Disability Equality (nw) is a disabled people's organization based in Preston that provides services like information/advice, volunteering, peer support, and advocacy. This 5-year business plan outlines goals to further these aims, including developing independent advocacy/support services, finding new premises, and starting a community café. It discusses marketing, risks, and identifying funding sources to support each work area. The plan's consultation informed the vision to remove disabling barriers and a mission translated into 4 strategic aims: supporting independent living, facilitating peer support/volunteering, influencing local organizations, and ensuring good governance.

1. Business Plan
2011 - 2016
1

2. Contents
Summary....................................................................................................................................3
Background................................................................................................................................5
Involving Stakeholders...............................................................................................................6
Vision, Values and Mission.......................................................................................................7
Activities .................................................................................................................................13
Marketing.................................................................................................................................14
Risk Assessment.......................................................................................................................17
Potential Sources of Funding...................................................................................................19
Action plan...............................................................................................................................26
2

3. Summary
Disability Equality (nw) is a disabled people’s organisation based in
Preston which is run and controlled by disabled people. It currently
provides a range of services around information and advice,
volunteering and peer support for local disabled people.
This business plan sets out the organisation’s goals over the next five
years and how it will achieve them. It has been written following
extensive consultation with DENW’s trustees, staff, members and
volunteers. The results of this consultation have informed the vision,
mission and set of core values which form the basis of the organisation’s
strategic plan. The mission is to promote the removal of disabling
barriers from society and further the human and civil rights of disabled
people. This has been translated into 4 strategic aims:
1. To support individual disabled people to achieve
independent living;
2. To facilitate volunteering and peer support opportunities for
individual disabled people;
3. To influence the local community, services and other
organisations, to remove barriers for disabled people;
4. To continually work to embed good practice in the
organisation through further developing excellent
governance, robust management and a strong commitment
to equality of opportunities.
This plan goes on to identify a number of indicators and activities to
further these strategic aims. Amongst these are some ambitious pieces
of work including developing both an independent advocacy service and
a support planning and brokerage service; identifying and moving to new
premises; and developing a community café to further provide
volunteering and peer support opportunities.
This plan goes on to cover marketing, identifying who are DENW’s
customers, what are the benefits of them coming to DENW, what are the
organisation’s key messages and how are these messages to be
communicated. Potential risks are identified along with mitigating and
recovery actions. Potential sources of funding are identified to support
each of the key areas of work. Finally the action plan sets out the key
3

4. things that need to happen in order to implement this plan, who will do
them, and by when.
4

5. Background
Disability Equality (nw) is a disabled people’s organisation based in
Preston which is run and controlled by disabled people. The
organisation was originally called Preston DISC and was started in July
1996. It currently works across the North West, predominantly
Lancashire, to remove disabling barriers from society and achieve full
and equal human rights for disabled people.
At this time it provides a range of independent living and rights-based
support to individual disabled people and organisations:
• Advice, information and client liaison
• Support Groups
• Volunteer Bureau
• Peer support
• Strategic / Policy work
• 3rd party hate crime reporting centre
In addition, the organisation sells Disability Equality Training to local
organisations and provides representation on various statutory decision-
making boards and panels. For the past three years it has had funding
to run a capacity building project to support disabled people’s
organisations in Lancashire, Cumbria, Blackburn with Darwen and
Blackpool.
5

