Leadership Training
As part of the endeavour to transform Disability Hackney into a Centre for Independent Living (CIL), the first batch of adults with disabilities and parent of children with disabilities have completed leadership training on Disability Equality Education (DEE) and Planning Positive Future (PPF).
The CIL Development Forum will be established in the New Year predominantly made up of participant of the leadership training. This forum will oversee the transformation of Disability Hackney into a CIL.
Local disabled people, carers and older people who want to join the CIL Development Forum can do so even when they have not undertaken the leadership training. This is because more training of this nature will be organised in the near future.
Annual General Meeting
Disability Hackney held its ninetieth Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 3rd December 2008, partly to elect the new trustee board and partly to mark the international day for disabled people.
As part of the activities of the AGM, the annual report was presented by the Director, Sanusie Sesay, who reported the achievement made in helping unemployed disabled people across London to find payment employment, undertake voluntary work and obtain externally accredited qualifications through the New Partnership for Unemployed Disabled People’s (NEWPUD) project.
Other achievements reported include the Disability Access Audit of 95 nurseries and playgroups in Hackney, representation in the Disability Equality Working Group and publication of a paper on public sector duty to promote disability equality in Hackney.
The Director also reported DH’s vision to transform itself into a Centre for Independent Living (CIL). This is because the Improving Life Chances Strategy stated that by 2010, every local authority in the UK should have a user-led organisation in the form of a CIL. This organisation is required to support disabled people, carers and older people to exercise choice and control over the provision of health and social care services.
A new Board of Trustees were also elected at the AGM. Gary McFarlane, a disabled entrepreneur was elected as the Chairman, while Terry Hewitt, an IT Consultant was elected as the Vice Chairman, and Kim Bryan was elected as Treasurer.
The 2007 to 2008 audited accounts was also presented by Rolston Allen from Allen Robyn and Associate Limited. The Account shows a significant improvement in income generation and financial sustainability of the organisation. |