Charity Begins At Home?

I recently filled a couple of bags of old clothes and donated to a national charity (won’t name it but it’s very well known) which has a chain of shops across the city of Derby and the rest of the country. It’s a good feeling knowing that someone will benefit from recycled clothes even though my sense fashion is critiqued by my peers! Later that day I was watching the news on the tv and caught a discussion part way through about how our taxes are not split evenly across the UK, with many complaining of higher levels of government expenditure in London and the South East part of England. This got me thinking…….

National charities work in a similar way. Across the country they receive donations and clothes for recycling from individuals like you and I. Many of these shops are run by volunteers and usually 1 or 2 paid staff. I looked into the financial turnover of 2 charities which operate to the model above, one working with older people and one with disabled people with a very specific impairment. Both had income exceeding £35m a year. Now I’ve been working in the local voluntary sector for over 20 years and I’m quite confident in saying that very little money is handed down to the local branches of the said 2 charities to run free services to that particular group of people. Seems very familiar indeed!

It’s also quite concerning to note that these local branches are often expected to raise their own income and then give a portion to head office (often in London!) and such groups then look towards local authorities for grant funding – and they get it too! This is the bit where I’ll declare an interest. As CEO of a local charity, we are often ‘competing’ for funding with groups who have national affiliation to a head office which chooses to distribute finances elsewhere.

Recently here in Derby, a large train-making company lost a contract to a German counterpart. Nationally, there was an uproar that preference should be given to UK based companies. I don’t know about you but I think the same concept applies at a local level for locally based not-for-profit groups bidding for local contracts/grants.

Local authorities, CCG’s and even grant making trusts need to think very seriously about their procurement, commissioning or grant-making processes which can often irreversibly damage the ability of local groups to develop into something special and unique in meeting local need.

The next time you donate your clothes or perhaps even cash, ask the charity shop manager how much of the income they raise is spent on people locally. I think we know the answer will be quite vague.

Agree with Amo?  Don’t Agree With Amo?  Get a life Amo?

Amo Raju – CEO Disability Direct

PA's? - Who Cares?

Over the last 20 years I've discussed all types of issues affecting disabled people yet very rarely talked about Personal Assistants (PA's). The other day I was delivering a session on the social model to a room full PA's in Derby. It's no surprise that they actually understood the model but what became very clear by the end of the session was the need for peer support.

As have many other user-led organisations, we have been supporting disabled people through Direct Payment Support Service contracts over the last decade or so. In each region, the majority of these contracts came to an end a couple of years ago as was the case here in Derby. Along with my peers across the country, one of our fears was that without the correct guidance, some direct payment users may be unknowingly breaking basic employment law or developing almost destructive working practices. It's important to state that often disabled people are in the role of 'Employer' without any training and are just as liable in staff management as the boss who has the luxury of a HR Manager as and when needed. Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% behind this option as opposed to sole reliance on care agencies....but just feel there is now a gap in support to disabled people & PA's which I've been told has led to an increase in cases at employment tribunals.

There are of course less social workers than before too which combined with he 'lighter touch' monitoring requirements means that there is very little evidence gathering of the local picture in the employment and equally important, retention of PA's. In fact I'd be very interested to know (percentage wise) how many people using direct payments/personal budgets actually know who their social workers are!

At this session which i talked about earlier, there were some PA's who seemed on the verge of tears due to poor treatment by the boss. Nearly all stated that there was not the framework or mechanism to raise grievances, unions didn't seem interested - neither did the local authority. 'A single point of call for advice would be brilliant' said one. By the end of the session I offered to support them in setting up their own peer support group - within seconds nearly all agreed to sign-up!

As the current social care system is failing a good portion of disabled and older people, it needs to be recognised that it is leading to a very dissatisfied social care workforce too which will only cause problems in the longer-term. I urge other Disabled Peoples Organisations to help create PA support networks too - let's be honest, no one else is going to do it and in the bigger picture it's in our own interests!

Agree?                     Disagree?                   Who Cares?

If you have any thoughts or comments, lease feel free to get in touch ;

amo.raju@disabilitysyndicate.com

Extra Costs Commission

Do you find being a disabled person is an expensive business?

With prices for everyday living at an all time high, less available liquid cash and disability benefits on the DWP 'chopping board', disabled people are being asked to do more with less money. Some of you will agree that the reality is this has been the case for many, many years. Yet, this time it seems to be tougher than before, with the pundits predicting more gloom when the bank interest rates begin to rise.

The really sad thing is that elements within society almost seems to be too comfortable with the generalised labelling of disabled people as 'benefits scroungers'. It doesn't help when some of the media decide to run headlines which steer the ill-informed (excuse the pun).

Nevertheless, I'd like to praise the national charity 'Scope' for taking the initiative at such a difficult time for disabled people by putting together a commission which will look into the frighteningly high cost of living for disabled people. I'm even more pleased to be one of the nine commissioners who will look into the subject matter and thus keen to hear from you with your thoughts and perhaps personal experiences. You can of course let Scope know directly via the following link ;

http://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/extra-costs-commission/personal-story

Or, feel free to email me ; amo.raju@disabilitysyndicate.com

I'll keep you in the loop about the work of the commission. In the meantime, don't forget to follow me on twitter - @syndicateCEO

Amo Raju
Chief Exec.