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Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Business Plan 2002-05

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.��� Introduction

The Scottish Disability Equality Forum is recognised by the Inland Revenue as having charitable status.The Forum has been developing since 1997 and was launched in 2001.The Forum now has over 70 member organisations and a number of individual members.Members have elected a management committee of nine experienced people, who all have a disability, to steer the development of the Forum and carry out their wishes.

This business plan sets out our organisation�s aims and objectives over the next three years, and how we intend to achieve them.It is with great pleasure that we present this plan to you.

2.��� Mission: The Scottish Disability Equality Forum exists to promote greatersocial equality by working to remove the disabling barriers to equal access for people affected by disabilities in Scotland.

3.��� Values:

SDEF believes:

a)��� that people come first, disability comes second;��������������

b)��� in a �bottom-up� rather than a �top-down approach to policymaking that people with disabilities should have control over decisions that directly affect their lives;

c)��� there is a need for the voices of people with disabilities to be heard in defining access problems and in proposing solutions;

d)��� in a commitment to equal opportunities;

�������������

e)��� in a commitment to working with all who can contribute to opening up access for people with disabilities; and,

f)����� in adding value, not duplicating the work of others.

4. Analyses and implications for SDEF

In working towards developing strategic aims and objectives, SDEF analysed current external trends in the fields of politics, economics, society and technology, and what these trends would mean for organisations working to support people affected by disability.Key political trends considered include devolution and the Scottish elections in 2003; the European Year of Disabled People in 2003; the implementation of aspects of the DDA in 2004; and the expected changes to the equality institutions. Economic trends include the likely economic downturn and the emphasis on promoting employment for people with disabilities.��� Particular social trends are the introduction of free personal care for older people and the Scottish Executive�s support for work with access panels.Technological trends considered include the improved accessibility of information for those with disabilities and impairments, but the exclusion of these people from the design process.These trends all make a clear case for a networking organisation supporting local disability groups through channelling information and supporting members to develop good practice.

The trends identified were considered alongside the expressed wishes of SDEF�s membership, as set out in two consultative members� meetings in the past year.Members had focused on the need to develop better communication structures within the disability movement, and the need to focus on access, to the built environment, to tourism, to transport and to information.Based on members� priorities and the external analyses, strategic aims and objectives for SDEF�s work were produced.

5. STRATEGIC AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

AIM 1: To promote action to make Scotland, Scottish institutions and services more accessible to people with disabilities, building on the changes in responsibilities for access from 2004

Objectives:

1.1 To take forward the recommendations of the research into Access Panels;

1.2 To seek to work with access panels, supporting them to develop IT systems in order to improve access to two-way communication with people with disabilities;

1.3 To work to increase access to tourism in Scotland;

1.4 To establish an up-to-date, reliable information and advice service on access issues related to the environment and to communication methods;

1.5 To seek to establish access audit accreditation in partnership with academics; and

1.6 To design and run training courses on the principles of access to the environment.

AIM 2: To establish, or assist in establishing, mechanisms to improve two-way communications between people with disabilities and policy-makers, through which to promote the voices of SDEF members and enable policymaking to be better informed

Objectives:

2.1 To broaden the membership of SDEF, in particular increasing representation of mental health service users, and people affected by disability from minority ethnic communities, to help ensure that SDEF�s work is fully accessible to all sections of the community and in order to be able to advise others on full accessibility;

2.2 To develop means of promoting two-way internal communication among SDEF members and between SDEF members and the SDEF Committee;

2.3 To assist in the development of consultation mechanisms with the Scottish Executive and Parliament, to ensure SDEF and its membership is consulted on initiatives pertinent to its core business, and to contribute proactively to policy-making;

2.4 To develop and strengthen contacts with key politicians and parliamentarians; and,

2.5 To assist in the development of relations with public and private sector decision makers.

AIM 3: To build good relationships with key players in the disability field and identify opportunities for partnership working

Objectives:

3.1 To contribute towards the strengthening of the sector by pressing for the formation of a Consortium on Disability;

3.2 To contribute towards a Scotland-wide programme of activities around EUROPEAN YEAR OF DISABLED PEOPLE; and,

3.3 To work with others in developing and implementing a strategy around the Elections in 2003.

AIM 4: To establish SDEF as a professionally-run, sustainable organisation, with a clear identity and a unique contribution to make as a centre of expertise in the field of access to the environment and to communication methods.

