Anothertwevlemonthshavepassed andwearedelightedtowelcometo thethirdeditionofSociable, December2024.
Inthiseditionwearedelightedto introduceyoualltosomeawesome musiciansfromtheStates,thatwe werefortunateenoughtoseelive earlierthisyear!
Wehopeyouenjoythisedition!
SOCIABLE DINNER CLUB
REIGNITING THE MEMORIES
THE
CLAY STRAYS
FA WARRIORS
SUCCESS AT THE PARALYMPICS
TAG
EXPECT
RECOGNISE
It has been 18 months since we suspended our project at The Ark and whilst our Tuesday evenings may have been a little quieter than usual, we are delighted to announce that we have received funding to deliver our Sociable Dinner Club! We are also hoping to return to The Ark in 2025!
When we started our Sociable project in 2008 our ambition was always to create social and leisure opportunities for Disabled People, and we have ran hundreds of project sessions at The Ark in L7 that have been filled with lots of fun and laughter.
In March 2020, our project was suddenly halted due to the lockdowns imposed due to the pandemic. As we approach 5 years since the initial lockdown, our project is still reeling from pandemic and we ’ re thrilled to introduce Sociable Dinner Club.
Whilst we have had many good times at The Ark it would be fair to say that our group meals have always been our most enjoyable evenings and through the years we have had some memorable evenings at places such as The Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Frankie & Benny’ s, Brasco Lounge, Ask Italian and What’ s Cooking. The introduction of our new Sociable Dinner Club project will enable us to create group dining experiences at various restaurants across Liverpool.
In the past couple of months we have received funding from the Merseyside Community Investment Fund, West Derby Waste Lands Charity and Awesome Liverpool that will enable us to provide several group dining experiences in 2025.
We held our very first Sociable Dinner Club experience earlier this month at The Botanist in Liverpool ONE and the evening was filled with delicious food and lots of fun and laughter.
In 2025 we will be hosting several Sociable Dinner Club events, details of which will all be released in due course.
In June 2001, Phil Peel, the Managing Director and founder of The Accessible Guide set out on a journey to Camp Ascca in Alabama for his first of three summers, working as a Camp Counselor.
Camp Ascca is place close to Phil’s heart, which his friends and family will vouch for and an opportunity to reignite the memories arose earlier this year when the Red Clay Strays, a band from Alabama, who are also supporters of Camp Ascca embarked on their first European tour, with a gig at the O2 Ritz in Manchester
The gig was awesome and the atmosphere was eelctric. We were blown away by just how good these guys are. It wasn’t unexpected though, after following their journey via Camp Ascca, it’s clear to see that these guys are making moves in the music industry.
The opportunity to include an article about the band was something we were keen to do and we reached out to Cody Payne who put us in contact with Lily Batten from Sony Music.
We are delighted to share an article that was published on therollingstone.com in November 2024.
Below is of Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica) and our Directors Phil Peel and Philip Edgar, taken in Manchester, August 2024
We hope you enjoy the article, and if you’re going to listen to a new band, then make sure to check out the Red Clay Strays. You will not be disappointed,
Keep up to date with what’s happening at The Accessible Guide.
The Alabama band, nominated at this year's CMA Awards, rip and roll on Live at the Ryman
By Garret K. Woodward November
15,
2024
The Red Clay Strays are arguably the hottest new act on the scene when it comes to Americana and rock music, but despite their ripping electric guitars and rockabilly swagger, the Alabama band are often classified as country. Lead singer Brandon Coleman can’t seem to figure out why.
“I don’t think we’re country,” Coleman says (echoing the recent sentiments of Zach Bryan). “I love country music. That’s what I was raised on. If anything, we’re Americana. And it’s funny, because actual country music like Sturgill [Simpson] and Tyler Childers get lumped into Americana.”
Case in point, the Strays who released Made by These Moments in July were nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA Awards, alongside Lady A, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, and Zac Brown Band. “It’s all these different rhythms and genres coming together to form whatever sound it is we play now,” Coleman says. “I guess it’s country? But we’re kind of all over the place.”
The Strays’ new concert album Live at the Ryman emphasizes the point that they’re a true rock & roll band. The album was recorded over the group’s three-night run in September at Nashville’s famous auditorium.
“I’m still on cloud nine,” Coleman says of those shows. “I don’t know if it’s some kind of cosmic answer to it all or whatever — the history of [the Ryman], inside of the place and backstage but it just feels good in there.”
Live at the Ryman is a mix of fire-and-brimstone vocals and swampy blues-rock that als act.
“When we decided to do this thing, we made a leap of faith and trust in God,” says Coleman, who’s never shied away from talking about the group’s religious faith. “We didn’t really know what was going to become of it. [This] success is a blessing from God and we don’t take it lightly.”
Onstage, however, it’s all about the music. On the day RS chatted with Coleman, the Strays were about to perform at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion on the Virginia/Tennessee state line.
When they took the stage at Bristol, and at the Ryman, it was as if Lynyrd Skynyrd were backing 1950s Elvis Presley, but with more snarling edge in tone and intent.
“So what do you have to say about saints?/They’re no better than the one they say the world taints,” Coleman roars in “Disaster,” a highlight of Live at the Ryman. “If you’re looking for a prophet, I’ll tell ya I ain’t/But I know when it’s gonna rain.”
“We try to put on a good show and just want to be an inspiration for people,” Coleman says, citing the band’s commitment to putting in the hours — onstage, in the studio, and in the writing room.
“You don’t lean against a shovel and pray for a hole,” he says. “You’re going to have to do the work.”
Written by The FARA Ambassador Blog Team and FARA Director of Communications Laura Preby
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a genetic, progressive, neuromuscular disease Individuals with FA encounter difficulties with balance and movement coordination a condition known as ataxia The initial signs of FA often manifest as ataxia, although scoliosis or heart muscle disease may be the first noticeable symptoms for some. The spectrum of symptoms over time can be wide-ranging, encompassing fatigue, difficulties with speech, serious heart problems, spinal curvature (scoliosis), diabetes, hearing loss, and vision impairment.
