Over 100 Enjoy 25th Anniversary Celebration

Over 100 people gathered at Chilworth Manor last night to celebrate SCIL’s 25th Anniversary. Staff, Management Committee and Members, both past and present gathered for an evening of nostalgia and entertainment as well as plenty of food and drink.

Robert Droy, the compere for the evening, kicked off the show with a video tracing the history of SCIL through photos and videos.

There were also exclusive performances from Natasha Wood and Laurence Clark.

The evening ended with a disco playing music from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

Congratulations to Clare Bunstone who won a holiday for 6 people to stay at a top hotel in Dorset in our Anniversary free prize draw.

More photos on our Facebook page.

SCIL joins Campaigners from across Europe on Freedom Drive

Between the 14th and the 17th September, Robert Droy and Michael Grimmett from SCIL joined 440 people from 21 European countries in Strasbourg for the Freedom Drive 2009 to campaign for the rights of Disabled People. 

The Freedom Drive concentrates on Independent Living subjects such as deinstitutionalisation, the right to personal assistance and the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.

 

The Freedom Drivers came up with 8 key demands that they felt the European Parliament should be working on and these demands were handed over to EU Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and to Richard Howitt MEP following a march through the streets of Strasbourg to the Parliament building.  

 

Jerzy Buzek and Richard Howitt said they were committed to fight for the rights of Disabled People and encouraged Freedom Drivers to keep lobbying their national MEPs to promote Independent Living in their countries.

Michael Grimmett from SCIL commented ‘ I found the 2009 Freedom Drive to be an inspiring experience.  To be around other Disabled People, who are fighting for a common goal was uplifting and gave me further impetus to carry on the campaign for independent living and equal rights. ’.

Following a meeting with some of the UK MEPs, Robert Droy pledged that SCIL would invite the MEPs in the South East area to a seminar in early 2010 to continue the dialogue further. More details to follow…..   

Freedom Drive Finalises Its Demands

On 16 Sep 09, 3 delegates from SCIL will join more than 400 Freedom Drivers from more than 20 countries as they march through Strasbourg to the EU Parliament. Regardless of their impairment, they are unified by one goal: Independent Living.

They will hand over the following demands to the President of the EU Parliament. 

1. We call on the European Community to ensure that Independent Living is central in the disability policies of the European Union, as expressed in the EU Disability Strategy, the Disability Action Plan and Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

2. We encourage the European Community to continue to assist the development of community-based services to achieve de-institutionalization across Europe.

3. We call for the implementation of our human right to a personal assistance service, fundamental to guarantee the enjoyment of Independent Living.

4. We call for the opportunity to equally enjoy the right to freedom of movement with the portability of personal assistance services.

5. We call for an earmarking of 5% of EU development funding to go to the development of Independent Living programs in developing countries.

6. We call on the European Community to fully ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to sign and ratify its Optional Protocol and for its articles to be implemented in EU legislation and policy. Incumbent in this is the application of pressure by the Institutions and representatives on member states to transpose the convention into law domestically as soon as possible

7. We call for a disability specific directive to uphold and protect the full rights and entitlements of people with disabilities across Europe.

8. Disabled people and our organisations must be decisively involved at all levels of policy-making including planning, producing and implementation.

Whilst in Strasbourg, the Freedom Drive participants will be meeting with many MEPs who have an interest in this area to look at how we can all work together to ensure these demands are taken seriously.

You can read more about the Freedom Drive on our blog over the coming weeks.                                           

 

Invite to SCIL’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

SCIL can finally reveal that we will be marking our 25th anniversary in style with a Gala Evening at Chilworth Manor on the 6th November and we want our members and Disabled People from around the country to join us. The event will be a chance for Disabled People to come together to celebrate our survival as an organisation as well as our achievements over the last 25 years.

 

During the evening, there will be comedy provided by two of the top Disabled comedians in the country, Laurence Clark and Natasha Wood, a birthday toast from Ian Loynes, SCIL’s chief executive as well as an audio visual presentation of the history of SCIL. With a welcome drink on arrival and complimentary snacks on offer, it promises to be a great night.

