Principles
What guides our work
These commitments shape every program, partnership and decision. They are also how we want to be held to account.
Nothing about us without us
People with lived experience of disability help lead, design, deliver and evaluate our work. Inclusion is not something done to people — it is done with them, or it is not really inclusion.
Evidence over hype
We favour honest evaluation and demonstrable, real-world impact over claims we cannot show. We are willing to publish limitations and negative results, because pretending things work helps no one.
Open by default
We share resources, methods and findings openly where doing so helps the people we serve, and we prefer accessible, open formats over walled gardens.
Responsible technology
We hold AI, data and digital systems to standards of accessibility, safety, privacy, transparency and accountability — because the people we serve carry the cost when those standards slip.
Independent for good
Our charitable purpose is never subordinated to any commercial interest. We collaborate across the Octopus ecosystem only on fair, transparent, arm's-length terms.
Public benefit, held in trust
We exist for public benefit. Our assets and income are applied solely to our charitable purpose, and we are accountable for how we use them.