Objectives:

4.1 To ensure SDEF�s constitution and governance structures are appropriate to allow it to function efficiently and effectively, in line with SDEF�s values;

4.2 To establish efficient strategic planning, policies, procedures and reporting systems;

4.3 To seek to establish long-term financial stability;

4.4 To find suitable premises outwith Edinburgh and Glasgow, with access and parking; and,

4.5 To build and develop a staff team, as required to implement the business plan.

7.Key Outputs, Monitoring and Evaluation

This section provides brief descriptions of key outputs and how it is proposed that each should be monitored and evaluated. Performance indicators for each activity are set out in section 11 below. These will clearly form the basis for setting targets and for evaluation.Outputs include: consultation events; training on the principles of access; an access information helpline; a guidance manual for access panels; newsletters and information materials; support for consultation mechanisms with members; a website and bulletin board; IT support and equipment; a tourism guide; and accredited access training.

More generally, through taking a �bottom up� approach, SDEF�s work will be subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation by each membership. Individual funders may also have particular requirements when it comes to monitoring and evaluating activities for which they have provided funding. SDEF is committed to ensuring full accountability, to all its stakeholders, both internal and external. A complaints procedure would be developed at an early stage and publicised to those using SDEF�s products and services.

8. Outline of staffing requirements: It seems likely that three full-time core staff will be required, namely:

������� a management post, covering strategic planning and reporting, staff management, work with the Management Committee, fundraising, policy work;

������� an access development worker, covering work with access panels, delivery of information services, establishment of consultation mechanisms;

������� an administrator/ IT support worker, covering membership administration and communications, events organisation, IT support and development, administration relating to information services, training, staffing and Committee work.

It would be possible to enter into a Service Level Agreement with SCVO to out-house financial administration (pay-roll, book-keeping, etc. In addition, it is likely to be necessary to employ project staff, e.g. to take forward the proposed work on tourism.

9. Outline of SDEF Management Committee skills and experience: All have personal experience of disability and all have previous experience of being members of voluntary sector Management Committees. Some are also members of access panels; some have qualifications as access auditors, or as disability equality trainers. Work experience of business management, financial and staff management, product design and customer service is also represented. So too is expertise on a range of policy issues and/ or involvement with organisations dealing with them, including transport, housing, employment and health as well as community care. Between them, they have extensive contacts within the disability sector and beyond, e.g. with local authorities, parliamentarians, Health Boards and the media.

10. How SDEF�s work meets the interests of key stakeholders

SDEF�s work will improve the social welfare of people with disabilities in a variety of respects � through providing information and advice, opportunities to feed into policy-making, improvements to access to the environment and information, including the prospect of increased access to tourism. Families of people with disabilities should similarly benefit from information and advice, and improved access. The work proposed should help meet a number of Scottish Executive priorities, contributing towards meeting objectives relating to the equality strategy and mainstreaming, community care, EUROPEAN YEAR OF DISABLED PEOPLE and social inclusion more generally. Information and advice on access to the environment and information should also be useful for local authorities, who should also benefit from improved communications with local people with disabilities. Work to support the development of access panels and training on the principles of access, should also directly meet their interests. The project on tourism should be of assistance to leisure service providers, as they assume new access responsibilities, and are enabled to expand their customer base. SDEF�s commitment to adding value and partnership working, and work to strengthen the disability sector should bring gains, not just for disability organisations but hopefully for the voluntary sector more widely. Commercial and public sector should gain, not just from the provision of information and advice on access to the environment and information, but from increased credibility in access audits consequent on the establishment of accreditation. Through opening up access, they can also expand their customer-base. Finally, it is not just people with disabilities who stand to gain from improved access, but the general public, as the environment becomes more accessible to mothers with prams, people with heavy shopping and information is presented more accessibly.

11. Work programme and timetable

The key tasks that will be required to meet aims and objectives are described, along with anticipated outcomes and performance indicators. For the first six months, the focus will be on establishing the organisation, staffing and premises, and fundraising to take forward subsequent work areas. Work on access panels will be an immediate priority, as must be work around the EUROPEAN YEAR OF DISABLED PEOPLE, the Disability Consortium/ Forum and the elections in 2003. Subject to funding, the year 2003/04 would feature work on accreditation and tourism projects, in addition to initiatives previously commenced. Action will be taken to increase representation among SDEF�s membership of mental health service users and �minority groups� with disabilities, and to ensure SDEF�s work reflects their access requirements.Throughout, mechanisms will be instigated to ensure SDEF�s work and priorities are driven �bottom up� by its membership. There will be an emphasis throughout on good management practice and accountability.

�August 2002


Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Working together for the disability movement

SDEF is a recognised Scottish charity no. SC031893

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