Tickets are only £10 each if you are waged or £5 if you are unwaged. If you need to bring a PA to the event, tickets for a PA are only £5. Tickets are on sale now and we need to know final numbers by October 1st so reserve your tickets now by phoning 023 8033 0982 or email info@southamptoncil.co.uk and we will send you a booking form.

We really want as many members to attend as possible so if you’re keen to come but may need some support to arrange it then let us know.

Shaping the Future of Care Together

The long awaited green paper on the future of social care was finally released on the 14th July 2009 and received less then enthusiastic reception from many organisations of Disabled People. Many commentators felt the Green Paper focussed too heavily on the funding of long term support for older people and ignored the needs of younger Disabled People.

The Green Paper sets out the government’s vision for a ‘National Care Service’.

The National Care Service will create a level playing field and end the postcode lottery of care services. Everyone in England will be guaranteed:

• Prevention services – the right support to stay independent and well for as long as possible and to delay your support needs increasing. 

• National assessment – Your support needs will be assessed and paid for in the same way across the country.

• Joined-up services – all the services will work together smoothly.

• Information and advice – the system will be easy to understand and navigate.

• Personalised care and support – services will be based on personal circumstances and need.

• Fair funding – money will be spent wisely and everyone will get some help meeting the high cost of support needs.

All very worthy aims however there is less detail on how they can achieve these aims.

Although the government appears to now acknowledge that funding for long term support is in crisis, and that there are inequalities in different areas in England, over criteria and means testing, the government has not brought forward one particular strategy to combat this.

When it comes to the thorny issue of funding for older people’s support, there seems to be 3 possible options which have been proposed:

1) A partnership model

The state would pay for a proportion of the care costs of any individual – for example, a quarter or a third – ensuring that everyone gets some support free. People would have to pay towards the rest of the cost dependent on means. 

 2) An insurance model

The state would pay for a proportion of the care costs of any individual – for example, a quarter or a third – ensuring that everyone gets some support free, just as in the Partnership model. In addition people could choose to pay into a private insurance or state insurance scheme that would cover the rest of the costs. This could be paid in instalments, as a lump sum on retirement or after death if preferred.

3) A comprehensive model

Everyone over retirement age would be required to pay into an insurance scheme depending on means and care would all be free once this requirement is met. The insurance could be paid during their working life, during their retirement or after they died.

There now follows a consultation period that lasts until the 13th November 2009 which is called rather brashly ‘The Big Care Debate’. There are no ‘official’ Government consultation events being held in Southampton however SCIL is considering holding a consultation event sometime in the Autumn.

More info is at http://www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/

Or you can order a copy to be mailed to you by phoning 0300 123 1002 or minicom number is 0300 123 1003

Quote the reference, 295936 ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ for the full Green Paper and, for the shorter version, 295936/ER ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together – Easy Read.’

 

How do we ensure choice, control and quality is at the heart of a new social care system?

On July 7th, Robert Droy from SCIL was asked to address the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Care. Niall Dixon from the Kings Fund was also speaking.

An audience of around 100 people, including around 30 members of Parliament and Peers from House of Lords fired questions at both Robert and Niall for over an hour.

As well as much speculation about what might or might not be in the green paper some of the key points that were discussed (in no particular order) included:

• Social Care should have an equal footing with Health Care. Lack of investment in social care will cost more in the future. Preventative work is often talked about however ever tighter eligibility criteria leaves increasing numbers of people, particularly older people at risk of developing more serious impairments and higher support needs in the future.

• Everybody, regardless of their age or impairment, should be able to have choice and control over the support they receive.  These are basic human rights, not just about getting up in the morning and going to bed at night but living a full and active life. Human rights cannot be at the whim of the local authorities. Disabled people should have guaranteed minimum entitlements wherever they live in the country. Support must also be portable.

• Over the last 25 years, CILs have been at the forefront of developing the Personalisation agenda, starting with Direct Payments and now moving towards self directed support.

• Many CILs are struggling to compete against some of the bigger non-user led organisations, particularly as many local authorities feel compelled to competitively tender for many support services that are best delivered by CILs.

