Stepping Forward A full life for everyone affected by disability
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ANNUAL REPORT
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12A Southview Park, off Marsack St, Reading RG4 5AF
www.stepping-forward.org.uk info@stepping-forward.org.uk
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INTRODUCTION
Stepping Forward works to facilitate and accelerate access to essential services, information, resources and life opportunities so that all people affected by disability can live a full life. In the UK we run disability awareness sessions in schools, disability confident training and support individuals and families to access essential support and equipment. Our international work aims to provide a catalyst for change. We support practical initiatives that are having an impact on the lives of people with disabilities and support their replication and sustainability. We support changemakers with the resources to increase their effectiveness and provide opportunities for networking and influencing policy locally and internationally. We facilitate access to relevant training opportunities for disabled people and those working to promote the rights of people with disabilities.
One billion people, or 15% of the global population, experience some form of disability, but the rights of disabled people are being inadequately protected and promoted. The coronavirus has exposed horrific inequalities and further underlined the need for urgent change.
Disabled people make up two-thirds of coronavirus deaths in the UK, according to figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS estimates that disabled people are up to 11 times more likely to die of the virus. ONS analysis suggests deprivation and housing are key factors – disabled people are more likely to live in poverty than others – as well as medical failings that mean doctors often overlook disabled people’s health concerns. Chris Hatton, Professor of Social Care at Manchester Metropolitan University, said reviews into the deaths of people with learning disabilities from Covid-19 identified “systemic failure from services designed to help them”. Hatton said: “People with learning disabilities who died of Covid-19 experienced systemic failure from services designed to help them, including failures of infection control, PPE, testing, identifying when people’s health was deteriorating, and a range of discriminatory practices including Do Not Resuscitate notices being used on grounds of ‘frailty’ or ‘learning disabilities’.”
Throughout lockdown, social care was stripped back ‘to the point of danger and indignity’ (Ryan 2020), and services for disabled children in many areas all but disappeared. Research by Carers UK found that 81% of carers have been taking on more responsibilities since the beginning of the pandemic. And as the economy is hit and cuts are made, disabled people are being hard hit: Citizens Advice reports that 27% of disabled workers are facing redundancy due to COVID. This rises to 48% of those in the “shielded” category.
We have been responding during the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering our benefits advice service by telephone; offering support with funding applications for families needing equipment and other resources; dropping activity and support packs off to families who are struggling during lockdown (with items secured from In-Kind Direct); doing shopping and prescription collection for disabled people who are shielding. We receive referrals from local authorities, the voluntary sector and local community-established COVIDgroups.
COVID-19 has clearly highlighted that much work needs to be done as a matter of urgency to ensure that the rights set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are met.
UK WORK
We provide practical support to disabled people and their families and carers. We undertake sensitisation and awareness work in the community that contributes towards social change. Despite progress in equality legislation and improved access to public spaces, negative public attitudes and awkwardness towards disability remain commonplace.
Disability Awareness
Disability awareness is a neglected issue which receives little priority and few resources. However failure to invest in this area has multiple impacts on the rights of people with disabilities. In April 2017 the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities published its ‘list of issues’ for the UK and has asked the UK government to report on multiple issues of concern, including how it is addressing disability-related harassment and bullying of disabled children in schools and how the UK is tackling negative attitudes, in particular towards people with dementia or learning disabilities.
Our training is run by disabled people and is delivered by independent trainers or through collaboration with partner organisations such as JustDifferent. We have worked with Disability Rights UK to deliver ‘disability confident’ training courses, targeted at anyone wanting to increase their awareness of disability issues or gain more confidence working with and supporting disabled colleagues or customers. This year our booked sessions were cancelled due to COVID restrictions.
Advice & Support
Our Disability Advice and Support Service developed further this year. Funding from Awards for All and the Berkshire Community Foundation enabled us to support to individuals and families who are experiencing difficulties to access essential resources and support. Our part-time DLA/PIP Adviser assists in the application process for disability-related benefits. With so many disabled people and carers facing changed circumstances due to COVID-19, including a reduction in income, it is very hard for people to know what support is available. Many people do not know that they can claim carers allowance for instance. We are receiving referrals from agencies, schools and from individuals and community members are recommending us via social media groups:
We also ran one-to-one Advice Clinics where we identify the resource needs that are preventing individuals and families from living a full life. We have been able to take this service into special schools and secure significant practical support for children with disabilities. This direct support to individuals and families addresses the impact of disability on social isolation, increased living costs, the need for specialist equipment and provides access to supported breaks. The support that we have managed to secure this year has included the costs of special needs buggies, extra strong furniture, iPads and sensory equipment.
Bringing Organisations Together
The 2019 Winter Ball raised over £11,000 for organisations working on disability issues. Stepping Forward coordinates this annual fundraising and networking ball for organisations working on disability issues in Reading, involving seven local charities including Autism Berkshire, Parenting Special Children, The Engine Shed, Green Health Thames Valley and the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre. Individually most local disability charities do not have the capacity to put on a large-scale event such as a Ball. By coming together, with the generous support of local companies and Foundations, we are able to hold an enjoyable event that raises substantial funds for organisations that are experiencing a severe shortage of resources.
