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Legacies provide lifeline for ISS Lady Coulson and Mrs Gale “both made our charity a
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ady Mavis Coulson and Mrs Joan Gale had little in common during their lives and never met. But they came together this year by sharing a belief in the long-term need for ISS UK’s unique charitable services. Lady Coulson and Mrs Gale both made our charity a beneficiary in their wills. Together they have helped to ensure we will still be providing help to children and families in often desperate personal circumstances, long
into the future. Your will may be the most important document that you ever sign. Making a will gives you the opportunity to provide for your family and friends. It also creates the ideal method of recognising the work of a charity whose work you admire and wish to see
beneficiary in their wills. Together they have helped ensure we will still be providing help... long into the future.
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continue. Legacy donations to charity are not liable to Inheritance Tax. For further information about this method of helping to secure the future of ISS UK’s unique work for children and families, please contact Chris Platt on 0207 735 8941 or by email to chris.platt@issuk.org.uk
Staff Spotlight: Laura Gomez, Intercountry Social Worker At least once a week I act as advisor on the advice line. I have contributed to the ISS annual review and I try to get involved in fundraising applications and events whenever possible. I do also assist in the preparation and delivery of training for practitioners related to “International Social Work practice”.
Q: Do you have any particular areas of interest?
A: I have had this question before Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: My case load is formed by cases
with 14 different countries, mainly from the E.U (Spain and Portugal). The issues vary from cases where there are child protection concerns about the welfare of a child, to requests for assessments of prospect carers overseas, welfare checks on children who have been abducted to other countries by one of their parents, or private law cases amongst others.
and I cannot only identify one. There are a few areas where I am particularly interested: trafficking of children and adults, equalities and diversities in Social Work practice and organizations, social justice, comparisons of national policies and ways in which welfare systems address the needs and rights of particularly vulnerable children. One of the positive things about Social Work is that it can embed so many issues and apply to so many areas that the possibilities to learn are numerous.
Q: What motivated you to join ISS UK?
A: I most definitely felt motivated
by the international element and the uniqueness of ISS role in the field of “Intercountry Social Work”. There is no other organization with international correspondents that can liaise with appropriate Statutory Agencies overseas to safeguard vulnerable people. Prior to working at ISS I shared the view that in order to achieve best practice in “intercountry cases” it is necessary to have an understanding of the culture where an assessment takes place. Also it is essential to have knowledge of the legislation, welfare system and services. That knowledge and experience is something that only professionals practicing in those countries posses. After working in Local Authorities for six years it seemed the perfect opportunity to broaden my knowledge and experience. I must say the colleagues made a very good impression on me during the interview.