From designating Blue Badge parking spaces to maintaining our streets and keeping pavements clear, local councils and regional authorities across the UK make thousands of decisions every year that determine how disabled people can travel with independence and participate with their communities, in employment and everyday activities.
The Public Sector Community of Practice for Accessible and Inclusive Transport has been established by the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) in partnership with Policy Connect to support councils and authorities to improve accessible and inclusive transport. It provides access to evidence, practical tools and peer learning, helping authorities embed accessibility in decision-making, work in partnership with disabled people, and translate national commitments into meaningful local action, while bringing together evidence and lived experience to remove transport barriers and drive long-term systemic change.
This initiative was developed in response to ncat’s 2025 ‘Equipping Councils for Change’ report, which found that many local government transport teams lack the funding, expertise and access to guidance needed to deliver inclusive and accessible transport services. The report also highlighted a long-term decline in specialist knowledge and expertise following years of pressure on council budgets.
The Community of Practice will help local councils and authorities to strengthen their expertise in accessible transport, particularly through co-production with disabled people, and provide a forum for peer exchange, learning and practical guidance that is grounded in evidence, for both officers and elected leaders.
The network is open to councillors, metro mayors and local government professionals, including customer directors, policy and strategy officers and accessibility advisers. It also encourages disabled people, representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations and not-for-profits, and professionals from the wider transport industry, as well as central government
policymakers from the UK and devolved administrations, to get involved.
Emma Partlow, Chief Executive Officer at ncat, said:
“Accessible transport is fundamental to disabled people participating fully in society, and research shows that too many transport barriers remain. The Community of Practice will bring together local authorities, disabled people and experts to share ncat evidence, build capability and drive practical change. By working collaboratively and learning from lived experience, we can support decision-makers to create more inclusive transport systems that support independence, opportunity and transport system that works for all.”
Clive Gilbert, Head of Accessible Transport at Policy Connect and ncat policy lead, said:
“We are delighted to launch this important initiative. Local government has a critical role to play in making the transport system accessible. Our research has shown that good intentions aren’t always matched by the experience, knowledge, funding and political leadership necessary to bring about change.
This Community of Practice aims to give local councillors, regional mayors and their professional staff the expertise and tools they need to break down barriers so disabled people can go wherever they want, whenever they want.”
To register your interest in joining the Community of Practice, please fill in this short online form.
Community of Practice events are planned throughout the year to attend or find out more, please contact Clive Gilbert, Head of Accessible Transport at Policy Connect via email: clive.gilbert@policyconnect.org.uk
Accessible versions of the 2025 Equipping Councils for Change report can be found on the ncat website by following this link: https://www.ncat.uk/projects/equipping-councils-for-change/
Image description:
A group of people take part in a collaborative workshop around a table covered in sticky notes, , in a bright, accessible meeting space.
