'The South Devon Coalition of Disabled
People' started life in 1989 in Paignton as 'South Devon Disability Focus'. It
was one of the first organisations in the country to be organised and managed by
disabled people for disabled people. The aim was to represent the views of
disabled people, taking into account their needs and wishes, which at the time
were so often being eroded in one form or another. Provision of services
displayed a lack of understanding and credence to the views expressed as a
variety of health professionals were busy giving disabled people what they
thought was needed!
We were able to run and manage the 'Care Brokerage Project' in 1992, which was
funded by the Nuffield Provincial Small Hospitals Trust. This proved to be a
very successful and innovative undertaking and the organisation was able to
fully promote the wishes of disabled people in establishing their preferred care
needs. It was a very exciting time and we were able to encourage disabled people
to voice their requirements and how they wanted their care needs to be
manifested. In 1999 a constitutional change enabled us to tweak the name of the
organisation and we became the 'South Devon Coalition of Disabled People'. This
meant that we could then develop links with 'Coalitions' countrywide.
Another aspect of the organisational role is to provide work experience to
disabled people, working in partnership with the Job Centres and Disability
Employment Advisors. Not everyone has gained employment, but it does mean that
some clients have found voluntary work equally rewarding. The partnership aspect
has always been extremely important and we have many links with other
organisations throughout the South Devon area and beyond. These include the
Royal Association of Disability and Rehabilitation (R.A.D.A.R), British Council
of Organisations of Disabled People (B.C.O.D.P), the three Councils for
Voluntary Service (C.V.S), St Loyes College, Leonard Cheshire, the Robert Owen
Foundation, Living Options Devon, the Primary Care Trusts (PCT's) and many more.
We have also been involved with the development of the Direct Payments Project
in Torbay and South Devon, and are looking forward to welcoming a newly
appointed Direct Payments Development Officer to our Coalition premises.
The Paignton premises that had once been adequate for the needs of the
organisation were outgrown and after much negotiation we were able to secure the
premises we now occupy in Torquay. This provided the opportunity for expansion
and development of services which now include a quarterly newsletter; and
funding from the Community Fund as enabled the development of the I.T.C.
Training Suite, and with funding from the Torbay Primary Health Trust and
Counselling Project is also developing. Welfare Rights/Advocacy Service is
offered and the administration of the Expert Patient Program is under way.
The Board meet bi-monthly. There is a membership structure and the coalition strongly believes in user involvement and actively support working in partnership.
to the next page in the contents, Board Members.
or