6. Involving Stakeholders
Difference Matters Ltd was asked by Disability Equality (nw) to write their
strategic plan and business plan for 2011-16. They began by
conducting a consultation in late 2010 with its members, volunteers,
trustees and staff on the future direction of the organisation. Additional
consultation meetings with staff were held and a mapping exercise was
conducted on services in Lancashire which support independent living.
Please see the appendices at the end of this document for more
information.
Finally a stakeholder event was held where staff, members, volunteers
and trustees got the opportunity to comment on the draft strategic plan.
Many of these suggestions were then incorporated. Some issues such
as those around employment, access and transport couldn’t be
specifically addressed here, as an organisation with limited resources
such as DENW can only do so much and it is important that this strategy
is practical and achievable. However these issues will come under the
strategic aim of supporting individual disabled people to access the 12
basic rights for independent living. In addition, specific work around
disability hate crime and educating school children on disability issues
was suggested at this event and not specifically included for the same
reasons, but could be partially addressed under the strategic aim of
influencing the local community.
The results of this work have informed the vision, mission and set of core
values which form the basis of the organisation’s strategic plan for the
next five years.
This strategy then formed the basis of a five year business plan.
6

7. Vision, Values and Mission
Our vision is a society in which all people – regardless of impairment -
are valued, live full family, social and economic lives and can access
and actively take part in their local communities.
Our Core Values
a) Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Social Justice
Disability Equality (nw) is committed to embracing diversity and
promoting equality of opportunity. We will not tolerate discrimination on
grounds of gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation,
race, nationality, religion, age, impairment, HIV status, working pattern,
caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or any
other grounds. We are determined to ensure that:
• we treat all individuals fairly, with dignity and respect;
• we accept people for who they are;
• the opportunities we provide are open to all;
• we provide a safe, supportive and welcoming environment;
• we promote and campaign for social justice.
b) The Social Model of Disability
Disability Equality (nw) actively promotes the Social Model of Disability in
everything it does. This defines 'impairment' and 'disability' as follows:
Impairment is the loss or limitation of physical, mental or sensory
function on a long-term or permanent basis.
Disability is the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in
the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due
to physical and social barriers.
Therefore disability is not a medical problem but rather a social issue -
the result of society being organised to meet the needs of the majority of
people who do not have significant impairments. It is a type of
oppression, similar to sexism and racism.
7

8. c) The Principles of Independent Living
Disability Equality (nw) interprets “independence” as disabled people
having control over how support is provided, who provides it and when.
This means having the same choice, control and freedom as other
citizens in all areas of life.
Disabled people’s organisations have identified twelve basic rights
which, if met, would enable disabled people to live independently and be
fully included. These are:
• Full access to our environment.
• A fully accessible transport system.
• Technical aids – equipment
• Accessible/adapted housing
• Personal assistance
• Inclusive education and training
• An adequate income
• Equal opportunities for employment
• Appropriate and accessible information
• Advocacy (towards self-advocacy)
• Peer support
• Appropriate and accessible heath care provision
d) The Importance of Volunteering and Peer Support
Disability Equality (nw) is dedicated to providing volunteering and peer
support opportunities for disabled people. In doing so, we recognise that
the people who know best the needs of disabled people and how to
meet those needs are disabled people themselves. Therefore part of
our role must be to ensure that local disabled people have a voice and
are listened to.
e) The Role of Young Disabled People
Disability Equality (nw) is committed to working with young disabled
people and including them in all aspects of its work. We recognise that
young disabled people have a unique voice, often having had different
experiences. We also recognise that young disabled people are vital to
the future of our organisation.
f) Person-Centred Approach
Disability Equality (nw) is dedicated to a person-centred approach to
delivering services and support. This means that the needs and wishes
8

9. of the individual are prioritised and met. All of our services and support is
underpinned by the principles of the Social Model of Disability.
Our Mission
Our organisation’s mission is to promote the removal of disabling
barriers from society and further the human and civil rights of disabled
people.
This mission has been translated into 4 strategic aims:
Aim 1: To support individual disabled people to achieve
independent living.
Activities and indicators we will use:
i. Develop accessible publicity materials in order to inform more local
disabled people about independent living and their rights.
ii. Develop and expand the information and advice service to cover
each of the 12 basic rights for independent living.
iii. Develop an independent, one-to-one support/advocacy service
around all of the different aspects of independent living open to all
disabled people.
iv. Develop a holistic, independent support planning and brokerage
service to support disabled people to access a wide range of
support from different funders. This service could be paid for by
individuals out of their personal budgets; however some
development funding may be necessary.
v. Work to ensure that young disabled people are included in all
areas of DENW’s activities, including supporting young disabled
people during ‘transition’ to achieve independent living.
9