Creating A Disability Hub in Reading
Much of the year has been spent raising funds for the creation of a Disability Hub for use by organisations and individuals affected by disability in Reading and the wider Berkshire area where we are based. We were delighted to start the year with a pledge of £25,000 towards The Hub from The Earley Charity. We continued to fundraise throughout the year, though support for capital projects became more difficult to access once lockdown started in March 2020.
Whilst online information is vital and accessible, our experience is that a community of shared interest is also an essential source of information and support and can play a transformative role the lives of people living with disabilities. The building is a resource that has become increasingly relevant – with many predicting that the voluntary sector will suffer greatly from COVID-19, the Hub adds capacity and support to the sector at very difficult time, with many charities forced to reduce services or threatened with closure.
The Disability Hub will be accessible to all local groups working on disability. It contains a meeting room, two/three small offices and a space for hot-desking along with disabled toilet facilities. Services will include our Disability Advice & Support Service and other organisations have asked to have pop-up services there. Prior to COVID-19, many organisations were using the building for support groups, trustee meetings and training sessions. Our landlord has kindly extended the option to buy agreement and we expect to complete the purchase in the next financial year.
International Work Disability prevalen is higher for developing countries" globally an estimated 800/0 of people with disabilities live in developing countries. We work intemationally with Disabled People's organisations and NGOS to promote the rights of people with disabilities, supporting practical initiatives (such as a bus for a special needs school in Sierra Leone) whilst also supporting strategic work which can kad to transformative change. Autlsm Inltlatlves Building on the outcomes of the Pan-Afn'can Experiences of Autism Conference in 2017, we have continued to support the Sierra Leone Autistic Society (SLAS) with their autism awareness-raising activities as well as with developing further their support to children and families. This year SLAS began to create an Autism Inclusion Centre in Freetown, with two outreach Hubs in the rural districts. We have provKYed technical support lo this important work as well as shipped practical equipment, large quantities of hand sanitiser, period products and educational materials for use in the new Centre. As a resu of the 2017 Autism Conference, SLAS Director Mary Penn-rimity featured in an award-winning film named after- and based on - the bestselling book 'The Reason l Jump.. This has brought further awareness of SLAS'S vital work and the urgent need for greater awareness-raising and support for services. Stepping FopNard and the Sierra Leone Autistic Society continue to worf( wrth the Witchcraft & Human Ruhts Network which is developing a coordinated response to the widespread violations of human nghts that lake place around the world due to beliefs in witchcraft and spirit possession, including the development of a UN Resolution. Support to People Wlth Alblnlsm We have been able to provide support to Ihe Sierra Leone Association of People With Albinism (SLAPWA> in the form of skin cream, protective clothing as well as hand sanitisers this year. Mosl items were secured from Inkind Direct and we are grateful for this support. Supporting Our Work Thank you to those people and companies who have supported us during this very difficult year. We hope to conclude the Disability Hub purchase in the forthcoming financial year and continue to apply to Trusts and Foundations for ongoing support. Vlhere possible, we will be having a programme of events over the coming year to generate further funds. If anyone would like to run a marathon. hold a cake sale or organise a fundraising event for Stepping Forward, we would be very graleful and can help with publicty and materials. OUr"nee thanks to everyone who has supported our work this year. Signed.. RodLeith, Chair
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2019 - 2020
Income
| Event income Misc donations Grants: Awards for All Clothworkers Foundation Berkshire Community Foundation Screwfix Other grants Hub rental income Consultancy Total income |
Restricted Unrestricted Total 0 7,066 7,066 0 7,131 7,131 9,970 0 9,970 1,597 0 1,597 6,211 0 6,211 4,000 0 4,000 3,052 8,000 11,052 0 12,735 12,735 0 6,895 6,895 24,830 41,827 66,658 |
Prev yr 9,405 10,886 9,900 6,400 18,276 800 |
|---|---|---|
| 55,667 |
Expenditure Prev Restricted Unrestricted 9.752 2.510 892 Total Event costs Disability Advice Service Charitable activities Fundraising costs Hub costS- Hub accessibility improvements Other Hub costs 9.752 11,177 892 173 11,316 16,977 8,667 173 3,475 7.51x1 18.239 7.500 18,239 General Office Costs Other costs 787 787 2,609 8,370 42.748 Total expenditure 8.667 39.853 48,520 Surplus of income over expenditure 16,163 1.974 18.138 12,919 Balance Sheel Opening bank balance Movement 10.282 16.163 26,445 9,197 1,974 11.172 19.479 18.138 37,617 6,560 12,919 19,479 Closing bank balance check 37,617 19,479 Signed by Andrew K C Graves. Independent Examiner 28th Nov 2020 Rod Leith Chair