FA impacts an estimated 5,000 individuals in the United States and 15,000 worldwide. While most diagnoses occur between the ages of 5 and 15, a significant portion of individuals experience the onset of symptoms and receive a diagnosis in adulthood.
Genetic testing is the definitive method for diagnosing FA, confirming the presence of specific gene mutations that underlie the condition Early diagnosis is paramount for effective disease management and optimizing quality of life Access to expert neurologists and geneticists is crucial for accurate diagnosis, whether FA or another neuromuscular disorder
The treatment landscape for FA has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. In February 2023, the first-ever medication for FA was approved in the United States for individuals aged 16 and older, followed by its approval in the European Union a year later.
Friedreich’s Ataxia Warriors
My name is Brittany, I’m 30 years old, and I am a patient ambassador and volunteer for FARA I live in Manitoba, Canada, which is right in the center of the country and known as the polar bear capital of the world As you can guess it gets absolutely freezing in the winter but surprisingly warm in the summer We enjoy every aspect of the four seasons here.
My FA diagnosis began with a harsh diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (an irritable bowel disease). After so much time being sick, I became unsteady on my feet.
My rising clumsy nature was thought to be the result of being bedridden but after some time at physical therapy that was deemed untrue. At 13 years old I was diagnosed with Friechreich’s Ataxia. It was a traumatic diagnosis for my family as my older sister was also diagnosed. It took quite some time but acceptance eventually came.
I am currently almost 18 years post-diagnosis. I keep busy with multiple odd jobs (bookkeeping and casual travel agent tasks) and I volunteer with multiple organizations including Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), Ataxia Canada, and Assiniboine Park Conservancy It goes to show I love nature, organizing, and the Ataxia community
I am currently a full-time wheelchair user now and I try not to affect one of my biggest passions which is traveling Everything takes time for me to do physically but I try to not let it stop me. Canada is a HUGE place, I’ve gone both east and west but I still have much more to see. Each province has its disability limitations though overall it has good accessibility. I live in Manitoba’s capital, Winnipeg, which has its pros and cons. It is in the prairies and it is pretty flat, the majority of the city’s buildings are accessible, and door-to-door public transit services work wonders. But our long winters, 5-6 months of snow, are very difficult. Snow and wheelchairs DO NOT get along. It is frustrating but manageable when needed. Winters are just extra cozy when you need to stay inside.”
Friedreich’s Ataxia Warriors
“My name is Noah, I’m 23 years old, and I am a FARA patient volunteer. I live in a small town in East Alabama, U.S., called Salem. From the day I was born, the doctor couldn’t believe I cried for a ball instead of a pacifier. In fact, “ball” was my first word, so it was no surprise that all my time, passion, and energy went into baseball (my first love), basketball, and any other sport me and my buddies could get into. That is, until 2018, when my world was flipped upside down by my diagnosis of Friedreich's ataxia at age 16.
After my initial devastation, my diagnosis was a bit of a relief. The diagnosis finally gave me an answer for the weird things happening to me, like why I had to quit sports. Along with trouble running and jumping, my voice was failing me, making it hard to speak loud and clear. Leading up to diagnosis, I had been doing physical and speech therapy for months only for things to get worse My parents and I skipped from one doctor’s appointment to another and got no answers Meanwhile, I was enduring physical and verbal bullying in school So, as you can imagine, it took weight off my shoulders when a neurologist at UAB knew I had FA from the start confirmed by genetic testing.
Since diagnosis, I finished high school and graduated Suma Cum Laude from Auburn University in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. I’ve rediscovered this passion in using my platform as a reporter to advocate for people with disabilities while also staying connected to the sports world through sports reporting. In order to fight FA, I also love to lift weights and ride my recumbent bike. My goal in life is to encourage others, spread empathy, and leave my community better than I found it.
Friedreich’s Ataxia Warriors
“My name is Brona, I’m from Dunlavin in Ireland which is a small country village (where everyone knows everyone). I am a FARA patient volunteer as well as a patient volunteer with FARA Ireland.
As a child, I was very outdoorsy, and active though I was always on the clumsy side. My first FA symptom was scoliosis. My sister and I both suffered from this and eventually, surgery was needed to correct it
After surgery, my sister did not recover as expected. After being investigated she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), later that year, at 10 years of age, I was diagnosed with FA too
My parents realized exercise was one of the few areas that could help us, living on a farm, my sister and I were already horse riding which my parents encouraged us to continue Therefore, at age 10, I got my pony, Charmer In Ireland there is a great attitude to disability, even if a place is not perfectly accessible there is a culture of ‘we’ll figure something out’ Charmer and I got to know each other and the amount of help, support, and kindness I received was overwhelming
I am now 32 years old and have used a wheelchair full-time to get around since I was 27 years old. I still live at home and I work for the government who support my additional needs as required.
I still have my pony, Charmer, who I ride frequently thanks to a hoist that I use. I also have a trike which I started riding at 28 years old. I love company and the outdoors so the Irish climate suits me if you're dressed for it. I don’t see myself as different and feel in life my attitude is ‘ah sure, let's give it a go’.”
Friedreich’s Ataxia Warriors
“My name is Brona, I’m from Dunlavin in Ireland which is a small country village (where everyone knows everyone). I am a FARA patient volunteer as well as a patient volunteer with FARA Ireland.
