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DISABILITY & COMMUNITY CORNER - A GOOD MERGER

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28 March 2012

Patrick Horan is UK National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) trained, and holds an MSc in disability management.

This week, I have some very exciting news to tell readers of this column and that is that Southwark Centre for Independent Living (SCIL) has voted democratically by a large majority to merge with Southwark Disablement Association (SDA). I felt very strongly that this was the right thing to do for the following reasons:

1. By merging we would have strength in numbers, which  would give us a more powerful voice in which to argue our position, instead of being fragmented in various small groups scattered throughout Southwark

2. SDA already have the core services of a CIL up and running. Advocacy, Benefits Advice, Personal Development, Befriending and Volunteering as well as the other services that SDA provide such as Domically Care and Deaf Advocacy etc…etc.

3. Most importantly of all, SDA would supply the administration and management skill and infrastructure which are already in place to successfully manage such an entity from their own funds, even though we are facing massive cuts from Southwark Council.

4. SDA are totally independent from Southwark Council, even though Southwark Council does provide some funding, with all the cuts its less than 20% of previous and getting smaller all the time. This borough owes a lot to the man in the background, the CEO of SDA David Stock, who has prudently steered SDA through troubled waters, making sure that Southwark still has some kind of services for the Physical Disabled and vulnerable people.

If you are a reader of this column or know someone who might benefit  from membership then please let them know, all they have to do is call SDA on 020 7701 1391 and request a SCIL membership pack. It costs nothing to join and meetings are not compulsory. Next time I will be talking about the upcoming Mayoral election and believe me, I have a lot to say!

Follow me on Twitter@RotherhitheBoy and on Facebook PatrickHoran views are personal  and do not reflect the views of SDA or SN. Until the next time may your God go with you.

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