10. Aim 2: To facilitate volunteering and peer support opportunities
for individual disabled people.
Activities and indicators we will use:
i. Explore the potential of moving to a more prominent, accessible,
high quality base through identifying a possible building,
considering ownership versus renting (including potential asset
transfer) and identifying potential funding sources (including
renovation and/or purchase of a building).
ii. Explore the potential for a trading arm / social enterprise,
particularly a self-sustaining community café to provide local
disabled people with a place for to meet and socialise plus peer
support and volunteering opportunities.
iii. Further develop our buddy scheme to support local disabled
people around the 12 basic rights of independent living.
iv. Further develop our range of peer support groups for local
disabled people, exploring the potential for a disabled parents’
group, a campaigning group, a young disabled people’s group and
the current disabled people’s group organising activities and
events.
10

11. Aim 3: To influence the local community, services and other
organisations to remove barriers for disabled people.
Activities and indicators we will use:
i. Identify areas of social injustice and gaps in current provision.
ii. Develop and consult on a set of position statements which clearly
set out the stance taken by the organisation on key issues
affecting local disabled people.
iii. Recruit and train a number of disabled people to attend strategic
boards and partnerships and influence decision making.
iv. Continuously update and develop our disability equality training
with a view to training local employers, public bodies and other
organisations.
v. Campaign on issues identified by the membership which adversely
affect local disabled people.
vi. Continue and further develop the regional and national strategic /
policy / rights work to better inform our campaigns and decision
makers.
11

12. Aim 4: To continually work to embed good practice in the
organisation through further developing excellent
governance, robust management and a strong
commitment to equality of opportunities.
Activities and indicators we will use:
i. The skills base of the board should be reviewed, developed and
extended where necessary.
ii. Ensure the board and staff team take account of the views and
needs of diverse groups.
iii. Equality Impact Assessments should be carried out on all of the
organisation’s activities.
iv. Equality champions from the board and the staff team should be
identified, trained and supported.
v. An equality and diversity group should be established within the
membership / volunteers.
vi. There should be transparent and honest reporting to its
membership about the organisation’s activities.
vii. Work to create more employment opportunities for disabled people
within the organisation, exploring flexible working arrangements
such as flexitime, working from home and sessional work.
12

13. Activities
Currently DENW provides a range of independent living and rights-
based support to individual disabled people and organisations:
• Advice, information and client liaison
• Support Groups
• Volunteer Bureau/buddy scheme
• Peer support
• Strategic / Policy work
• 3rd party hate crime reporting centre
• Disability Equality Training
• Representation on various statutory decision-making boards and
panels.
Proposed additional activities to be developed over the 5 years:
• An independent advocacy service
• A support planning and brokerage service
• A community café
• Move to new premises
13

14. Marketing
a) Our customers are:
• Mainly disabled people living in Lancashire and the surrounding
area.
• Also disabled people in the North West, although they may not be
able to access some of the services due to funding restrictions.
• Family carers?
• Local organisations.
• National organisations and Government departments (to support
disabled people in the North West).
• Some disabled people who may not necessarily think of
themselves as disabled.
• Disabled offenders.
b) The benefits of coming to DENW are:
• Information, advice and help around applying for / keeping state
benefits and other entitlements.
• Peer support from people in similar situations
• Opportunities to socialise and make new friends
• Opportunities to acquire new skills through volunteering and
training
• Opportunities to report instances of hate crime in a supportive
environment
• Opportunities to campaign and feel like you are making a
difference
14

