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Ricability is the trading name of the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (RICA). We are a national research charity dedicated to providing independent information of value to disabled and older consumers. For staff details see below
Under our trading name of Ricability, we research and publish consumer reports. They are all based on rigorous research and provide practical information needed by disabled and older consumers. Click on reports for these.
As the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs we also work with manufacturers, service providers, regulators and policy makers to improve products and services. Our aim is to increase their awareness of the needs of disabled and older consumers through specialist research. For more information about this click on research services.
Click on history, structure and funding for more information.
30 Angel Gate
City Road
London EC1V 2PT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7427 2460
Textphone: +44 (0)20 7427 2469
Fax: +44 (0)20 7427 2468
E-mail: mail@ricability.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 1007726
David Yelding - Director. Contact him for general information about Ricability and ideas for research.
Andrew Day - Administrator and Company Secretary. Contact him for general enquiries and information.
Caroline Jacobs - Development Manager. Contact her for information about new initiatives, partnership projects and for research commissions.
Chris Lofthouse – Outreach Manager. Contact him for car measurement enquiries, press, publicity and feedback on publications, including any complaints.
Tina Stamou - Researcher. Contact her about general enquiries about survey research.
Lindsey Etchell - Principal Researcher. Contact her for information about community alarms, domestic appliance and childcare product research, as well as British and European Standards and Digital TV product testing
Pippa Axon - Financial Manager. Contact her about financial queries.
You can also email our Trustees through the Chairman.
History
Ricability has a long track record of assessing products and services.
The charity was originally founded in 1963 by the social engineer Michael Young, as the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (RICA). It was managed by the UK Consumers' Association, publishers of Which? for nearly thirty years. Over this time it had a wide ranging programme of research covering a wide variety of consumer issues.
Early RICA reports covered an extremely eclectic mix of subjects which reflected the high minded and rather academic nature of the new organisation. These included examinations and investigations of estate agents, railway stations, consumer education, town planning, new nations and car defects. However as early as 1965 an investigation of the particular needs of elderly consumers marked out the territory that was later to become RICA’s specialist area.
In the seventies RICA's work began to focus on disadvantaged consumers. Work at that time included investigations into the widely available drug Clioquinol, a critical report of special footwear, ground breaking research into the sexual problems experienced by disabled people and tests of the ‘invalid tricycles’ then issued by the then Department of Health and Social Security. A series of 13 comparative test reports, funded by the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases, launched RICA’s central interest in the assessments of special equipment and mainstream products through laboratory tests and assessments carried out by disabled people.
RICA’s other abiding interest – in the provision of effective information – was mainly founded on work carried out in the 1980s. Initial work included interviews with 905 older people about their information needs, experiments with different ways of presenting and distributing information.
In 1984 RICA was commissioned by Consumers’ Association to research and published seven reports on disability to mark CA's silver jubilee. It has specialised in this area ever since. Its main aim is to provide thorough researched information which older and disabled people need to choose the most appropriate products and services.
The charity became fully independent, with its own Trustees and programme of work in 1991. Soon after it began to publish under the name Ricability. Links are however maintained with Consumers' Association at Trustee level, and through a core grant from CA.
Although the nature of our work has changed over the years, the charity has retained the core principles established by its founders. These are:
- strict independence of manufacturing and political interests
- high research standards
- dedication to the interests of consumers
- information provided in clear understandable forms
Structure
The charity is governed by a board of Trustees
- Graham Corbett CBE (Chair)
- Denis Child CBE
- Dr Jeffrey Graham
- Jill Allen-King MBE
- John Rimington CB
- Julia Cassim
- Gary Waller
- Christopher Zealley
Ricability has also recently set up a unique evaluation panel of disabled and older people to assist us with research. The Inclusive Design Panel currently has over 200 members. To find out more about the panel click on research services.
Ricability has an Advisory Group which provides a direct link with disability organisations, those which represent older people, specialist press and organisations which carry out related work.
- Age Concern England
- Arthritis Care
- DIAL UK
- Assist UK
- Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)
- Disability Now
- Help The Aged
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- MENCAP
- National Information Forum
- Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB)
- Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
- SCOPE
- Spinal Injuries Association
- Therapy Weekly
Working for change
Ricability is actively involved with a number of groups and working parties, specifically concerned with consumer issues around product and services for older and disabled people, including:
- ANEC (European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation): Special Needs Working Group, Domestic Appliances Working Group
- British Standards Institution
- EIID (European Institute for Inclusive Design)
- National Information Forum
- UKIID (United Kingdom Institute for Inclusive Design)
Funding
The Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (Ricability) is a registered charity. The charity currently receives a core grant from the Department of Health and from Which (formerly the Consumers' Association) but the majority of its funding is funded on a project by project basis. Funders include government departments, major charitable foundations, voluntary organisations and commercial companies.
Funding from commercial organisations is only sought where it would not threaten independence. All Ricability consumer reports are written and researched by us, and we retain full editorial control over them.
Main funders over the last 3 years
- ANEC (European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation): Special Needs Working Group, Domestic Appliances Working Group
- British Healthcare Trades Association
- British Standards Institution
- British Telecommuncations
- Consumers' Association (Which?)
- Department for Trade and Industry
- Department for Transport
- Department of Health
- Disability Rights Commission
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- International Consumer Research and Testing
- John Ellerman Foundation
- London Borough of Islington
- Motability Operations
- Royal Automobile Club
Ricability is the trading name of the Research Institute for Consumer
Affairs
Company Registered in England: 2669868
Registered Charity No: 1007726
VAT Registration No: 577 8406 92
