Meet the Team
The ONSIDE project was a cross border project led by Disability Action NI in partnership with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; the Independent Living Movement Ireland; and Supporting Communities. We adopted a pan disability approach: working with people with physical, sensory, learning, mental health or hidden disabilities.
Disability Action was the lead partner of the project and each project partner had a dedicated staff team committed to the ONSIDE project who worked together toward the delivery of the project.
Our Team comprised of: The Project Management Board, Operational Managers, Programme Administrator, Finance Officer, Communications Officer, Research Co-ordinator, Peer Advocacy Co-ordinators, Disability Housing Officers, Community Navigators and Digital Product Developer.
ONSIDE team members
Onside team members
Onside team members
Onside team members
Orla McCann, Project Manager
Orla was the Project Manager of the ONSIDE Project; she has over 25 years’ experience in working for equality for all, notably lobbying for best practice in accessibility in the built environment, transport, and housing. Orla has strong relationships within the community sector and has a strong believe in co-design, co-production and in the social model of disability.
Disability Action had been working since 2017 with our partners to set up the ONSIDE project that identified that social isolation is a critical concern amongst the disabled community and was aimed to address the lack of connections that some disabled people experience.
Project Management Board
Andrea Brown
Project Board Member
Andrea is Chief Executive Officer of Disability Action since March 2020. Andrea has a wealth of business experience and expertise in varied roles in Finance & Corporate Services with DA since 2003.
Damien Walsh
Project Board member
Damien is Chief Executive of Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI), a campaigning, national representative organisation that promotes the philosophy of independent living and to build an inclusive society.
Colm McDaid
Project Board member
Colm is Chief Exeuctive of Supporting Communities, an independent development organisation offering advice, support and training to new and existing community/residents groups, statutory and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland.
Helen Russell
Project Board member
Helen is a Senior Manager at Northern Ireland Housing Executive where she advises on various aspects of the delivery of housing services to their customers.