15. • Independent advocacy to help sort out a particular problem
• Support with independent living
• Support with personal budgets
• Up to date information on Disability and Human Rights Legislation
• Support to challenge discrimination and bad practice
c) The key messages we need to give customers are:
• Disabled people are best at helping other disabled people to live
independently
• Volunteering enables you to learn new skills
• DENW can help sort out problems with state benefits and give
advice about independent living.
• People are disabled by barriers created by our society.
• Independent living means having choice and control over your life.
• Nothing about us, without us
d) The ways in which we will get these messages across are:
• Face-to-face communication with customers
• Over the phone
• Regular newsletters (both paper and electronic)
• Website
• Social media – Facebook and Twitter
• Banner outside the premises
• Information leaflets
15

16. • Local press
• Word of mouth/peer support through our staff, volunteers and
Trustees
16

17. Risk Assessment
Description Probability Mitigation Recovery
Can’t raise Medium Apply to a diverse range of funders Explore rental options –
enough funding look for more suitable
to purchase new premises to rent.
building
Core funding is Medium Continue to develop relationship with local Downsize.
reduced by local authority and provide support (i.e. co-
authority production, EIAs, etc) Explore funding
opportunities with GP
Diversify funders so that the organisation is Commissioning Clusters
not too reliant on one funder. and other funders.
Board lack the Medium Advertise and headhunt new board members. Continue to advertise for
skills and the Audit skills and put training in place. and headhunt new board
experience to members.
oversee and
manage
organisational
development
17

18. Funding for Medium Develop good relationships and identify Temporarily close these
existing services possible alternative funders. services whilst alternative
cannot be funding is identified.
renewed
Can’t identify Low Approach local authority and other local Continue to look for
suitable organisations for possible premises suitable premises.
premises
Chief executive Low Strengthen board. Head-hunt new chief exec
leaves post
Café doesn’t Medium-High Robust business plan and income / outgoings Revise income / outgoings
generate projections. projections.
enough income
to self-sustain Explore funding around volunteering and Research what customers
employment opportunities in the café. like / dislike.
Advertise the café.
Development Medium Revise plan accordingly Revise plan accordingly
happens at a
slower pace
18

19. Potential Sources of Funding
Funder Amount Deadlines Project / Notes
Area of work
Big Lottery – £100k - On-going New building / Every project must:
Reaching £500k community • Respond to need
Communities for large café • Involve people who will benefit from the project in
buildings capital planning and running it
projects • Achieve one or more of the following:
1. People having better chances in life, with better
access to training and development to improve their
life skills
2. Stronger communities, with more active citizens
working together to tackle their problems
3. Improved rural and urban environments, which
communities are better able to access and enjoy
4. Healthier and more active people and
communities.
DENW is situated in a geographical area which is eligible.
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reaching_communiti
es
Henry Smith Recent On-going New building / Will fund both purchase and renovation of a building.
Charity – grants community http://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/capital.html
Capital Grant up to café
£250k
19

20. Henry Smith £10k On-going Advocacy Core work or project work
Charity – p.a. up or http://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/main-grants-
Revenue to 3 brokerage programme.html
Grant years project
Awards for All Up to On-going Training for Must meet one or more of the following outcomes:
£10k DENW reps
/ Produce ■People have better chances in life - with better access to
accessible training and development to improve their life skills.
info on IL? ■Stronger communities - with more active citizens working
together to tackle their problems.
■Improved rural and urban environments - which
communities are better able to access and enjoy.
■Healthier and more active people and communities
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/summary.html
Tesco Charity £500- 2 rounds – Training for Funds work with disabled children and adults.
Trust £4k March and DENW reps http://www.tescoplc.com/corporate-responsibility/our-
Community September / accessible community-promises/actively-supporting-local-
Awards info on IL? communities/tesco-charity-trust/
Lloyds TSB No max On-going Advocacy Their Community programme focuses on funding core
Foundation service / work that helps disadvantaged people to play a fuller role
brokerage / in the community. They are particularly interested in:
DENW reps • Improved social and community involvement
/ core • Improved life choices and chances
• Helping people to be heard
http://www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk
20

