Guest Blog from City Bridge Foundation's Anchor Programme: Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE)
Who is the Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE)?
The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) was birthed in the 1990’s as a national, By and For Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO). It is still the only DPO campaigning for Inclusive Education, both as a human right and as a social justice issue, with the goal of ending segregated education in all its forms.
ALLFIE centres the lived experiences of Disabled people, the social model of disability, intersectionality, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in shaping how we work. We recognise that our impact would not be possible without collective collaboration with other DPOs, the wider Disabled People’s Movement, organisations addressing exclusion in education and poverty, social justice movements, and a range of other stakeholders.
What are the systemic issues?
In summary, Disabled people do not yet have the equality of opportunity to access and experience mainstream education free from systemic barriers. A ‘one size fits all’ teaching curriculum, along with standardised assessment and testing methods, excludes diverse learning styles. There is entrenched bias towards segregation in “special schools” and other separate provisions, rather than a genuine commitment to Inclusive Education.
There is no effective accountability system to ensure local authorities and education settings deliver on Inclusive Education. Instead, funding and resourcing are redirected away from mainstream schools, reinforcing marginalisation through school ratings and having laws that enable parallel education systems. Consequently, Disabled people continue to experience poorer outcomes across all areas of life.
Power of the Anchor programme
The Anchor Programme funding is part of turning our revolutionary dream for Inclusive Education into reality, demonstrating a commitment to creating a just society for everyone.
ALLFIE’s intention is to continue our legacy of resistance through collective collaboration with other London-based DPOs and social justice movements. We want to continue our building infrastructure and lead the campaign from a lived experience perspective, all while using a right based and justice framework.
We will leverage our work to organise, make spaces accessible, and continue creating environments by, with, and for Disabled people, DPOs and our members. Together, we will strengthen and scale up our work, sustain powerful collaborations, centre Disabled people’s voices in leadership, and influence policy decisions that shape the future for Inclusive Education.
Has the outcome of the election influenced your approach to systems change?
Campaigning for Inclusive Education is messy, emotional, and absolutely essential work. In today’s increasingly hostile climate, with relentless political attacks on Disabled people, our work is more necessary than ever. Building long-term structures for Inclusive Education is not optional, it is vital.
Our commitment to capacity building brings together diverse lived experiences and voices for collaborative action. Capacity building is necessary for us to continue to strengthen our work to address policy and leadership gaps, centre the diverse lived experiences of Disabled people, share our publications and resources, influence policy, build networks, and connect with other organisations.
Collectively, we are creating the conditions for sustainability, challenging segregation, and promoting a deep, shared understanding of Inclusive Education; moving us towards lasting, liberated, and genuine systemic change.