OUR FOUNDING STORY

1981

2026

Margaret-Burrow at her award ceremony at barrow townhall standing between to people, one holding a sceptre. She is on a wheelchair and wearing a coral jacket, green top and multi coloured skirt to match.

Photo of Margaret burrow signing for an award at the barrow town hall

After acquiring a disability herself, Margaret chose to turn this personal experience into action. Rather than accepting the barriers disabled people faced, she dedicated her life to removing them for all. Her leadership has helped shape BDDA into one of Cumbria's longest-standing disability organisations and established a legacy that continues to benefit the community to date.

Margaret's extraordinary contribution has been recognised through numerous honours, including an MBE for services to disability, the Badge of the Order of Mercy, the Cumbria Women of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, and being made a Freewoman of the Borough of Barrow. In recognition of her lifelong commitment, BDDA's headquarters proudly bears her name as The Margaret Burrow Centre.

More than forty years after it was founded, BDDA remains true to the vision that inspired its beginnings: a community where disabled people are not defined by barriers, but supported to live with independence, confidence and opportunity.

Today, Margaret serves as our President and we continue to build on her foundations by creating a more inclusive Barrow; one person, one family and one opportunity at a time.

Barrow & District Disability Association (BDDA) was founded in 1981 by Margaret Burrow MBE and a group of disabled people, carers and community members who shared a simple belief: that disabled people should have the same opportunities to live independently, participate fully in their communities, and access the support they need with dignity.

At the time, there was no dedicated disability support centre in Barrow. Services were delivered from volunteers' homes, driven entirely by passion, determination and a commitment to helping others.Over the next four decades, BDDA has grown alongside the community it serves.

Through fundraising and the dedication of volunteers, staff and supporters, two derelict terraced houses were transformed into the accessible community hub that now welcomes thousands of people each year.

Today, BDDA provides information and advice, advocacy, mobility equipment, training, wellbeing activities, volunteering opportunities and practical support that empowers disabled people, older people, carers and their families to live independently.At the heart of this journey is our founder, Margaret Burrow MBE.