21. Esmee Average On-going Brokerage Funds work that is “enabling disadvantaged people to
Fairburn 2010 service participate fully in society”. Prioritises work that:
Foundation grant • Addresses a significant gap in provision
(main grant) was • Develops or strengthens good practice
£79k • Challenges convention or takes a risk in order to
address a difficult issue
• Tests out new ideas or practices
• Takes an enterprising approach to achieving its aims
• Sets out to influence policy or change behaviour
more widely.
Maybe the innovative aspect of the brokerage project
would interest them? Worth doing the 1st stage form.
http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
The Platinum No info No info Advocacy / No website and very little info available.
Trust brokerage Specifically set up to fund orgs working with disabled
people.
A number of DPOs have had funding in the past.
Address: Sedley Richard Laurence Voulters 89 New Bond
Street London W1S 1DA
Tel: 0207 079 8814
21

22. Joseph No limit Quarterly – Campaigns Fund political campaigns in the UK to promote democratic
Rowntree but see website group – reform, civil liberties and social justice.
Reform Trust would possibly a
try for campaign Historically haven’t funded DPOs but don’t see why not –
under on care need to frame in terms of social justice.
£5k eligibility http://www.jrrt.org.uk
Tudor Trust Recent Anytime – Young “…particularly want to help smaller, community-led
st
grants send 1 people’s organisations which work directly with people who are at
up to stage group / the margins of society: organisations which support
£120k proposal outreach positive changes in people’s lives and in their
with Young communities.”
People Core and project funding up to 3 years max.
Not much disability work funded, but lots of youth work and
some work around advocacy and community care.
http://tudortrust.org.uk
The Co- Up to Anytime Training for To be successful, a group must:
operative £2k DENW reps • Carry out positive work in the community
Membership / accessible and a project must:
Community info on IL? / • address a community issue
Fund campaigns • provide a good long-term benefit to the community
or other • support co-operative values and principles
groups • ideally be innovative in its approach.
22

23. Health and Up to Must Joint Projects can apply for up to £200,000 per annum for a
Social Care £200k register project maximum of 3 years to support four key priority areas
Volunteering per year before 21 including:
Fund for 3 December • Personalisation and choice of care and support
National years 2011 • Delivering better health and care outcomes
Grant • Improving public health
Scheme 2012 First stage • Improving health and social care.
applications
: 7th Would need to identify other partners.
November-
18 January To be able to apply projects must decide which Strategic
12. Health Authority Cluster (SHA Cluster) they wish to deliver
in and decide how the project will run in at least four
Second delivery locations which are in different Local Authorities
stage across in their chosen SHA Cluster.
applications
: http://www.volunteeringfund.com/news/health-and-social-
12 March care-volunteering-fund-national-grant-scheme-2012-and-
2012 - 16 partner-search-portal-o
April 2012
Cash for Kids No limit First Young Funding specifically for work with young disabled people in
- Lancashire Monday in people’s Lancashire – looks quite patronising though!
April and group / http://www.rockfm.co.uk/charity/
October outreach
each year. with YP
Cumberland Up to Anytime Young Fund self-help groups working with young people and
23

24. Building £1k per people’s disabled people. Preston is an eligible area.
Society year up group /
Charitable to 3 other http://www.cumberland.co.uk/about/community/charitable-
Foundation years groups foundation/introduction
Grant
Local Varied Currently Work that Funding from Lancashire County Council:
Initiatives closed - will fits with the
Fund open soon county http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/view.asp?
council’s siteid=3851&pageid=24200&e=e
key
objectives.
Central Varied Currently Work that Funding from Lancashire County Council:
Gateway closed - will fits with the
Grants open soon county http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/view.asp?
council’s siteid=3851&pageid=24200&e=e
key
objectives.
Carers Grant £2k- Deadline Information Funding from Lancashire County Council:
£15k 20 January. and advice
service for http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/view.asp?
family siteid=3851&pageid=24200&e=e
carers?
The Oglesby £5k- Anytime Training for Keen on “Improving the life chances of the underprivileged,
Charitable £20k DENW reps particularly through encouragement of self-help.” Also keen
Trust / vols on work based in the north-west.
http://www.oglesbycharitabletrust.co.uk/
Westminster £1k- Quarterly – Advocacy Key funding categories include social care – need to focus
Foundation £25k deadline for service / bid towards this. Lancashire is an eligible area.
24

