the Bee Network, please visit TfGM’s website at www.tfgm.com.
For more information about the DDRG, please contact the DDRG Co-ordinator, Helen Clark by email h.clark@breakthrough-uk.co.uk or on 07706 733768
Please note: DDRG is a closed group which has been specifically recruited to reflect a range of disabilities and lived experiences and also a range of demographics such as postcode, gender and ethnicity. If a position on the panel does become available, it will be advertised.
DDRG and celebrating International Women’s Day 2024:
https://tfgm.com/international-womens-day
Introduction to the DDRG in British Sign Language
Vacancy for paid member: Transport for Greater Manchester, Disability Design Reference Group
- Are you a disabled person or a person living with a long-term health condition who wants to share your experiences to help make travel better for everyone?
- Are you 18+ and live or work in Greater Manchester?
- Do you want to help make public transport, walking, cycling and wheeling more inclusive and accessible across Greater Manchester?
Breakthrough UK, an organisation led by disabled people, is inviting individuals to apply for Transport for Greater Manchester’s Disability Design Reference Group (DDRG).
The DDRG plays an important role by sharing lived experiences with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to shape how travel across the city region is designed and run through the Bee Network.
The Bee Network connects buses, trams, and walking, cycling and wheeling — with rail integration coming soon — to make travel across Greater Manchester easier, safer and more accessible for everyone. The aim is to provide clear information, simple and affordable fares, safe and reliable services, and accessible infrastructure that supports independent travel.
Your role, as a DDRG member
As a DDRG member, you’ll help shape the Bee Network by sharing your lived experience. You’ll highlight what makes travel harder and recommend the changes needed so the Bee Network works better for everyone.
As well as attending quarterly meetings, group members will have opportunities to get involved in short, focused pieces of work on specific topics. These may be online, in-person and/or site visits, planning and reviewing sessions, joining other meetings or reviewing and sharing feedback on documents and communications.
To apply for this role, you must:
- Be a disabled person or living with a long-term health condition,
- Be aged 18 years and over, and
- Live, work or volunteer in Greater Manchester.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled people facing racial inequalities, young people and from people who have never done anything like this before.
Duties:
- Give feedback and make suggestions to improve TfGM’s and its partners’ work.
- Share advice that helps make the Bee Network accessible for everyone. This includes buses and trams, as well as walking, cycling and wheeling routes, and other TfGM projects that support disabled people across Greater Manchester.
- Be a member of collaborative working groups with officers across TfGM and its partners to improve services.
- Advise on and participate in appropriate communication and marketing activities in relation to public transport projects.
- Attend site visits to advise on physical accessibility across bus, tram, walking and wheeling.
- Proactively provide feedback and recommendations for the future DDRG work programme.
- Contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the DDRG.
- Be a positive, respectful, active-listening, problem-solving supportive group member.
Access and communication support, such as sign language interpreters or advocates, will be provided.
Quarterly meetings are in-person and/or virtually via Microsoft Teams. Meetings involve processing the information in advance. A meeting is typically 3 hours (including breaks). We will support you to get online if you need this. Meetings may be in person if this is required by TfGM.
You’ll receive £75 per meeting, plus limited travel expenses within Greater Manchester.
There will also be paid training.
The position as a DDRG member is for 2 years, with possibility of extension to 3 years.
Please note that this is a freelance position. You will be responsible for getting advice on tax and the impact on any benefits you get before you accept payment. Breakthrough can support you with this advice.
To apply for this role please tell us:
- More about you, including your contact details.
- Why you would like to be a member of DDRG.
- What you think about public transport in Manchester.
- Your access requirements, such as; easy read, British Sign Language or Braille, or if meetings need to be run in a certain way.
You can tell us about these things by:
- Sending us up to 500 words in your preferred format, or by
- Sending us a short video or audio file of you talking or signing – up to 5 minutes in length.
If you need more information on any of this, please text or phone Helen Clark on 07706 733768.
Information is available in alternative formats on request to meet access needs.
Please apply by 5 July 2026.
Email Helen via: h.clark@breakthrough-uk.co.uk to apply, or
WhatsApp your video or audio to 07706 733768.
We will contact you to let you know if you have been successful in your application during the week starting Monday 27 July 2026.
We look forward to hearing from you!
BSL Video version of the DDRG vacancy advert:
