Development of Advocacy Organisations and their networks in England and Wales Confidential James Crowe June 2010, Budapest

2 2 1.The 19 th Century Legacy 2.New Challenges; Great Depression and World War Two 3.The Change from Charity to Entitlement 4.Demand versus Supply 5.Encouragement of NGOs – 1 6.Encouragement of NGOs – 2 7.Learning Disability in the 1960s and 1970s 8.Rights and a New Pattern of Service 9.All Wales Principles 10. Why Have an Umbrella Body? Role of LDW 11. Learning Disability Wales (LDW) 12. LDW Activities 13. Features of the LDW Umbrella 14. Wales 15. Welsh Assembly Government & the Voluntary Sector – NGOs 16. Challenges in working with government Contents

3 3 The 19th Century Legacy 1834 Poor Law; the deserving poor and needy Workhouses and Asylums; Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist Paternalistic employers and the cooperative movement Religious social welfare organisations; Barnardos 1919; National Council of Social Service

4 4 New Challenges; Great Depression and World War Two Centres for the Unemployed Citizens Advice Bureaux network created with 10,000 volunteers Women’s Voluntary Service: 1m volunteers

5 5 The Change from Charity to Entitlement 1942: William Beveridge Report on ‘5 Giant Evils’ 1946: Creation of National Health Service and Social Security benefits

6 6 Demand versus Supply 1946: Formation of ‘National Association of Parents of Backward Children’ Development of appeals and redress processes New legal and para-legal advocates 1960’s : Creation of campaigning advocacy organisations; Shelter, Oxfam, Spastics Society

7 7 Encouragement of NGOs – 1 1.Beveridge: ‘bridging the gap between the state, it’s agencies and the community’ 2.Recognition of; Ability to experiment Be more flexible than govt agencies Avoiding stigma Ability to generate unpaid assistance

8 8 Encouragement of NGOs – 2 Improvements to legal framework More favourable tax treatment 1988: ‘Agenda for Action’. Beginning of commissioning by municipalities 1992: National Lottery commences with % of profit to NGO’s

9 9 Learning Disability in the 1960s and 1970s The Cinderella Abuse scandals in hospitals; Ely Children and young people ‘ineducable’

10 Rights and a New Pattern of Service 1975: first Pathway employment service started 1983: All Wales Mental Handicap Strategy 1984: Creation of Learning Disability Wales 1984/90: Development of NGO’s as large scale providers

11 All Wales Principles 1983 People with learning disabilities have a right to; An ordinary pattern of life in the community Be treated as an individual Additional help and support in achieving their maximum potential

12 Why Have an Umbrella Body? Role of LDW Balance voice of government and of parents Voice for NGOs Encourage development of NGOs

13 Learning Disability Wales (LDW) Commitment to values and a person-centred approach Has 110 NGOs as members Members include service providers, parent/carer groups and groups of people with learning disabilities

14 LDW Activities Campaigning and lobbying Providing information Providing training and conferences Promoting best practice in services Hosting new advocacy organisations

15 Features of the LDW Umbrella Governance and election processes Member consultation Facilitator and coordinator

16 Wales Population- 2.9m Long Term Illness or disability- 23% Poverty- 1 in 4 in low income Adults with severe learning disability; 10,800

17 Welsh Assembly Government & the Voluntary Sector - NGOs Voluntary Sector Scheme Voluntary Sector Partnership Council Compacts between Municipalities and Voluntary Sector

18 Challenges in working with government ‘Biting the hand that feeds you’ Working with politicians Speaking with one voice