Starting over 25 years ago from a small group of volunteers the Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) charity has grown from strength to strength.

Dave Thompson MBE DL had the idea following a serious sports accident leaving him with the loss of lower body use and arms disability. For a period of time both he and his wife Pam were finding problems in getting sufficient information advice and guidance and to obtain the various services required to develop a productive life. With friends having similar issues he launched the charity.

Members of Warrington Rotary Club, on the invitation of Dave, visited its centre in Warrington and were given a presentation on its history and what it represents today.
Its signature event, the world renowned Disability Awareness Day (DAD), now in its 26th year, was launched by them in Warrington and has now been repeated in Europe, Africa and Asia. These events give the opportunities to both users and families to discover what is available in the community to allow independent living.
WDP promotes independent living through the services it offers in support with employment and money, learning and development, accessible holidays, sports for children and young people, listening and advocacy and opportunities to socialise.

It operates a shop mobility scheme and a trading arm offering quality independent living products plus a service centre for equipment maintenance support.

Rotary members, who regularly help at DAD, found that the presentation gave them food for thought in what they could do to help the charity to continue to play a major role in the disability awareness programme and to further assist in its work,