25. submission brokerage /
s for 2012 DENW reps http://www.grosvenorestate.com/Charity/The+Westminster
are: 5 / core +Foundation.htm
January, 26
April and 4
September
25

26. Action plan
Strategic Aim 1:
To support individual disabled people to achieve independent living.
What needs to be Why it needs Resources How it is to be done Lead person When
done to be done required and others by?
involved
1.1 Develop accessible To better Funding, Identify and apply for Mel Close & Apr 12
publicity materials in inform local Information, funding for accessible Mark Buckley
order to inform more disabled people Service publicity material on
local disabled people of their rights Manager’s rights and independent
about independent living time living
and their rights.
Consult members to Mark Buckley Oct 12
identify key areas and
formats to be covered
by IL accessible
publicity material
Produce IL accessible Mark Buckley Apr 13
publicity material
Widely distribute IL Mark Buckley Oct 13
accessible publicity
material
1.2 Develop and expand the To enable Service Develop a database Mark Buckley Dec 12
information and advice DENW to better Manager’s based on the IL
service to cover each of signpost users time mapping done as part of
the 12 basic rights for to existing the consultation
26

27. independent living. support exercise.
available
Train volunteer info and Mark Buckley Dec 13
advice workers on how
to access the database.
1.3 Develop an To enable local Chief • Identify and Mel Close Oct 13
independent, one-to-one disabled people Exec’s and secure funding
support/advocacy/client to access board’s • Provide evidence Mark Buckley Oct 13
liason service around all advocacy time
of the different aspects support around
of independent living any aspect of Funding
open to all disabled their lives.
people.
Set up a recruitment Mel Close, Dec 13
panel. Draw up job board
description and person members
specification for Support
Broker, advertise,
interview and appoint.
Establish project – write Advocacy Apr 14
policies. Service
Manager
Joe Cobb
Recruit and train Advocacy Nov 14
volunteer advocates. Service
27

28. Manager
Advertise advocacy Advocacy Jan 15
service to attract new Service
clients. Manager
1.4 Develop a holistic, To enable local Chief Identify and secure Mel Close Oct 13
independent support disabled people Exec’s and initial development
planning and brokerage to access board’s funding (for one year?)
service to support independent time
disabled people to brokerage
access a wide range of Funding Evidence of need Mark Buckley Oct 13
support from different
funders.
Establish project – write Support Apr 14
policies. Broker
Advertise brokerage and Support May 14
support planning service Broker
to attract new clients.
Evaluate whether Mel Close, Mar 15
service can continue Support
funded by individuals. Broker
1.5 Work to ensure that To reach out to Staff time, Secure funding Mel Close Mar 15
young disabled people the next meeting Establish a need for a Helen
are included at every generation of space young people’s Jenkins
level/service DENW group/forum
members
28

29. Project staff
Ensure that meetings Project staff Apr 12
and events are at times
when young people can
access them and have a
suitable format
Outreach work in local Project staff On-going
special schools? and
volunteers
Increase the numbers of To better Staff time Referral process, Helen July 13
disabled people inform DP and Publicity, Mapping of Jenkins
accessing existing Sport address current activities.
& leisure activities. lack of
knowledge
around
available
activities
29

