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Gerry Zarb Business Development and Policy Manager

Learn about SPECTRUM's journey in supporting disabled individuals for independent living through peer support, advocacy, and empowerment training. Discover their mission, services, funding strategies, and future goals.

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Gerry Zarb Business Development and Policy Manager

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  1. SPECTRUM Centre for Independent Living Think you know Disabled People ….. Think Again Gerry ZarbBusiness Development and Policy Manager SPECTRUM’s Development: Past, Present and Future

  2. SPECTRUM CIL: A Brief History Hampshire & Derbyshire CILs formed in early 1980’s with Southampton CIL following in 1984 SCIL started by Simon Brisenden, who had a dream …. to change the world …. to celebrate difference Run and controlled by Disabled People. Only Disabled members have voting rights. Bought a majority share in our base – Unity 12 - in 2007. At start of 2013 we changed our name and branding to SPECTRUM to reflect the diversity of our activities and user base “Think you know Disabled People …. Think Again”

  3. Our Aims • To enable Disabled People to take control over their own lives • To achieve full participation and effect changes in how Disabled People are viewed and treated • To provide encouragement, assistance, advice, support and for Independent Living • Collective and individual empowerment

  4. SPECTRUM’s Range of Enabling Services Supporting Disabled People’s empowerment: • Peer based Support, Advice and Brokerage for people using Direct payments or Personal Budgets • PA Registers • Continuing Care Agency - Self Directed Support • Peer Advocacy and Peer Mentoring • Personal Development and empowerment training Promoting Disability Equality: • Training & Consultancy - Public Bodies & Business • Consumer & Access Audits • Practice Learning and Training (e.g. Social Work Student placements) • User Involvement (e.g. the Personalisation Expert Panel) Most importantly: We champion Disabled People’s rights and represent progressive social policy views

  5. SCIL founded on User Led Organisation (ULO) Principles Run and Controlled by Disabled People or Carers Peer-support Independent Living & Social Model of Disability Campaign for human rights Provide advice and support to enable Disabled People to live independently But we must accept where the world has moved to; and move with it, Find new ways to be relevant Strive to be more diverse and inclusive

  6. ULO’s in Hard Times • Finding it harder to survive – lack of Local Authority support and tendering rules • CIL’s & ULOs are at a crossroads – • We will survive, not by resting on our laurels, but by being positive and dynamic. • To thrive we need to have something to offer: • Unique Selling Points • An organisation with ethics, values and principles • Being different and distinctive • Demonstrate our ability to innovate and DELIVER

  7. Securing our future: Purchasing Unity 12 We purchased our own building in 2007 to secure our future and generate new sources of income Needed Management Committee to take a bold decision Capital Loan from Future Builders Grants totalling £142,500 Loan £364,500 (max) Total: £507,500 SCIL 60% majority shareholder

  8. Would we do it again? • YES - YES – YES • HOWEVER: be aware of what you are setting up for the organisation’s future – 20 years of interest and capital repayments • Also, loan conditions can restrict some choices

  9. How does SPECTRUM CIL sustain itself? • Not easy ... Ever • A good reputation is everything • A social enterprise – profit is good! • Many eggs in our basket • All our projects are ‘full-cost’ costed • All projects contribute to the core (infrastructure) costs of the organisation • All projects costed to be ‘scalable’ • The right source of funding for each project

  10. SPECTRUM CIL’s Funding Strategy • Grant funding is not sustainable • Contract/Tender work for bread and butter work - but never allow an organisations survival to become dependent on one contract • Majority of Core costs are funded by projects • Income generation (consultancy) work, getting bigger each year • Consultants making millions on the back of Disabled People – we can do that – better • Personalisation presents huge opportunities

  11. So, where do we go from here? • Successful organisations are successful because they are different • Peer Support is our most valuable asset – we do not have non-disabled people in control or in support roles. • Disabled People must speak for themselves. • Must be more business like – what we have is valuable and unique sell it • Provide a range of services that generate income • Be creative about minimising expenditure • Work to empower Disabled People to develop their skills

  12. Thank You!Questions? http://www.spectrumcil.co.uk/

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