Gerry ZarbGerry ZarbBusiness Development and Business Development and

Policy ManagerPolicy Manager

SPECTRUM’s Development: SPECTRUM’s Development: Past, Present and FuturePast, Present and Future

Think you know Disabled People ….. Think AgainThink you know Disabled People ….. Think Again

SPECTRUM Centre for Independent Living

SPECTRUM CIL: A Brief HistorySPECTRUM CIL: A Brief History• Hampshire & Derbyshire CILs formed in early 1980’s with

Southampton CIL following in 1984

• SCIL started by Simon Brisenden, who had a dream …. to change the world …. to celebrate difference

• Run and controlled by Disabled People. Only Disabled members have voting rights.

• Bought a majority share in our base – Unity 12 - in 2007.

• At start of 2013 we changed our name and branding to SPECTRUM to reflect the diversity of our activities and user base

• “Think you know Disabled People …. Think Again”

Our AimsOur Aims To enable Disabled People to take control To enable Disabled People to take control

over their own livesover their own lives

To achieve full participation and effect To achieve full participation and effect changes in how Disabled People are changes in how Disabled People are viewed and treatedviewed and treated

To provide encouragement, assistance, To provide encouragement, assistance, advice, support and for Independent Livingadvice, support and for Independent Living

Collective and individual empowermentCollective and individual empowerment

SPECTRUM’s Range of Enabling SPECTRUM’s Range of Enabling ServicesServices

Supporting Disabled People’s empowerment:• Peer based Support, Advice and Brokerage for people

using Direct payments or Personal Budgets• PA Registers• Continuing Care Agency - Self Directed Support• Peer Advocacy and Peer Mentoring• Personal Development and empowerment training

Promoting Disability Equality:• Training & Consultancy - Public Bodies & Business• Consumer & Access Audits• Practice Learning and Training (e.g. Social Work Student

placements)• User Involvement (e.g. the Personalisation Expert Panel)

Most importantly: We champion Disabled People’s rights and represent progressive social policy views

SCIL founded on User Led SCIL founded on User Led Organisation (ULO) PrinciplesOrganisation (ULO) Principles

• Run and Controlled by Disabled People or Carers• Peer-support • Independent Living & Social Model of Disability• Campaign for human rights• Provide advice and support to enable Disabled

People to live independently

• But we must accept where the world has moved to; and move with it,

• Find new ways to be relevant• Strive to be more diverse and inclusive

ULO’s in Hard TimesULO’s in Hard Times Finding it harder to survive – lack of Local

Authority support and tendering rules CIL’s & ULOs are at a crossroads – We will survive, not by resting on our laurels, but

by being positive and dynamic. To thrive we need to have something to offer:

Unique Selling PointsUnique Selling Points An organisation with ethics, values and An organisation with ethics, values and

principlesprinciples Being different and distinctiveBeing different and distinctive Demonstrate our ability to innovate and Demonstrate our ability to innovate and

DELIVERDELIVER

Securing our future: Purchasing Unity 12Securing our future: Purchasing Unity 12

We purchased our own building in 2007 to secure our future and generate new sources of income

Needed Management Committee to take a bold decision

Capital Loan from Future Builders • Grants totalling £142,500• Loan £364,500 (max)• Total: £507,500

SCIL 60% majority shareholder

Would we do it again?Would we do it again?

YES - YES – YES

HOWEVER: be aware of what you are setting up for the organisation’s future – 20 years of interest and capital repayments

Also, loan conditions can restrict some choices

How does SPECTRUM CIL sustain itself?How does SPECTRUM CIL sustain itself?

• Not easy ... Ever• A good reputation is everything• A social enterprise – profit is good!• Many eggs in our basket• All our projects are ‘full-cost’ costed • All projects contribute to the core

(infrastructure) costs of the organisation• All projects costed to be ‘scalable’ • The right source of funding for each

project

SPECTRUM CIL’s Funding StrategySPECTRUM CIL’s Funding Strategy

• Grant funding is not sustainable• Contract/Tender work for bread and butter work -

but never allow an organisations survival to become dependent on one contract

• Majority of Core costs are funded by projects• Income generation (consultancy) work, getting

bigger each year • Consultants making millions on the back of

Disabled People – we can do that – better• Personalisation presents huge opportunities

So, where do we go from here?So, where do we go from here?

• Successful organisations are successful because they are different

• Peer Support is our most valuable asset – we do not have non-disabled people in control or in support roles.

• Disabled People must speak for themselves.• Must be more business like – what we have is

valuable and unique sell it• Provide a range of services that generate income• Be creative about minimising expenditure• Work to empower Disabled People to develop

their skills

Thank You!Thank You!

Questions?

http://www.spectrumcil.co.uk/http://www.spectrumcil.co.uk/