30. Strategic Aim 2:
To facilitate volunteering and peer support opportunities for individual disabled people.
What needs to be Why it needs Resources How it is to be done Lead When
done to be done required person by?
and others
involved
2.1 Explore the potential of To find more Chief Approach local authority to Mel Close Jan
2.2 moving to a more suitable Executive’s identify potential premises - ‘12
prominent, accessible, premises so time, explore potential asset
high quality base and a that DENW can Trustees transfer / sources of funding.
self-sustaining expand Premises
community café sub-group,
board,
funding
Identify partner Mel Close Mar
organisations (n.b. Big ‘12
Lottery will want the building
used by )
Evidence of need and All staff
potential use
Prepare and submit a short Mel Close, Apr
outline proposal to the Big premises ‘12
Lottery – Reaching sub-group
Communities buildings fund
Get result of initial proposal May
‘12
30

31. If successful, prepare and Mel Close, Aug
submit stage 2 application premises ‘12
form to the Big Lottery sub-group
Get result of stage 2 Dec
application ‘12
If successful, engage Consultant Dec
external consultant to ‘12
produce:
• project business plan Mel Close
• capital project delivery Trustees
plan
• evidence that your project All staff
has completed RIBA
work stage E.
Prepare and submit stage 3 Mel Close, Jun
application form to the Big premises ‘13
Lottery sub-group
Get result of stage 3 Sep
application ‘12
Building work commences All staff Oct
‘12
Recruit staff Mel Close Jan
Trustees ‘13
Building work finishes and All staff, Apr
DENW moves to new Trustees, ‘13
premises volunteers
2.3 Further develop our To support Evidence of need Joe Cobb
31

32. buddy scheme local disabled
people around Apply for funding Mel Close
the 12 basic
rights of
independent
living.
2.4 Further develop the To enable a Staff time, Support the current disabled Mel Close Apr
peer support groups wider range of meeting people’s network and Suzie ‘12
local disabled space Chorley & S Ribble forum Jones
people support with organising activities and Sessional
one another events. staff
Explore interest for setting Volunteer Oct
up a disabled parents’ group Co- ‘12
and arrange a meeting. ordinator?
2.5 Further develop work in To improve Staff time, Planning meeting with Suzie Sept
Chorley and South services and meeting forum, increase Jones 12.
Ribble support for DP space, membership, secure
in CSR. access funding.
costs.
32

33. Strategic Aim 3:
To influence the local community, services and other organisations to remove barriers for disabled
people.
What needs to be Why it needs Resources How it is to be done Lead person When
done to be done required and others
involved
3.1 Identify areas of social To monitor Staff time Set up system to Mark Buckley Jan 12
injustice and gaps in areas of work monitor the issues that Helen Jenkins,
current provision. that DENW people come to the Joe Cobb
needs to information and advice Suzie Jones
address. service with. Mel Close
Every 6 months produce Mark Buckley Jun 12
a report identifying onwards
current trends in cases.
3.2 Develop and consult on To ensure that Staff time, Identify topics that need Board and Mel Jun 12
a set of position DENW puts meeting to be covered (also Close
statements which across a venue using the trends Liz Tye
clearly set out the consistent identified by monitoring)
stance taken by the message
organisation on key
issues affecting local
disabled people.
Write the position Board, Mel
statements Close and Liz
Tye.
Hold an event to consult Board, Mel Sep 12
33

34. with the wider Close, Liz Tye
membership
3.3 Recruit and train a To ensure that Staff time, Identify a group of Joe Cobb Dec ‘11
number of disabled DENW’s training people to be reps
people to attend representatives venue,
strategic boards and put across a training
partnerships and consistent resources
influence decision message
making.
Identify funder and Joe Cobb Jan ‘12
submit small bid for
reps’ training?
Deliver training to Joe Cobb, Apr ‘12
DENW reps volunteers
Reps take up positions DENW Jun ‘12
on local committees reps/volunteers
3.4 Continuously update To keep DET Staff and Annual review of training Mark Buckley Apr ‘12
and develop our up-to-date trainers material + DENW Apr ‘13
disability equality time trainers Apr ‘14
training with a view to Apr ‘15
training local employers,
public bodies and other
organisations.
3.5 Campaign on issues To influence Staff and Explore interest Mel Close and Dec ‘11
identified by the and change volunteers amongst the Board
membership which society time membership for a
adversely affect local campaigns group.
disabled people.
34

