A UNION for disabled people has now launched, which is the first of its kind.

'The Disability Union', based in Chandler's Ford is aiming to give a national voice to people with disabilities as well as supporting them with day to day struggles.

The organisation launched on Monday, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Since the launch it has been supporting and advising people with disabilities via phone calls and email.

In the future however, founders say they would like to hold face to face meetings, something not possible at the moment due to coronavirus restrictions.

It is the idea of disabled campaigner George Baker who co-founded the union with his close friend Joel Jordan.

George, who has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. said he aspires to create the first "democratic and campaigning union which fights for disabled people in the workplace, in the social care system and in society at large.

"There are amazing disabled people and disabled people’s organisations, all over the country doing incredible things.

"Our mission is to connect everyone who is fighting for disabled people’s rights because we are stronger together.”

In the short time since the union began operating it has secured a grant from Learning Disability England to provide support during Coronavirus, as well as helping people avoid unlawful eviction, secure accessible housing, successfully fight benefit appeals, and instigate legal action around disability discrimination.

The union is working with and being supported by other disability organisations such as Disability Horizons, Access Your Life, Evenbreak, LiveYou and gained the support of prominent campaigners.

Co-founder Joel said: “In many ways disabled people are more marginalised than ever, Coronavirus has made this impossible to ignore with 59% of covid-related deaths being disabled people.

"We want to revive and restore the spirit of possibility and activism that allowed disabled people to fight for the Disability Discrimination Act.”