As a child, I was very outdoorsy, and active though I was always on the clumsy side. My first FA symptom was scoliosis. My sister and I both suffered from this and eventually, surgery was needed to correct it
After surgery, my sister did not recover as expected. After being investigated she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), later that year, at 10 years of age, I was diagnosed with FA too
My parents realized exercise was one of the few areas that could help us, living on a farm, my sister and I were already horse riding which my parents encouraged us to continue Therefore, at age 10, I got my pony, Charmer In Ireland there is a great attitude to disability, even if a place is not perfectly accessible there is a culture of ‘we’ll figure something out’ Charmer and I got to know each other and the amount of help, support, and kindness I received was overwhelming
I am now 32 years old and have used a wheelchair full-time to get around since I was 27 years old. I still live at home and I work for the government who support my additional needs as required.
I still have my pony, Charmer, who I ride frequently thanks to a hoist that I use. I also have a trike which I started riding at 28 years old. I love company and the outdoors so the Irish climate suits me if you're dressed for it. I don’t see myself as different and feel in life my attitude is ‘ah sure, let's give it a go’.”
Friedreich’s Ataxia Warriors
“My name is Shandra, I’m 27 years old, and I am a patient ambassador and volunteer for FARA. I am from Jupiter, a coastal town in South Florida, U.S. As a child, I enjoyed swimming, spending time at the beach, being on a youth tennis team, and going to gymnastics summer camps. Everything changed at age 9 when I suddenly couldn’t walk on a balance beam anymore. From there, things quickly got worse. I lost the ability to run, developed curves in my spine that required surgery, and struggled to walk in a straight line I was diagnosed with FA at age 12, but I was ashamed of it and didn’t tell anyone in my life what I was truly dealing with
While FA was a secret, I constantly made the choice to not participate in fun activities that involved anything physical because I didn’t want my struggles visible My teenage years were spent relatively reclusive, a direct contrast to who I actually am At 18, I moved to a college on the other side of the state that no one from my high school attended and started a new, more authentic life I made it my mission to do the things that made me happy, experience the world, and plan for a long future
Today, I am a graduate student and live in the town of my school, Gainesville, Florida. My mobility has declined, requiring the full-time use of a walker, but my commitment to enjoying life is stronger than ever. I enjoy traveling, seeing friends, and being outside. Gainesville has beautiful, paved nature trails that are accessible, and I love to explore these by recumbent trike. I also really enjoy how walkable it is here and love to ride my mobility scooter to run errands with my service dog. I am excited to graduate and see what’s next.
Hey y’all, I’m Morgan. I am 36 years old and I live in the small town of Opelousas, Louisiana, U.S. My diagnosis story is very different from most. I have an older brother, he was 9 at the time. Our gymnastics teacher noticed that he had an unusual gait pattern and suggested that he see a neurologist. My parents took Matt and my younger sister and I tagged along. The neurologist suggested that he get genetic testing to pinpoint the culprit. I watched my brother get poked and prodded trying to find answers. They finally received a diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia. The doctors told my parents that this disease was genetic and was possibly dominant in other siblings. Because FA is an autosomal recessive disease, my sister’s results came back letting us know that FA was not dominant in her but that she was a carrier of the disease My results, however, showed that both alleles of my DNA strains held the FXN gene Friedreich’s ataxia was dominant in me I was 6 years old and not showing any signs of FA I was diagnosed pre-symptomatically but thanks to my brother, I have never felt alone
30 years later, I am married to the man of my dreams for over 15 years and momma of 3 beautiful children. Living my best life with Friedreich’s Ataxia.
The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of scientific research leading to treatments and a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia. FARA was founded in 1998 by a group of patient families and three of the world’s leading FA scientists.
FARA adopts a collaborative research approach to advance understanding of FA through funding, advocacy, and partnerships. FARA's mission is to marshal and focus the resources and relationships needed to cure FA by raising funds for research, promoting public awareness, and aligning scientists, patients, clinicians, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations dedicated to curing FA and related diseases
For further information about Friedreich's ataxia, please visit FARA’s (Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance) website at curefa.org.
ParalympicsGBroundedoffaglittering GamesinPariswithtwogoldmedalson thefinaldayofcompetitiontotaketheir overallmedaltallyto49gold,44silverand 31bronze–cementingtheirsecondplace finishinthemedaltableforthethird consecutiveParalympicGames.
Witheightmoregoldmedalswonthanin Tokyothreeyearsago,theBritishteam alsoequalledanotherrecordsetthen, winningmedalsacross18ofthe19sports theteamcompetedin–stillthehighestof anynationever,withmorethanhalfofthe 215athletesintheteamalsoreachingthe podium.
PennyBriscoe,ParalympicsGBChefde MissionatParis2024,said:
“ParalympicsGBhaveachievedsomany milestonesattheseGames,Icouldnotbe moreproudofeverysingleteammember fortheirfantasticperformancesacross11 thrillingdaysofcompetitionhereinParis.
TofinishtheseGameswith49goldmedals and124overall–surpassingwhatwe achievedinTokyo–istestamenttoour incredibleathletes,coachesandsupport staffandtheyearsandmonthsof dedicatedhardworktheyallputin.”
“EveryParalympicGamesweseecompetitionfromaroundtheworldgettingtougher andtougher,sotoreturnhomewithsomanyfantasticperformancesfromacrossthe entireteamreallyissospecial.”
ThegoldmedalrushbeganinthepoolwithGames’debutantPoppyMaskillinthe100m butterflyS14andcontinuedthroughouttheelevendaysofcompetition–dayfoura notablehighlightasParalympicsGBwon12goldmedals–thegreatestnumberina singledaythiscentury.
Dayninesawtheteamclaimtheir42ndgoldmedal–surpassingthenumberwonin Tokyowithtwomoredaysofcompetitionstilltogo.
Maskill’smedalhaulofthreegoldandtwosilvermedalsmadeherthemostsuccessful athleteintheteam,buttherewasplentyofpromisefromotheryoungstarstoo,as ParalympicsGB’syoungestathlete,13-year-oldIonaWinnifrith,wonherfirstParalympic medal,asilverinthe100mbreaststrokeSB7.
