The Lilac Report 2025: What It Is and Why It Matters to Us
- Rose Hill
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
We wanted to share something we’ve recently read and really connected with: The Lilac Report 2025.
It’s a new UK-wide review focused on the experiences of Disabled entrepreneurs - people running their own businesses while also navigating disability or long-term health conditions.
Although our work at Co-Creative Connection isn’t focused on enterprise support, we’re rooted in community, collaboration and co-creation, and many of the themes in this report speak directly to what we see and hear from the people we work with every day.
So we wanted to reflect a little on what the Lilac Report is, what stood out to us, and why it matters.
First of all, what is the Lilac Report?
The Lilac Report is a piece of national research, led by Small Business Britain, all about how Disabled people experience entrepreneurship in the UK. It looks at:
The barriers people face when trying to run or grow a business
What kind of support is missing or inaccessible
How systems (like finance, support programmes, and procurement) could be redesigned to work better
It’s full of insights, stories, and clear recommendations, calling for systems that are more flexible, more inclusive, and shaped by lived experience.
Why are we talking about it at CCC?
At Co-Creative Connection, our work is all about creating space for people to be involved in shaping their environments through public art, creative workshops and mural projects.
We partner with a wide range of people including community groups, charities, and local residents, to bring people together in ways that feel meaningful, accessible and collaborative. And more often than not, we work with people who are navigating complex systems, unspoken barriers, or just trying to be heard in spaces that aren’t always designed for them.
So while we don’t run business programmes, we do understand the impact that design, access, flexibility and inclusion have on people’s ability to take part, whether that’s in a public art project or in building a business.
Lived experience shaping our work
Living with dyslexia has profoundly shaped the purpose and values of Rose, our founder. Growing up, she had to work ten times as hard just to appear “normal.” That relentless effort built a resilience and determination that now fuels everything she does, it gave her the grit to go further, push boundaries, and redefine what’s possible.
Thinking visually in a world that prioritizes text has given her a unique perspective. She often reflects that if society valued images as much as words, she might not be labelled dyslexic. This insight became the foundation for a business rooted in inclusion, accessibility, and the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.
Rose’s disability isn’t a limitation but a lens that brings mindfulness and empathy to all her work. Having faced exclusion first-hand, she understands the power of belonging, which inspires every Co-Creative Connection project to break down barriers and celebrate creativity for people of all abilities.
What stood out to us
The call for systems designed with, not just around, Disabled people - That’s something we think about a lot when we design workshops or invite people into creative projects. Co-creation isn’t just about participation, it’s about decision-making power.
The value of peer support and lived experience - The report highlights how powerful it is when support comes from people who have been through similar things. That’s exactly what we see in our projects too, people feeling more confident and connected when they’re in spaces led by those who understand their reality.
The need for flexibility and care - The report talks about the extra energy and admin many Disabled entrepreneurs have to carry. It reminded us that things like timings, expectations, pace, and communication style really matter, in any kind of work.
What we’re taking from it
The Lilac Report is a resource for those working in business, finance and policy, but it’s also a powerful read for anyone trying to build more inclusive and community-led spaces.
It’s a reminder that inclusion isn’t a checklist, it’s something that needs to be built into the way we design, plan, communicate and listen.
For us at CCC, it’s prompted more reflection on:
How we communicate with groups and partners
The way we shape creative opportunities so more people can genuinely take part
How we hold space for rest, care and flexibility alongside creativity and collaboration
Working with a diverse range of people
At Co-Creative Connection, we’ve had the privilege of working with an incredibly diverse mix of people, including those who are neurodivergent, individuals navigating mental health challenges, and those with learning or physical disabilities.
Much of this has been made possible through the partnerships we’ve built. From creative projects with Deafroots (supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing people), SKILLS (supporting adults with learning difficulties), and DEX (working with children with Down syndrome) to our ongoing work with the NHS Trust, each project highlights to us of the importance of making space for a wide range of voices and lived experiences.
This work continues to show us that creativity can be a powerful tool for connection, inclusion, and care. When people feel seen, heard and valued in a space, it can unlock not only imagination, but confidence, belonging, and joy.
A recommended read
If you're working in any kind of community, creative or support-based space, we’d recommend giving the Lilac Report a look. It’s not just about enterprise, it’s about access, autonomy, and how we create systems that actually work for people.
You can find the report here, or let us know if you’d prefer a chat about it over reading the full thing.
We’re still learning, but we’re glad this conversation is becoming more visible. And we’re committed to continuing to build projects where people feel seen, valued and included, wherever they’re starting from.
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