What a great way to officially launch a new service.....Chores4You!!! Copy and paste the link below into your browser :-
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Workers-chores-return-vital-donation/article-3117176-detail/article.html
Amo
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Friday, 17 December 2010
In Case You Missed It....The Politics Show BBC1
If you missed our "donation" to the debate on funding for volntary groups on the BBC1 Politics Show recently, please follow or copy/paste the link below :
Amo Raju
CEO
Amo Raju
CEO
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Co-Producing The Do What You Want Directory
I'm absolutley delighted to announce that our new web-based directory listing activities & services available for disabled & older people is live and has already enjoyed over 1,600+ hits.
www.dowhatyouwant.org
The directory is our pride and joy and gives detailed information including charges and accessibility. Funded by Derby City Council and Awards For All (lottery), it has been a truly co-produced project involving staff at Disability Direct, Derby City Council, Magic-T Solutions and most importantly service users. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Derby City Council for their committment to "keeping it local". Unfortunately there are authorities across the country who have gone for an "off the shelf or even free directory" which will have no local significance and have thus missed the opportunity to co-produce something remarkable!
I must equally thank Sabrinda, Raichel and Sally at DD for the long hours spent in getting it right and for not listening to my choice of colours or design for the site.
The directory gives people more choice in considering how people may wish to buy services (many of which are free!). I urge you to visit the site and even rate the service you accessed ensuring others are able to get a feel of the service offerred.
Amo
www.dowhatyouwant.org
The directory is our pride and joy and gives detailed information including charges and accessibility. Funded by Derby City Council and Awards For All (lottery), it has been a truly co-produced project involving staff at Disability Direct, Derby City Council, Magic-T Solutions and most importantly service users. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Derby City Council for their committment to "keeping it local". Unfortunately there are authorities across the country who have gone for an "off the shelf or even free directory" which will have no local significance and have thus missed the opportunity to co-produce something remarkable!
I must equally thank Sabrinda, Raichel and Sally at DD for the long hours spent in getting it right and for not listening to my choice of colours or design for the site.
The directory gives people more choice in considering how people may wish to buy services (many of which are free!). I urge you to visit the site and even rate the service you accessed ensuring others are able to get a feel of the service offerred.
Amo
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Challenges & Opportunities
Have you missed me? Lol
Well we waited for the spending review and no real surprises there! Individuals and organisations will face cuts and in funding or services directly or indirectly and the question is, what do we do about it? Well there are two possible answers :
1. We whinge, campaign and then when all else fails, we pray.
OR
2. We take stock, tighten belts and make some tough choices which will ensure we survive the next 18-24 months. If we charge for services then we will most likely need to increase to at least keep up with the confirmed VAT rise in January 2011. If you don't charge for services then ask yourselves - why not? Those of you who saw my TV interview on the BBC Politics Show will recall my thoughts on partnerships and mergers. For those of you who didn't, I'll recap in a nutshell, join up with like minded groups, share resources, accomodation and expertise which will reduce your overheads, think about the business opportunities for your group within the national/local personalisation agenda. Talk to your business adversaries and be frank about financial difficulties ahead - MOST IMPORTANTLY, leave your egoes in the car park!
Need advice ring me - 01332 404040
Amo
Well we waited for the spending review and no real surprises there! Individuals and organisations will face cuts and in funding or services directly or indirectly and the question is, what do we do about it? Well there are two possible answers :
1. We whinge, campaign and then when all else fails, we pray.
OR
2. We take stock, tighten belts and make some tough choices which will ensure we survive the next 18-24 months. If we charge for services then we will most likely need to increase to at least keep up with the confirmed VAT rise in January 2011. If you don't charge for services then ask yourselves - why not? Those of you who saw my TV interview on the BBC Politics Show will recall my thoughts on partnerships and mergers. For those of you who didn't, I'll recap in a nutshell, join up with like minded groups, share resources, accomodation and expertise which will reduce your overheads, think about the business opportunities for your group within the national/local personalisation agenda. Talk to your business adversaries and be frank about financial difficulties ahead - MOST IMPORTANTLY, leave your egoes in the car park!
Need advice ring me - 01332 404040
Amo
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Get Off The Bandwagon!
Guess what? There's a new book released called
"A Beginners Guide to Being An Expert in Independent Living" written by A. Cowboy.
Not really! Although it feels like this book really is in the domain and has a few followers too. We have been working since 1993 to ensure disabled people of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles and interests live with choice and dignity independently, having taken over 50,000 enquires on all daily issues. However, in recent times a few organisations "out there" have become the self-proclaimed experts in the subject and seem to do nothing but go to meetings all day without any real concrete experience when commenting on our subject matter. Yes I use the word "our". Disabled People and organisations of disabled people have the true insight into barriers, difficulties and the successes of independent living, not those organisations who for the past few years have been more interested in rattling tins or have attended a few "workshops" on community care and now feel confident in representing us!!
