ulos: 2010 and beyond conference -- southampton cil and sustainability

Ian LoynesIan LoynesChief Executive, SCILChief Executive, SCIL

Building Capacity & Sustainability for Building Capacity & Sustainability for

User-Led OrganisationsUser-Led Organisations

SCIL: Celebrating 25 Years 1984-2009SCIL: Celebrating 25 Years 1984-2009

Promoting equality across the South

Southampton Centre for Independent Living

SCIL Income 2009-10 (Approx)SCIL Income 2009-10 (Approx)

Building sustainable ULO’sBuilding sustainable ULO’s

SCIL’s experiences show that the important aspects to creating and sustaining successful ULO’s are:

WHY users should control their support organisations; and

HOW to ensure these organisations are modeled on existing CIL’s (i.e. working to the Social Model of Disability, Peer-support and

the principles of Independent Living)

What motivates Disabled People to want to set up a ULO•Common: interests, values, beliefs. •Agents for social change (Campaigning!)

Not Just a provider of services, just another business/charity

Sustainability is as much about the empowerment of individuals as it is about resources

SCIL’s Range of Enabling ServicesSCIL’s Range of Enabling ServicesSupporting Disabled People’s empowerment:

• Peer based Support Advice & Brokerage on SDS• PA Registers• Continuing Care ‘SDS’• Peer Advocacy & Peer Mentoring• Personal Development & Participation

Promoting Disability Equality:• Training & Consultancy: Public Bodies & Business• Consumer & Access Audits• Practice Learning Opportunities• Consultation – Expert Practice Provision- Recent example: Personalisation Expert Panel – useful to LA’s when DP’s empowered and well informed

Importantly: SCIL champions Disabled People’s rights, represents progressive social policy views

SCIL Successes:• Developed best Direct Payments schemes in UK• Most pro-active CIL in UK• Respected by Disabled People and Government• By maintaining clear aims, values, quality• Only Disabled People control our agenda• Clear vision• Pragmatic: We say what is wrong; but will work with those

committed to improvements• Financial accountability: Projects meet Core Costs• Strong focus on income generation• Personal Development and Empowerment work is critical in

feeding our sustainability: Obvious funding opportunity• Have little difficulty recruiting Disabled staff• Disabled People drive our constant innovation

Local Authorities cannot implement their Personalisation Agenda or their equality duties without effective ULO’s

•Accountability to local Disabled People

•Keepers of Independent Living & Social Model Faith

•ULO’s at the forefront of every progressive social policy advance in last 25 yrs

•ULO’s have a critical role in enabling users to have an empowered voice – no-one else should speak for us

•ULO’s Must be Campaigners (not just service providers)

•ULO’s Must challenge policies (Local & National) which limit the inclusion of Disabled People

But how can ULO’s sustain themselves?

• Successful organisations are successful because they are different – high values and high principles WILL show through

• Must be more business like – what we have is valuable and unique, sell it (social enterprises)

• Must be enabled to provide a range of services that generate income

• Must be creative about minimising expenditure

• Must work to empower Disabled People to develop their skills within ULO’s rather than expect them to just appear

• Become “Critical Friends” to Public Bodies

• Thinking “Outside of the Box”….

Thank You!Thank You!

Ian LoynesIan Loynes

Ian@SouthamptonCIL.co.ukIan@SouthamptonCIL.co.uk

Tel: 023 8033 0982Tel: 023 8033 0982www.SouthamptonCIL.co.uk

Presentation © SCIL 2010Presentation © SCIL 2010