35. Arrange a series of Joe Cobb Jan ‘12
meeting dates and a
venue for the campaigns
group.
3.6 Continue and further To better inform Staff and Continue to engage with Mel Close On-
develop the regional our campaigns board time regional and national going
and national strategic / and decision networks
policy / rights work. makers.
35

36. Strategic Aim 4:
To continually work to embed good practice in the organisation through further developing
excellent governance, robust management and a strong commitment to equality of opportunities.
What needs to be done Why it needs Resources How it is to be done Lead person When
to be done required and others
involved
4.1 The skills base of the To ensure Board and Conduct a skills audit Chair plus Jan 12
board should be DENW has a staff time of the current board board
reviewed, developed board with the to identify gaps
and extended where necessary skills
necessary. to take the
organisation
forward
Advertise for new Chair Feb
board members Secretary 12
(think about area – Liz Tye
Preston, Lancs or
even North West?)
Identify potential new Joe Cobb Mar
board members with Liz Tye 12
the missing skills
Induction and training Current board Apr 12
for new board plus DENW
members trainers
Welcome and Liz Tye Apr 12
Information Pack for
36

37. new members
4.2 Ensure the board and This would be
staff team take achieved through
account of the views actions 4.3 to 4.5
and needs of diverse
groups
4.3 Equality Impact To ensure that Staff time Design an equality Mel Close Jan 12
Assessments should all of DENWs impact assessment
be carried out on all activities do not template
of the organisation’s negatively
activities. impact upon
any of the
groups covered
by the equality
act 2010
Ensure that all of Mark Buckley, Mar
DENW’s existing Joe Cobb, 12
services and Helen
activities are Jenkins, Liz
assessed Tye, Suzie
Jones plus
equality and
diversity sub-
group
Take corrective Mark Buckley, Apr 12
action to address Joe Cobb,
inequalities identified Helen
by the assessments Jenkins,
37

38. Suzie Jones,
Liz Tye. plus
equality and
diversity sub-
group
Conduct assessment All staff plus On-
s for all new activities equality and going
and services diversity sub-
group
4.4 Equality champions To act as Staff time Identify one staff Staff and May
from the board and leaders for member and one board 12
the staff team should diversity and board member to be
be identified, trained equality, acting equality champions
and supported. as role models,
taking actions
when
appropriate and
addressing
behaviours
when
necessary
Identify specific Equality Apr 12
training for the champions
equality champions
4.5 An equality and To take Staff time, Identify members for Equality Oct12
diversity sub-group responsibility volunteers the sub-group (the champions,
should be established for monitoring and equality champions staff,
within the equality impact members will co-chair the volunteers,
38

39. membership / assessments time group) members
volunteers. and ensuring
that they are
acted upon
Quarterly meetings Equality On-
champions, going
staff,
volunteers,
members
4.6 There should be To keep the Board Identify a board Secretary Jan12
transparent and membership member’s member who will take on-
honest reporting to its informed and time responsibility for going
membership about involved writing regular
the organisation’s updates on DENW’s
activities. activities and board
decisions for
DENW’s website and
newsletter.
4.7 Work to create more To make it Staff time Identify board and Board Apr 12
employment easier for staff members for a MC
opportunities for disabled people HR sub-group
disabled people within to work for
the organisation. DENW
Develop policies on Board Apr 13
access to work, MC
reasonable
adjustments in the
39

40. workplace, flexitime,
working from home
and sessional work
40