Using these ideas for a very small charity

[clivedurdle]

I understand these ideas and agree with them.

But how do you implement them with a very small disability charity?

We are in the information business, but our clients are very poor! We have and use very specialist knowledge but are not recognised nor paid for this! We are probably very inefficient and muddled!

Long term?

Create some form of life business plan with clients, so that they are planning for themselves and taking control.

[lovinglife]

Can you more information on how you help these people? Do you sit down and review their paperwork with them. Do you contact agencies on their behalf? Do they come to you or do you go to them? Do you have standard information that you give each one? Do you work with them one on one or is this something that in a group/workshop type setting. Do you work with people that have specific types of disabilites or are you open to all?

[clivedurdle]

lovinglife;9849]Can you more information on how you help these people? Do you sit down and review their paperwork with them.

Yes

Do you contact agencies on their behalf?

Yes

Do they come to you or do you go to them?

Come to us

Do you have standard information that you give each one? Do you work with them one on one

Yes to both

or is this something that in a group/workshop type setting.

Rarely

Do you work with people that have specific types of disabilities or are you open to all?

Physical and sensory, including autism

Probably need to rethink how we do it completely. It is a free service, we have govt grants - not enough, and are running on reserves.

People have language issues - majority South Asian.

It is possible to streamline stuff - forms are on the web but clients do not have computers and are not computer literate - although other family members will.

Forms have administrative parts - and the complexity is in the questions about themselves.

There is a whole lot of backroom stuff we do inefficiently - stats about who we see that govt asks us for, databases, meet and greet, setting appointments.

[dking]

It sounds like you need computer automation, email responders, outgoing information messages by language with no voice mail at that number detailing instructions on what they need to do, and a single receptionist number that is handled by a service, and redirected to them by a phone based redirect; That can be handled by a VOip system to cut down costs.

What is your charities name? Do you have a charity UBI? PM me.

[clivedurdle]

I'll post the details publicly - warts and all!

Might be a useful exercise for everyone, using open source, co-operative principles. A bit of barnstorming?


Redbridge Disability Association

www.reda-info.co.uk

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/search.asp?words=Redbridge+Disability+Association&searchby=name&keytype=N&limit=200&position=2&submit=+Run+Search+&opArea=S&Area_of_op=

[Sven]

If you like I could install a new drupal based website for you for free.

More info on www.puresven.com

[webgal]

I like that name, Sven. PureSven. <grin>