Some organisations have even said that they do not consider their members to be "disabled people" but conveniently forward themselves as experts in the field - why? Money!!!!
Now everyone who knows me will confidently say "money is Amo's favourite subject". But Amo will not go and declare The Disability Syndicate as an expert in thermo-nuclear power because to my knowledge we don't employ any scientific experts! Get my point?
My advice to those organisations who want to get to know our subject of expertise, is to come work with us, let us train you, spend some time on our front-line amd most importantly stop rattling our cage!
If you feel this applies to you or your organisation, consider this blog a shot across the bow.
Agree? Not Agree? Amo is a grumpy old git?
Feel free to comment....
Amo
"A Beginners Guide to Being An Expert in Independent Living" written by A. Cowboy.
Not really! Although it feels like this book really is in the domain and has a few followers too. We have been working since 1993 to ensure disabled people of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles and interests live with choice and dignity independently, having taken over 50,000 enquires on all daily issues. However, in recent times a few organisations "out there" have become the self-proclaimed experts in the subject and seem to do nothing but go to meetings all day without any real concrete experience when commenting on our subject matter. Yes I use the word "our". Disabled People and organisations of disabled people have the true insight into barriers, difficulties and the successes of independent living, not those organisations who for the past few years have been more interested in rattling tins or have attended a few "workshops" on community care and now feel confident in representing us!!
Some organisations have even said that they do not consider their members to be "disabled people" but conveniently forward themselves as experts in the field - why? Money!!!!
Now everyone who knows me will confidently say "money is Amo's favourite subject". But Amo will not go and declare The Disability Syndicate as an expert in thermo-nuclear power because to my knowledge we don't employ any scientific experts! Get my point?
My advice to those organisations who want to get to know our subject of expertise, is to come work with us, let us train you, spend some time on our front-line amd most importantly stop rattling our cage!
If you feel this applies to you or your organisation, consider this blog a shot across the bow.
Agree? Not Agree? Amo is a grumpy old git?
Feel free to comment....
Amo
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
The Politics Show
Form an orderley line for autographs please!!!
Hope you had a chance to watch the show on BBC1 a few days ago. If not, the video is at the end of this blog. In all, it was a pretty good interview and a fair portrayal of our views on the state of the voluntary sector and business opportunities. As I was limited for time, some of the issues I would have liked to have added included:
1. The benefits of joining The Disability Syndicate.
2. The narrow mindedness of some boards in partnerships & mergers (see previous blog)
3. Opportunities in making money through sales commissions with Nimbus - The Disability Consultancy Service
4. The option to transfer backroom functions to The Disability Syndicate e.g. finance, HR etc
Anyway, hope you enjoy the video below...by the way, the "Smooth Operator" theme music was not my idea!!!
The interview itself starts at about 37 minutes into the broadcast below
Hope you had a chance to watch the show on BBC1 a few days ago. If not, the video is at the end of this blog. In all, it was a pretty good interview and a fair portrayal of our views on the state of the voluntary sector and business opportunities. As I was limited for time, some of the issues I would have liked to have added included:
1. The benefits of joining The Disability Syndicate.
2. The narrow mindedness of some boards in partnerships & mergers (see previous blog)
3. Opportunities in making money through sales commissions with Nimbus - The Disability Consultancy Service
4. The option to transfer backroom functions to The Disability Syndicate e.g. finance, HR etc
Anyway, hope you enjoy the video below...by the way, the "Smooth Operator" theme music was not my idea!!!
The interview itself starts at about 37 minutes into the broadcast below
Thursday, 9 September 2010
CEO on the BBC!!!!!
Where's my Equity Card?
Wow! What a morning!!! A BBC camera crew has just spent the morning filming at DD offices on Normanton Rd and Pride Park. We have been highlighted as an organisation not solely reliant on local authority funding with successful social enterprises helping towards the funding gap. The filiming was for The Politics Show on BBC1 to be aired this sunday morning at 11am.
Naturally we are going to have our critics in the audiance and I will be on the show live to answer "queries" to our approach.
A big thank you to the staff at Normanton Rd who agreed to be filmed.
Tune in on Sunday 12th September 2010 BBC1 at 11am.
Amo
Wow! What a morning!!! A BBC camera crew has just spent the morning filming at DD offices on Normanton Rd and Pride Park. We have been highlighted as an organisation not solely reliant on local authority funding with successful social enterprises helping towards the funding gap. The filiming was for The Politics Show on BBC1 to be aired this sunday morning at 11am.
Naturally we are going to have our critics in the audiance and I will be on the show live to answer "queries" to our approach.
A big thank you to the staff at Normanton Rd who agreed to be filmed.
Tune in on Sunday 12th September 2010 BBC1 at 11am.
Amo
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