• Access to Peer Advocacy leading to Self Advocacy are essential to ensure that  ALL users can take full advantage of the personalised agenda. However funding for Advocacy services are thin on the ground.

• Training for Disabled People and Personal Assistants should be available but should not be a barrier to encouraging ‘new’ people to enter the social care workforce.

• Integrating funding streams should not mean people lose their basic entitlement to certain benefits e.g. DLA / AA

• Many Disabled People also experience multiple discrimination because they are lesbian or gay or come from a black / minority ethnic community. The Government needs to listen to their views.

Green Paper Is On Its Way

The Green Paper on the reform of adult care and support in England will now be published in early July.

Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham confirmed the launch timing while answering questions in the House of Commons last Tuesday.   

“In early July we will publish a Green Paper setting out options to reform the care and support system,” he said.

Speaking shortly afterwards, Care Service Minister Phil Hope explained some of the aims of the publication.

“It will be radical, and it will spell out what we will do in future to ensure that people get high-quality care, and that they have choice and control over that care. We will make sure that the system is fair, transparent, simple and affordable for all. Those things are matters of principle for us.”

After the paper has been published the Government will conduct a 16 week consultation period, asking the public and stakeholders which reform options they  favour. The engagement will include discussion events, a leaflet campaign and various online activity. Up to date information will be available on the Care and Support website.

If You Employ A PA, This is for You!

SCIL are holding an exciting workshop on Tuesday 14th July between 10am and 1pm which would benefit you with understanding PA employment and it is free to all SCIL Members and Disabled People on the ILSS register.

The workshop morning is an exciting way to open your mind to various employment issues and to raise the issues that Disabled People encounter everyday and enabling you to reach your maximum potential as a Personal Assistant employer.  You will also have the chance to meet various support workers at SCIL.

On the same day, Personal Assistants on the ILSS register have been invited to a Disability Equality Training session. Personal Assistants have been strongly advised to attend DET Training as part of their development as a Personal Assistant. 

If you employ a Personal Assistant from the ILSS register, you should be aware that your Personal Assistant may also be attending on the same date as yourself.  It is worth noting that the Personal Assistants will be in a separate room.

As this is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed, so complete the booking form below:

PA Employers Workshop

Or contact Michael on 023 8020 2636 or email Michael@southamptoncil.co.uk

Consultation on the Right to Control

The Office of Disability Issues has just launched a consultation to ask Disabled People how to make choice and control a reality in their lives.

The consultation, launched on 11 June, invites stakeholders to give their views on the best way to deliver the Right to Control.

The ODI encourages responses from Disabled People, their organisations, public bodies, commissioners and service providers.

The consultation runs from 11 June – 30 September 2009.

• Consultation on Right to Control (PDF, 78 pages, 3.71 MB)

• Consultation on Right to Control – Easy Read (PDF, 92 pages, 2.12 MB)

To request a copy of the consultation in Braille, audio CD or BSL DVD email right.control@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 020 7449 5093.

What is the right to control?

The Right to Control is about shifting the balance of power from the state to the individual and recognising that disabled people are the experts in their own lives.

Why is the right needed?

At the moment, many Disabled People do not have the sort of choice and control over their lives that Non-Disabled people take for granted. The Government is therefore committed to providing greater choice and control over the support they receive from the State.

How will the right be introduced?

From 2010, we will test how the Right to Control will work. We will do this by trying out the Right to Control for Disabled Adults in a number of local authority areas in England. These will be called trailblazer sites.

How does the right fit with the Welfare Reform Bill?

The Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament enables the Secretary of State to make regulations to give Disabled People greater choice and control over support provided by the state. The Right to Control is part 2 of the Bill.

The Bill has completed its passage through the House of Commons. There was strong support across the House, with members on both sides warmly welcoming the increased choice and control this policy will deliver. As of June 2009, the Bill is before the House of Lords.

The Hansard page on the Welfare Reform Bill can be found on the Parliament website and includes the full text of the Bill, explanatory notes and reports from the debates.

 

SCIL’s History Project