Anothernameforthefutureisundoubtedly14-year-oldBlyTwomeywhoclaimedtwo Paratabletennisbronzemedalsinthewomen’ssinglesWS7aswellasdoublesWS14 withFlissPickard
DameSarahStoreyalreadyhad18Paralympicmedalstohernamebythetime Winnifrithwasborn–shebecameParalympicsGB’smostdecoratedParalympianeverat Tokyo2020with17goldmedalsand28medalsoverall.
The46-year-oldaddedtothatincredibletallyinParisatherninthGames,withtwo furtherParacyclinggoldmedalsaroundtheroadsoftheFrenchcapital.
EverymemberofParalympicsGB’s10-strongrowingsquadwonmedalsinParis,including 26-year-oldLaurenRowles,whomadehistorybybecomingthefirstPararowertoclaim consecutivegoldmedalsatthreeGames
ParalympicsGB’sParatriathlonandParacanoesquadsenjoyedtheirmostsuccessful Gamestodate,whiletheswimmingsquadclaimednofewerthan18golds–their highestnumberthiscentury.
Triathlon’sClareCashmoreandequestrian’sNatashaBakerbothreacheddouble-digits intermsofParalympicmedalswith10apieceacrosssixandfourGamesrespectively–takingthetotalnumberofParalympicsGBathleteswith10ormoremedalsupto40.
AttheStadedeFrance–homeoftheParaathleticsevents–HannahCockroftnotched upherninthParalympicgold,awinningrecordthatbeganatLondon2012;therewas alsogoldengloryforvisionimpairedjavelinthrowerDanPembroke,whoretainedhis Paralympictitlewithaworldrecordtoboot.
ParalympicsGB’ssuccesswasn’tjustaboutmedals.ParaarcherJodieGrinhamarrived inParissevenmonthspregnant,determinedtoshowtheworldthatcompetingwhile pregnantwasnohurdletosuccess
Shedidjustthat–returninghomewithParalympicgoldandbronzemedalstohername, havingclimbedtothetopofthepodiumalongsidehermixedteamcompoundopen partner,ScotsmanNathanMacQueen.
PennyBriscoeadded:“TheParis2024ParalympicGameshavebeenmemorableforso manyreasonsbeyondtheamazingperformanceswehaveseenonthefieldofplay. “TheParis2024organisershaveprovideduswithexperiencesthatwillliveinourhearts forever–fromspectacularvenuestoamazingvolunteers,ourhostshavemadethesea Gamestoremember.”
When we launched The Accessible Guide in 2022 we knew innovation would be the key to our success and would help drive our Company and platform forward
Earlier this year we implemented some new features onto our website that will allow us to showcase more venues and help businesses communicate more effectively with disabled people
As with all new technology, the digital revolution is moving quickly and there are more ways to communicate with customers and businesses than ever before.
It is important to recognise how digital technololgy can support disabled pepole access goods and services whilst also reducing the barriers to inclusion that many disabled people frequently encounter.
We are certainly not reinventing the wheel, it’s more a case of reinventing how the wheel works!
The advancement of technology over the past 20 years has been radical and with the addition of smartphones, businesses are able to communicate more effectively and efficiently with their customers and this includes disabled people.
Whilst we only recently launched TAG 2.0 in October 2024, we are already working on new initiatives that we hope to implement in 2025.
We are working with several businesses to develop new initiatives that will support disabled people and help businesses make their premises and services more inclusive and welcoming to disabled people.
Our ambition has always been to innovatively utilise digital technology that will create genuine opportunities for inclusion and reduce the barriers to inclusion.
It is important for businesses to recognise that being inclusive and welcoming to disabled people is not just the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do as businesses can then tap in to a new revenue stream called the Purple Pound, which is the combined spending power of disabled people in the United Kingdom. Latest figures suggest the value of the Purple Pound to be a staggering £274 billion a year.
by Lee Mannion
Article Date 1st February 2016
www.pioneerspost.com
The collapse of Kids Company and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) further emphasised the need for proper management of charities in the UK. For that to happen, exacting scrutiny is imperative, argues Julia Grant of Impetus – The Private Equity Foundation (Impetus-PEF)
The Kids Company and British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) cases are hard to swallow for all involved but most importantly for the children and young people who no longer benefit from the assistance of these charities. Both shared common goals with Impetus-PEF in respect of the welfare and wellbeing of children and young people.
Their closure has highlighted how crucial it is for the charity sector and government to work together to avoid any further disruption to the lives of disadvantaged young people We need to work hard as a sector to learn from these charities’ stories and collectively encourage a shift in our approach to charity management and funding that will benefit all stakeholders.
Funders, especially, need a fresh view of leadership, looking beyond the value of opening doors and brining in big cheques to understanding what really drives sustainable impact and growth.
As a charity ourselves, helping other highpotential charities and social enterprises to deliver better outcomes for young people and well versed in the requirements for sustainable growth.
Since inception in 2002, Impetus-PEF has provided £69m in resources to charities and social enterprises, consisting of longterm, unrestricted funding, management support and pro bono services.
Our funding model and methodology ensures our partner charities move carefully and purposefully through different stages of their growth and development. We work closely with the chief executive and senior management of each of our partner charities for one day a week over the entire period of our partnership with them (which, end to end can take more than six years) Over this time, we help these organisations to develop, operationalise and test performance management systems, using our own set of rigorous criteria, to continuously improve their strategy and planning, resource management and governance, to underwrite greater impact
Our funding decisions are based around key investment criteria, which we describe here in order to inform a benchmark for any philanthropic donations by Government, grant making organisations and private individuals.
Drawing on our own experience we suggest that funders ask the following questions as they commit support;
How accountable is the charity’s leadership team? And how open are they to learning and development? The leadership team needs to be focused on ensuring their programme is delivering meaningful and sustained outcomes for its beneficiaries
Why does the charity exist and who does it serve? How well is it serving them, and what specific actions can the charity take to improve results for beneficiaries and other stakeholders?
