FROM Mike Layward, Artistic Director, DASH
In your article ‘ACE grapples with equality’ (p1, AP236), I would challenge ACE’s statement that it ensured that the cuts were not disparately weighted against disabled-led organisations. DASH has analysed the outcomes of the portfolio funding announcement. We included all organisations which state that their main work is with disabled people (32 at present), most of which are not disabled led (14 at present). There will be far fewer organisations in the portfolio: 24, with 10 of these disabled-led.
The real issue for DASH is the imbalance across England. DASH will be the only organisation working with disabled people from Penzance to Norwich. So much for a balanced portfolio.The London-centric nature of the new portfolio, with 13 of the 24 organisations based in London (56%), reflects poorly on the present 43%.