Disability Advice Centre

In 1990 a Nursing sister named Phil Williams  suffered a back injury preventing her continuing with nursing, She was appalled by the lack of information and advice available to people with disabilities and got together with a group of like minded people

Dial (now A4U) was born.

By July 1995 DIAL (now A4U) for the Shropshire area had opened its head office at the disability advice centre in Conway Drive, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury.

In 2002 Dial (now A4U) incorporated to a company limited by guarantee and became ‘DIAL Shropshire Telford & Wrekin’ then in 2007 changed their name to A4U

In the past, funding came mainly from the lottery, but funding now comes from various grants,

the Community Legal Service,

Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council,

Telford & Wrekin Council,

Shropshire County Council

and donations.

To accomodate the growing organisation, in September 2002 the Shropshire office moved to larger premises  utilising the  Ground Floor, Allison House, Oxon Business Park, Shrewsbury and then in 2007 they were offered space in the purpose built Louise House, Roman road, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, SY3 9JN.

There is an A4U office at  Meeting Point House, South Water Square, Telford , which provides a limited service and the main A4U office based at Louise House, Roman Road, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury offering five day coverage. There are also available outreach services in North and South Shropshire.

A4U is staffed with a combination of paid and voluntary workers working side by side. The guidelines of the organisation are that the service should be managed and delivered by people with a disability or close experience of a disability. Staff are trained and support is given, in order to provide a service for others whilst also being aware of ethnic groups.