Is the charity tracking, recording and managing impact? And if not, are they open to doing so more effectively? Setting short, medium and long-term outcomes, to which the organisation holds itself accountable, is essential.
How cohesive are the charity’s governance, systems, controls and management? And how robust are the charity’s financial reserves?
If these work in unison, then the organisation is more resilient and able to balance immediate service demands with long-term sustainability
The annual International Fundraising Conference attracts over a thousand delegates from major charities and is curated by the Resource Alliance. We spoke to new CEO Kyla Shawyer about social investment, entrepreneurialism and the influence of social enterprise
Earlier this year, Pioneers Post travelled to the International Fundraising Conference (IFC) in Amsterdam. Mostly attended by charities looking to share ideas and best practice, the event saw a huge crowd of delegates from around the world attend a wide spectrum of discussions pretty much centred around the same thing – how to be better. Better at fostering relationships with corporate donors, how to be better leaders, how to get better at being innovative in attracting money and growing it.
What took us there was a curiosity about how the big players in the charity sector are working these days For many of us, the experience of these types of charity is putting money in a tin that someone is shaking, avoiding a chugger when you’re focused on getting a sandwich or buying a goat through an online shop Beyond that interaction there is, of course, a massive global industry focussed on directing capital to urgent global social problems, be that something as simple as ensuring access to clean drinking water or the more complex business of striving to eradicate disease and changing countless lives into the bargain. Those, and a million other causes to book.
UK charity had a hard time in 2015, with a glut of stories in the UK media about overly aggressive telemarketing, questionable governance and favourable treatment due to celebrity associations. It seemed like a good time to talk to Kyla Shawyer, CEO of the Resource Alliance, the organisation that produces the IFC. There was much talk of change and innovation at the conference, not least from keynote speaker Dan Pallotta.
His Ted talk ‘The way we think about charity is dead wrong’ is heading towards four million views and his opinions are controversial. He urges charities to be brave about spending money if the amount of money generated by those overheads is exponentially enlarged as a result As he said in Amsterdam; “We have the same right to innovate as Google and Apple and Facebook and Uber”
PIONEERS POST: You’re on the record as saying that the ‘traditional models of ‘giving’ are being disrupted by new kinds of thinking, collaboration and models including types of social investment – from crowdsourcing to direct personal loans, from social enterprises to crosssector partnerships’. How will traditional non-profits have to change to keep up?
KYLA SHAWYER: Disruption is happening everywhere – the nature and pace of change will remain intense and the very definition of social impact will be constantly evolving So what do we do? Well, we can ride the wave or be swept away We need to bravely ask the right questions about why we exist and challenge the ways we operate as non-profits. We can’t afford to just ‘keep up’ with the disruption, we need to lead it, but we need to be prepare to address our approach to leadership, our models, our practices and think beyond ‘fundraising’. We are seeing movements, people coming together and taking matters into their own hands. We recognise that social impact is not just about fundraising – it’s also about harnessing the intellectual and human power needed to create change.
KS: We only need to look at organisations like Change.org, GlobalGiving, Indiegogo and other powerful platforms and entities as examples of this. Now more than ever we are seeing the boundaries blurring, challenging our traditional ‘charity’ model. Not to mention, huge viral campaigns like Humans of New York that use the power of storytelling and engagement with their committed followers These platforms seek to actively engage supporters; it’s about a genuine value exchange versus the shallow interactions which make giving feel more like a transaction
PP: Usha Menon, who previously chaired Resource Alliance, said at IFC that she thought entrepreneurswillbegintoplaymoreofaroleinfundraising.Whatisyourviewonthat?
KS: There has been a lot of conversation about the sector behaving more like a business, but too many in the sector have been driven by the “numbers and measurements” side of the business model rather that the innovation side. The fact is, businesses live and die by how well they serve their customers. They must be in a constant cycle of innovation or they will cease to exist. Our sector should be in a constant state of innovation, as well. We need an entirely new way of thinking – an entrepreneurial way of doing everything. But, again, that requires we have the freedom to invest in things like research and development, and current models in our sector just don’t allow for that.
PP: You spoke in a session about moving on from mistakes. What are the mistakes an how cannon-profitsmoveon?
KS: Well, let’s firstly acknowledge what an incredibly tough jo it is to be working in a sector trying to achieve Big Hairy Audacious Goals whilst, to a degree, being hamstrung by an institutionalised fixed way of thinking – doing things the way we’ve always done This mindset stifles creativity and innovation and those emerging leaders and excellent thinkers that wat to get out of that traditional box are often bound by bureaucratic environments and beset by a culture of risk adversity, fear of change of the pressure of, for example, raising mass donations.
The mistakes we often make include not being brave enough to ask the right questions, to challenge the status quo or to have those awkward conversations about why we exist and how me might do things differently, raising funds being a prime example. So we chug along but it is clear that we can no longer work this way.
We need to tell better stories about why we are here, about our impact and truly listen to people, what they care about and what matters to them. That includes our ‘beneficiaries’ –how we can portray those in need and how we can work better together to develop solutions.
PP: To what extent do you see social investment becoming an increasingly important part oftheconversationateventslikeIFC?
KS: Social investment is indeed a vital part of the conversation as we explore other ways to create impact. The IFC has been largely focused on traditional methods of securing funds –from major donors and corporates for example. The whole area of social investment is fascinating and highly relevant for some of the challenges faced by the organisations that participate at IFC.
For example, how can we generate income for developing new ideas, innovations and solutions above and beyond our usual funding models? Should we be investing more in communities? Our sense is that this area is quite mystifying for non-profits. Currently we are working in collaboration with the Rogare think-tank doing some ground breaking research on all types of social intervention, including social entrepreneurship, impact investment and venture philanthropy. This will help us develop a rich picture of how the ecosystem is changing and what the funding landscape might look like over the next decade. We hope to present some of these findings at IFC 2016 as for the of the conversation
PP: What do you think charities can learn from social enterprise and the corporate sector aboutgeneratingtheresourcestheyneedtocreatepowerfulchange?
