Hi Andy

We survived it but only just and we are now rebuilding ourselves to reflect our person centred approach to our work throughout and our committement to involvement of the people who use our service throughout each part of the service.

You have hit the nail on the head about the 'other' advocacy service which only takes referrals from 'professionals'.

Our service is 'embargoed' by Darlington Council and so whilst this does not prevent our effectiveness it just elongates the process.

The other service just takes the Council money and is perceived by many to be simply the 'animal' of its paymasters.

In terms of abuse, yes, as we are seen as the only independent project in the Town, we still have many referrals of people in dire situations.

We still report them and the Council still has to address them but without giving us feedback and which action completely contradicts the Government's 'No secrets' agenda.

Up and down the country, it would seem 'rogue' Councils see compliance with Government policies or codes of practise as 'options' not givens and hence the almost entire failure to implement policies such as 'Valuing People'.

In Darlington people who use services and their families refer to it as 'Devaluing People'.

The only answer(because this attituded mirrors New Labour's contempt for the people of this country) is to use our democratic choice to change things and make these politicians accountable to all of us and not merely the rich/well off.

Debate in Darlington has spilt over from just us and there is now a web site set up by people in the Town disheartened by what has gone on with a lively web forum called the 'Town Liar' thus mimicking the Council's own 'in house glad rag' the Town Crier which merely prints uncritical New Labour spin and which does not reflect the general discontent in the Town, the Liar on the other hand does............

It feels good to know that all of this was not merely my imagination!!

Regards

Chris Close

Advocacy in Darlington

Pease House

12a Horsemarket

Darliington DL1 5PW

Tel. 01325 365000

chris_close_2000@yahoo.co.uk

--- On Tue, 20/5/08, andy <andys@penandy.co.uk> wrote:

From: andy <andys@penandy.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Mad as hell and I won't take it any more
To: "NCIA discussions" <ncia-discussions@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, 20 May, 2008, 8:18 AM

Hi Chris,

Interesting but scandalous tale but it's really good to see that you
survived to tell it. We've heard from others that diversifying the
funding base and building reserves over a period of time can be the
essential factors that allow an organisation to protect its
independence and fight off attacks on it.

What contact do you have with the advocacy service now provided by the
other agency or with the residents and users that it is supposed to be
representing? One of the bottom lines here is whether abuse is
continuing and whether users are getting any meaningful advocacy
service...

Andy


On 14 May, 17:53, chris_close_2...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
> Hi my name is Chris Close and my experiences have been placed on the
> NCIA web site.
>
> http://www.independentaction.net/stories
>
> http://www.independentaction.net/badnews
>
> I just wondered what any of you thought about them?
>
> Regards
> Chris



      

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