Convenor's Report to AGM, 2nd October 2002

Since our successful re-launch and AGM held at Dunblane last year, I am pleased to report your Management Committee has been involved in protracted talks with the Equality Unit and Community Care Division of the Scottish Executive.� These took place in an effort to gain funding to allow SDEF to undertake the work outlined in our Business Plan which we submitted to Scottish Executive in August.� We are very hopeful our application will be successful, and I have my fingers crossed I will be in a position to confirm a firm commitment by the time we meet.

Those of you who attended the members meetings held in Stirling and Perth, will recognise from the executive summary sent out with the other papers, that our business plan follows closely the priority areas you identified on these occasions.� This reaffirms our pledge of being an organisation which listens to its grass roots and follows up issues which are important to its members.�� A copy of the full Plan and Work Programme can be made available to any member who wishes to have one.

I am also delighted to inform you that our Membership has grown steadily and currently stands at:

50 full members��

30 associate members��

11 individual members

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continuing support and to welcome our new members.

While we are happy with this, we realise only too well that people who are affected by sensory impairment, learning disability and mental health are unfortunately under-represented at present, and we have targeted them especially in our recent mailings.� Without their input we will all be the poorer, and SDEF will not be the rounded organisation we wish it to be. ��It is important that we all increase our understanding of each other�s concerns, and the only way we can do this is by encouraging as many groups and/or individuals with varying disabilities to come together to share experiences, and speak with a united voice to achieve change.

We are continuing to build closer relationships with our membership, through our consultation meetings, website and our monthly newsletters (edition 7 is now available).�� Website hits have now passed the 400 mark.� As I have stressed in the past at our previous meetings, the 9 elected members of the Management Committee are your servants and will progress your wishes, but we must know what they are.� This is an on-going process and not just when we meet two or three times a year. �A vital part, in what is a two way process, is the full active participation of each of our member groups � we need this strength to speak to policy makers with authority and build credibility.��

If you would like to see changes in the layout and content of the newsletters or website, please give us feedback.� Remember this is one means in which you can help, by submitting articles of news you wish to share � good practice or problems you have encountered.� A problem shared is a problem halved, good news is a bonus.� No doubt others will have come across something similar and found a solution.� We would remind you, if you would like to raise an issue which concerns you, do not be shy or think perhaps it is too trivial, or that the members of the Management Committee will already know and be dealing with it.� We do try to keep abreast of things but do not pretend to be aware of everything, and anything which worries you is never trivial and would never be treated as such.�� In the meantime I can be contacted through our secretariat� - Philippa Bonella at SCVO.

More generally, approximately 1400 disability organisations are now listed on our database and have all been contacted over the past year.� The database continues to grow as we expand our knowledge of the sector in Scotland and make links with other key players.� This is an important element in our development as we continue to raise our profile.� These include Government, Parliament, the Disability Rights Commission in Scotland and the broader disability voluntary sector.�

As examples, I was invited to become Vice-Convenor of the Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Disability; we have been invited to join discussion groups set up by DRC; we have representation on BT Countryside for All Advisory Committee on a UK basis; and Paths for All Partnership.� We are also deeply involved in the steering group for European Year of Disabled People (EYDP) 2003; as well as the steering group for Access Panels, which ties in so well with our main work programme.�� We are also working closely with Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA), assisting in arranging a mobility roadshow next July, and a possible conference later in the year

We have responded, with your help, to 8 major consultations which we list below:

This is another area where we would ask for your help and co-operation, by submitting your observations and views as individual organisations direct, and letting SDEF have a copy to be included in a corporate response.� This will again ensure we speak with one voice.

Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank the whole committee for their hard work and unfailing support during a difficult and important time in our continuing development. This includes the two new members who joined since the last AGM -� namely Ron Skinner and Peter Ingram-Monk who replaced Veronica Rodden when she stepped down during the year.

Elma Mitchell MBE, Convenor

�

Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Working together for the disability movement

SDEF is a recognised Scottish charity no. SC031893

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