KS: I think there’s a lot we can learn especially in how we think, how we configure our organisation and very specifically how we use technology to improve the way we work But more critically, we need to embrace a change of mind-set and stop being afraid or unwilling to test and take reasonable risks
PP:What’syourviewonthepublic’sperceptionofcharitiesandfundraising?
KS: It depends entirely on what you mean by “public” as the perceptions vary greatly around the world. In places like India, there is a drive for corporate philanthropy and the existence of global NGO’s is no longer supported the way in once was (India make a mandatory spend of 2% of net profit on corporate social responsibility law in 2014). The non-profit sector is going through a massive restricting and these are issues surrounding trust. In places like Asia and the Middle East, the sector is just now emerging.
In the West, these is a constant drive towards accountability and increased scrutiny, though the criteria we use to scrutinise (such as spending ratios) are not as useful as they should be. Public perception seems to be rooted in a very traditional view of charities, run by wellmeaning volunteers on a shoestring
There is little concept of the need for investment in critical resources or activities such as leadership and skilled personnel, IT or fundraising Why wouldn’t you want some of the best and brightest engaged in solving the world’s most challenging problems? Why wouldn’t you want or need a robust IT system that enables efficiency and maximizes engagement? Such imposed limitations have lead to a fear of investments and inadequate resourcing in all areas, including fundraising. This has cause immense pressure in organisations, creating competitive and fragmented cultures and a short term transactional mind-set, a key driver behind some of the counter-productive practices we have seen.
PP: The UK voluntary sector has come under fire this year for its ethics with questions concerning director’s salaries to fundraising practices. How do you see this conversation evolving?
KS: The conversation needs to evolve into an open and honest dialogue about what it is going to take to make a meaningful change happen And that means challenging public perception about how charities should operate
It also means reframing the concept of fundraising. Those working to secure resources to enable the mission are just as necessary as those working on direct programme delivery; both are part of a vital engine that enables fulfilment of the mission.
PP: What does ‘powerful change’ mean for you in the context of the social impact sector tacklingsomeoftheworld’smostpressingissues?
KS: We must begin to see ourselves as intermediaries in an entirely new ecosystem of supply and demand. There will be a day – not too far over the horizon – in which we will find the idea of “non” profit and “for” profit misleading categorisations.
Imagine a world in which a rural Filipino farmer living 100 km from the nearest town, now has the ability to transform her work, her life and the security of her family through a smart phone A world in which a prospective donor has immediate access to anything that has ever been said about our organisation, and the ability to bypass our work entirely to give directly to a small organisation in sub-Saharan Africa A world in which people can form and mobilise values-based communities without regard to the false restraints of geographic boarders and political systems.
PP: The UK voluntary sector has come under fire this year for its ethics with questions concerning director’s salaries to fundraising practices. How do you see this conversation evolving?
KS: The conversation needs to evolve into an open and honest dialogue about what it is going to take to make a meaningful change happen And that means challenging public perception about how charities should operate
It also means reframing the concept of fundraising. Those working to secure resources to enable the mission are just as necessary as those working on direct programme delivery; both are part of a vital engine that enables fulfilment of the mission.
PP: What does ‘powerful change’ mean for you in the context of the social impact sector tacklingsomeoftheworld’smostpressingissues?
KS: We must begin to see ourselves as intermediaries in an entirely new ecosystem of supply and demand. There will be a day – not too far over the horizon – in which we will find the idea of “non” profit and “for” profit misleading categorisations.
Imagine a world in which a rural Filipino farmer living 100 km from the nearest town, now has the ability to transform her work, her life and the security of her family through a smart phone A world in which a prospective donor has immediate access to anything that has ever been said about our organisation, and the ability to bypass our work entirely to give directly to a small organisation in sub-Saharan Africa A world in which people can form and mobilise values-based communities without regard to the false restraints of geographic boarders and political systems.
“DON’TASKABOUTOVERHEARS,
Whilst we were at the IFC we talked to Dan Pallotta. Watch out for the film of the interview with him on pioneerspost com in the near future
PP: If I can paraphrase your Ted talk you say that it’s ok for charities to spend a significant amountofmoneyonoverheadstomakealotofmoney.
DP: It’s not only ok to invest a lot of money into the things that will help you grow, it’s really a duty you have to invest in the things that will help you grow, so long as that money is leading to a greater impact, so long as you have discovered a methodology for the social problem that you confront that you believe is effective, or that you’re learning on how to be more effective.
I wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t care what impact they are havening just going out there trying to raise money and saying you shouldn’t ask about overheads because Dan Pallotta said ‘Don’t ask about overheads’/ I didn’t say don’t ask about overheads full stop, I said ‘don’t ask about overheads, as about impact’/ So if you’re not asking about impact, it’s not better than if you had just asked about overheads.
PP: You have said that you wish people would stop telling charities to act more like business…
DP: I wish people would stop telling charities to act more like business. Charities would act like the best parts of business if we give them the freedom to. Stop telling charities to act more like business because you, as a culture are not ready to give to charities the big league freedoms you really give to business.
It’s abusive to tell someone ‘act more like business but we won’t allow you to act more like business’. There’s subtlety there. When people say it as if charities are too dumb to act like business I have a big objection to it. I think what a lot of people mean when they say ‘act more like business’ is that they want to draw more blood from the stone – we want you to do even more for less. That’s not how businesses operate. They’re misusing that to say we want you to be even more efficient.
