HISTORY

History of Disability CAN DO Organisation

Background

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1981 was the Year of the Disabled.  Many “Councils for the Disabled” were set up in Boroughs like Islwyn, Rhymney Valley and Caerphilly.
With the amalgamation of these areas into the New Caerphilly County Borough Council attempts were made to bring together organisations working with people with disabilities. Disability Caerphilly was launched, based at the Springfield Centre, Pontllanfraith. (home of the old Islwyn Council for the Disabled)
Unfortunately the amalgamation created problems of ownership, it took an age to identify who in the CCBC was responsible for the building, and where future funding was to come from.  In 2005, this led to the disolution of the Organistion.   Meanwhile a new organisation had emerged in the Rhymney Valley – CHAD (Centre for Help and Advice for the Disabled) providing practical assistance with choosing aids and adaptations and providing advice on benefits run by people with a Disability for people with disabilities. Full of enthusiasm, they had a vision of a Centre of Excellence to be built in the New Tredegar area. 
This became one of the Caerphilly County Borough Council identified Beacon Projects and attracted grant funding from the Fair Share Trust managed by the Community Foundation in Wales.
CHAD became the lead organisation in the project to develop the “Green Valley Centre of Excellence” for people with a disability in Caerphilly County Borough.

Consultation

Consultation was held with physically disabled adults and carers living in the Caerphilly County Borough area in 2007 to identify their needs for new services that were not being provided by the statutory sector or other voluntary sector organisations.  As a result of this consultation, it was identified that adults with a physical disability and their carers did not want a ‘Centre of Excellence’, they wanted services delivered close to where people lived.  They didn’t want to be segregated from society, but wanted services provided that would allow them to participate and be fully active members of mainstream society.  To use the analogy of a ‘pub’; consultation showed that adults with a physical disability and their carers did not want a pub of their own, they wanted to go to the pub down the road with their mates.
The Disability Can Do Organisation was formed on 11 March 2008 to develop the services that had been requested by disabled adults and carers, ie Information Services, continuous consultation, campaigning and a pilot Community Advocacy Service . The Constitution was signed by 6 original Trustees; it was subsequently amended in November 2008 and May 2009 to take account of further developments. 

Charity Status

The Disability Can Do Organisation achieved charity status by registering with the Charity Commission in November 2008 and was given the charity number 1126797.
The Organisation’s first AGM was held on 9 June 2009 at the New Cottage Dance Centre in Ystrad Mynach.  Following the AGM it was decided to expand the Trustee Board in order to extend the skills and knowledge base. 

The additional Trustees also provide representation from a larger geographical split of the County Borough.

Trustee Board, Sub-Committees and Governance

Trustee Board meetings were originally held bi-monthly, but, as new services have developed, these have been increased to monthly meetings. During 2009, following the arrival of the additional Trustees, 2 Sub-Committees were established: the Finance & HR Sub-Committee and Marketing/Publicity Sub-Committee.
The Disability Can Do Organisation has commenced the process of becoming PQASSO accredited.
The Disability Can Do Organisation has a comprehensive folio of policies and procedures that govern the work of both the Trustee Board and staff / volunteers; and both staff and Trustees regularly attend seminars and training briefings to stay up to date with statutory changes and best practise.

Partnership

Close partnership links have been forged and remain strong across all sectors within the Caerphilly County Borough area.  The Disability Can Do Organisation is a member of GAVO and WCVA.  Trustees of the Disability Can Do Organisation and staff are members of several other disability-related organisations within the Caerphilly County Borough area, eg Caerphilly Access Group, Disability Forum, Carers Forum.

Staff

Responsibility for the 2 initial members of staff of the organisation lay with GAVO from December 2007 until the Trustees of the Disability Can Do Organisation took over management of them from October 2008. In April 2009, the number of staff increased to 3, with the appointment of a Community Advocacy Officer to provide a Pilot Community Advocacy Service to disabled adults and carers across the Caerphilly County Borough.
During 2009, the Disability Can Do Organisation began to take work placements from the Shaw Trust in a partnership arrangement that will enable disabled adults to gain skills/knowledge that they will be able to use in order to return to the workplace.

Premises

In March 2009, the Trustees of the Disability Can Do Organisation signed a lease for the use of a shared office with Caerphilly Citizens' Advice Bureau at De Clare House, Caerphilly. It is hoped that the synergy between the 2 organisations will benefit both the staff/volunteers of the respective organisations and the clients both organisations support through the sharing of information/experience. 
It is from this office hub that the Organisation primarily runs its volunteer delivered information lines for Carers and Adults with a Physical Disability or sensory impairment.  The Information service is also delivered out in the community at events, outreach locations, via the attendance at forum and partner organisations premises.  the office hub in Caerphilly also delivers web based information services, provides the administration base for the organisation, and allows volunteers to conduct regular consultation with our client group.

Funding

Funding for the formation, establishment of and provision of services by the Disability Can Do Organisation has to date been provided by the Big Lottery Fair Share Trust, managed by the Community Foundation in Wales.  The overall way the Disability Can Do Organisation has developed its services has, therefore, been overseen by a Fair Share Panel made up of local partners.  This is a requirement of funding from the Big Lottery Fair share Trust.
Additional funding streams are constantly being examined by the Finance & HR Sub-Committee.  In January 2010, the Organisation applied and became successful in securing a place on the WCVA Approved Providers List for the Engagement Gateway. This will enable afford the organisation the opportunity to develop further opportunities for this client group by way of engaging with those who are looking to return to work and need assistance in improving their skills or confidence.
During 2010, it is also hoped that Service Level Agreements can be negotiated, eg with Caerphilly County Borough Council and Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board.