Deliveringqualitycommunityengagementandlonglastingsocialimpactare more important than ever for local social care charity Expect Ltd, who have recently embarked on a transformative rebranding journey. Established in 1989, Expect has been providing expert and engaging Adult Social Care services, including supported living, outreach and Day Centre activities ever since. Based in Bootle, Expect is a registered charity, offering a range of servicesacrossSefton,theNorthWestofEnglandandNorthWales.Theyoffer down to earth, active support to people with a learning disability, those who need Mental Health support, people with Dementia, Autism, acquired brain injuryandothercomplexneeds
The recent rebranding effort is a strategic one and not just a cosmetic one, aimed at amplifying the charities mission and values , broadening its reach and hopefully allowing for continued growth to be able to support more people. The rebranding initiative, which officially launched last month, marks asignificantshiftfromthecharity’straditionalimage.Thedecisiontorebrand stemmed from a desire to modernise the organisation’s identity, enhance its visibility,andbetterresonatewithitsdiverseaudience.Theprocessinvolveda comprehensive review of the charity’s visual identity, messaging, and overall strategy,conductedbystaff,serviceusersandstakeholdersandledbybrand strategy and design consultancy Housebrands . The rebrand includes a new logo, updated colour schemes, and a revised vision, ‘To help create a world wheredisabilityhasnolimitations’.
MargOllivier,thecharity’sCEOsays;
“Expect has been at the heart of the community since 1989. Our mission has always been the same, to deliver person-centred support to people with a disability, promoting and enabling their independent choice and integration intothecommunity.AtExpect,weCollaborate,weChallengeandweCare.We hope that our new rebrand helps us stand out and helps us to showcase moresimplyjustwhatitisthatthecharitydoes”.
Thecharityalsohasanewonlinepresence It’srevampedwebsitefeaturesa user-friendly interface designed to engage visitors more and provide clear information about the charity, including stories about its services and the people that it supports, along with information on accessing services and service user rights. The site’s new design features online donation platforms andongoingandnewprojectinformation.Thecharity’supdatedsocialmedia profiles reflect the new visual identity and are part of a broader digital campaignaimedatincreasingengagementamongstserviceusers,staffand supporters alike. Feedback from supporters has been positive, with many feeling that the refreshed look and feel of the brand better captures the essenceofthecharityasawhole,whichwillhelpinthelongterminattracting awidermorediverseaudienceacrosstheregion.
Thecharityishopefulthattherebrandwillhelptoenhanceitsstrategicfocus onpartnershipsandcollaborationsandcanhelpdiversifyitsconnectionsand incomestreams.Expectwillsoonbesettingupanew MentalHealthProjectto address loneliness and isolation in adults in need of Mental Health support, withfundingprovidedbyacollaborativelocalpartnertoworkalongsidetheir other services By aligning with other charities, community organisations and local businesses with similar values, Expect hopes to further enhance its impactandexpanditsreachandoffering.
Margcontinues;
“This is the start of a new era for Expect and I am confident that our new branding will enable the organisation to go from strength to strength and continuedoingwhatitdoesbestwhichisempoweringindividualstolivetheir bestlife”.
AnimageofRyanfishing
RyanhasbeensupportedbyExpectfor a number of years He enjoys fishing and has recently gained his fishing license along with fishing rods, seats and equipment, all that he requires to start fishing regularly. Ryan chooses whathewantstodowithhisdaysand staff discuss this with him in helping organise his week. Fishing is a top priority!
Expect staff have researched with him the fishing sites where Ryan can fish and have directions on how to get him there. Ryan also knows where he can gethisfishingbaitfrom.Heenjoyshavingcompetitionswithhissupportstaff aroundwhocatchesthemostfish!
Karen,Ryan’ssisterhassomelovelywordsaboutExpectandthesupportthat Ryanreceives.Shesays:
“My brother is supported so he can achieve his dreams and aspirations, the relationships and interactions he has with his team of Expect staff are incredible. He is also supported to maintain his family relationships which is really positive. The team around my brother are flexible, they demonstrate kindness,empathy,calmnessandtheyhaveaverygoodunderstandingofhis needs Expecthavebeenexcellent,theyareverymuchappreciated”
The advances of digital technology and articifical intelliegence has provided a pathway for scammers to target individuals via many different routes. Identifying a scam can ensure your finances and personal details are protected. The most common email and text scams in the United Kingdom focuses onthefollowing:
TVLicensing
HMRC
SuspiciousPaypalPayments
PersonalBanking
TVLICENSING
Scam TV Licensing emails and texts are very common The email scam may include the heading ‘correct your licensing information’ or ‘your bank declined your last payment’ Both the text and email scams will often try and get you to handoverpersonalinformationsuchasbankdetails
If you’re unsure about a TV License email then it is highly recommended you contactTVLicensing,moreinformationcanbefoundontheirwebsiteat www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
TheHMRCscamtextsandemailsmaystatethatyou’redueataxrefund,withthe linktakingyoutoafakewebsite,whichmaylookthesameastheofficialHMRC website.Thisscamisafteryourbankdetails.Ifyouenteryourdetails,itisvitally importantthatyoucontactthePoliceon101andreporttheincident.
Other HMRC scams include stating that you owe the HMRC money or your National Insurance Number has been comprised. Remember, if it doesn’t feel right or you have a queiry then contact the HMRC directly through an official phonenumber.
A common PayPal scam will see individuals recieve an email stating that there has been suspicious activity on their PayPal account or that they account has beensuspended.
Aquickwaytoidentifyascamemailistocheckthesender’semailaddress.Ifit’s somethinglike123ae3f2@gmail.com,it’sascam.
If you entered any personal or sensitive information or bank details, you should change your password and security question as soon as possible. You should alsoreportittoPayPalandyourbank.YoucanalsocontactthePoliceon101.
Ifyoureceiveatextmessageoremailfromwhatlookslikeyourbanktosayyour accounthasbeencomprimisedthenitcouldeasilybeascam.
Ifyoursuspiciousofanyemailsortextsfromyourbankthesafestthingtodoisto callyourbankimmediately,onthephonenumberprovidedthatisprintedonthe backofyourdebit/creditcard.
Shoppingonlinecansavetimeandmoney,withoffersthatmaylooktoogoodto be true, when this happens, please be aware it could be a scam. If your purchasing goods from individuals, always check their seller or buyers history, thiscouldgiveyouinformationabouthowtrustworthytheyare.
It is good practice to alwasy make sure that the website you’re buying from is genuine–andnotafakeorcopycatsite. Youcancheckbytypingintheaddress yourself and checking the spelling. Fake addresses usually vary from authentic ones with just one or two incorrect letters. Clicking on links can direct you to a copycatsite,soitisalwayssafertocheck.
When paying for goods online it is important to remember to never make any paymentoverinsecureWiFi(apublicWiFioronewithnopasswordtoaccess).
Criminals often create copycat or spoof websites that look like the real thing, which can make it difficult to detect. It is always recommended to type the address of the website you want to visit into the address bar at the top of your webbrowser.
Scammerswilllureyouinwith‘irresistible’bargainpricesforpopularitems,such asmobilephones,designergoodsandvehiclesthatdon’treallyexist.Theymay try to pressurise you into not using secure recommended payment sites and to payviaabanktransferortheymaypressureyoutotransfermoneyimmediately byofferingadiscountoraholdonanitem.
It is not uncommon for scammers to send a parcel in the post, so you may receive a tracking number for Royal Mail or an other delivery service. This is all part of the scam, as you may feel reassured that your purchase has been sent, what you receive however could very well be vastly different from what you originallyordered.
The Accessible Guide believe it is important to collaborate and work with other businesses that will enable us to provide additional services to businesses
In 2019 we appointed Cyberfrog Design who were responsible for the build and maintenance of our website Cyberfrog create websites that are designed and built to work for businesses and their marketing objectives. We believe a company's website should be considered as part of the sales team. Therefore, what matters about a site is how successful it is, so we design websites that are beautiful, engaging, user-friendly and effective.
United Wolves Productions are our video production partner, they are a multi-award-winning tailor-made video production company. Based in Liverpool, United Wolves work nationally providing a variety of services in all aspects of video production, animation and video strategy.
Our background in cinema provides us with the skills to create that desired emotional connection between you and your audience and bring your Brand’s Story to Life We carefully look at a company’s short and long-term goals, their internal and external bottlenecks and what Mission Success looks like, in order to craft the bespoke necessary video strategy to achieve it
As our video production partners, United Wovles Productions can provide their expertise and creativity that will ensure they create a video that will undoubtedly elevate your brand and message.
PuzzleDuck have designed and developed a series of exciting and challenging digital treasure hunt adventures just for. The unique experiences are packed with locations to find, puzzles to solve, clues to unravel, photos to take and questions to answer.
Their innovative app will guide you and your team as you navigate the secret locations and attempt a series of fun and unusual challenges. You’ll learn quirky facts about the area and see things you may never have noticed before Whether it’s hunting as a social activity with friends or an event with a specific focus – they’ve got an adventure to suit
We are always looking for new partnerships that can help us further support businesses and invidiauals. If you have a partnership proposal and would like to work with The Accessible Guide then please contact us at:
phil@theaccessibleguide.com
IG-HR is our HR Consultant for building harmonious, high performing teams. As partners in building great places to work we help ambitious, purpose-driven leaders develop happy, high-performing teams.
Delivering bespoke people management consultancy, training, coaching and projects to create brilliant employee experiences helping you to retain your top talent, create confident managers and build high performing teams
As our Company Partners, we would highly recommend ig-hr If your business requires expert HR advice or support to help you retain your top talent that will support your business growth, then contact ig-hr.
Emily Oliver Consultancy specialises in safeguarding, volunteer managment and organisational development.
Offering consultancy in several remits, recognising that every organisation has different approaches and needs.
Emily’s support is bespoke, flexible and friendly, based on working with you closely and getting to know what you are about.
Providing ad-hoc and one-off support and advice, as well as addressing longer term organisational needs, we would recommend Emily to any businesses that require the services she provides
If you enjoy writing articles and want to showcase your talents, then Sociable could be your perfect platform.
It doesn’t matter whereabouts in the world you are based, you can still support our magazine and submit an article.
Our goal is to publish an edition each quarter, meaning there would be 4 editions per year and for this we definitely require more individuals to get involved.
There are many topics that can be included in our digital magazine and we would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for future articles.
For more information, contact us at hello@thisissociable.com
We are looking to work with organisations from across the globe who can submit articles about the work they do. Organisations such as educational establishments, summer camps, youth organisations, disablility organisations, charitable and not for profits and many, many more are welcome to get involved.
If you have any news or advice that you would like to share then please get in touch.
There are opportunities for organisations to help grow their followers and spread their message further, it is something we are passionate about and we would be delighted for your organisation to get involved. For more information, please contact us at hello@thisissociable.com
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are hoping to recruit individuals based in the Liverpool City Region that could support the production of our magazine.
There are many roles that we can offer, such as Editor and photographer, reporter and proof reader to name just a few.
If you have any skills that could help us create more editions of Sociable and you would like to join our team then please do not hesitate and get in touch.
There will be regular opportunities to meet service users and other team members, this is why it would be ideal if you were located in the Liverpool City Region. For more information, please contact us at hello@thisissociable.com
If you're interested in getting involved with the production of our magazine, please email us at hello@thisissociable.com
We are actively looking for new individuals to support us with the production of future editions of Sociable.
If you have a few hours to spare on a Tuesday evening then why not come along to The Ark and get involved.
If you're not local to Liverpool, but would still like to get involved, then pleased don't hesitate to contact us, you can also contact us through our official social media pages.
For any other enquiries, including potential advertising opportunities then please contact our Management Company, The Accessible Guide.
Contact The Accessible Guide
phil@theaccessibleguide.com
