Measuring impact is a dangerous thing however, because it attempts to put a
measure on complex things that cannot be measured. Knock on social benefits
beyond the point of contact with one individual, or in the case of an advice
bureau, not appeals won, nor money recovered, but the prevention of what
might have happened had these things not been done.
To put a price on everything is Utilitarianism which can be the most
pernicious of philosophies when applied to the social and political world.
Perhaps we ought to consider ourselves on some sort of asymptotic journey
whereby eliminating the need for the word "disability" is the ultimate goal,
since when there is equality it will not have meaning. That is something way
beyond murky politics to understand.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:DISABILITY-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sue Porter
> Sent: 04 April 2011 09:43
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Impact measurement tools
>
> Hello all,
> Forgive my periods of silence, as the originator of the question, as I'm
> on leave at the moment, and trying to get some writing done too.
>
> I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the thoughtful debate going on
> around this question, and to re-emphasise the original framing of the
> challenge; that is measuring impact within the context of understandings
> of the social definitions of disability. This, hopefully seeks to take us
> beyond simple individual experience and a customer/consumer relationship
> within a market. Yet in the current political situation the struggle is to
> reconcile this with political drivers ---
>
> It feels very hard to keep open an understanding of economics that is
> beyond just the financial, and of capital that includes social and
> physical capitals (Bordieu).
>
> In the meantime I continue to seek to find ways to use narratives as a
> starting point.
> Thanks again for thinking aloud.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Sue
>
> Sue Porter
> Research Fellow
> Norah Fry Research Centre
> University of Bristol
>
>
> On Sat, April 2, 2011 7:22 am, erik leipoldt wrote:
> > Dear Larry, Katie
> >
> > I agree with Larry that the 3rd sector is able to do things differently
to
> > government, and when becoming co-opted as a defacto government service
is
> > disabled by bureaucratic and regulatory demands. But my worries go
deeper.
> > It is in increasingly making the 3rd sector a part of the 'Market' that
> > the
> > nature of care and support is perverted, in meaning and practice. What
the
> > market counts as efficient and effective outcomes are often not
congruent
> > with meeting our needs.
> >
> > My further concern is that disability movements and services in
> > significant
> > part share a similar ideology to that of the market, i.e.: regard for
> > individual consumer choice, autonomy and a belief that economics is a
> > primary tool and can buy the care and support people with disabilities
> > need.
> > That convergence and a great deal of co-optation by government,
including
> > through endlessly reacting to government-set agendas, rather than chart
> > one's own, gives marketisation in community services an easy run
because
> > the disabling context it brings is invisible in a consumerist world.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Erik Leipoldt
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Katherine Holmes" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>; "'Larry Arnold'"
> > <[log in to unmask]>; "'erik leipoldt'" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 1:42 AM
> > Subject: RE: Impact measurement tools
> >
> >
> > Dear Larry, Erik,
> > This is an opinion piece by Debra Allcock Tyler, the Chief Executive of
> > the
> > Directory of Social Change, a charity that stands up for the many
> > thousands
> > of smaller voluntary sector organisations that struggle to respond to
> > these
> > types of government initiatives. It's about social investment and the
Big
> > Society Bank that the UK government is currently establishing.
> > http://bit.ly/fa7hPm
> >
> > Here is the response of Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society:
> > http://bit.ly/g8afz6
> >
> > I'm not aware of specific responses from disability organisations
> > regarding
> > social impact bonds.
> >
> > Speaking in a personal capacity as the trustee of a local charity (not
> > Communication Matters which is the charity I work for) that aims to
> > prevent/reduce family problems through early intervention I can't
> > understand
> > how the social investment bond would work for us. How do you measure
the
> > savings brought about by preventative work?
> >
> > Having said this I do think that many voluntary sector organisations
> > undervalue what they do when describing themselves to potential funders
> > and
> > would benefit from thinking about the wider ways in which their work
> > contributes to society (the "social capital" they create). For example,
> > an
> > organisation could record the ways in which volunteers have benefitted
> > from
> > working for them rather than just describing the benefits to the people
> > they
> > help: some volunteers go on to find jobs as a result of volunteering.
> >
> > These are my personal opinions rather than those of Communication
Matters.
> >
> > Kind regards
> > Katie
> >
> > Katie Holmes
> > Research Manager
> > Communication Matters (ISAAC UK)
> >
> > I work Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
> > Tel.: 0115 8781305
> >
> > Communication Matters (ISAAC UK)
> > Catchpell House, Carpet Lane, Edinburgh, EH6 6SP
> > General Enquiries: Tel & Fax 0845 456 8211
> > International: Tel & Fax +44 131 467 7487
> > Email: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Come and browse our Web site!
> > http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk
> >
> > Registered Charity No. 327500
> > Registered Company in England & Wales No. 01965474
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: erik leipoldt [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 01 April 2011 10:47
> > To: Katie Holmes; [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Impact measurement tools
> >
> > Dear Katie,
> >
> > I'd be interested to learn more about implementation of these social
> > investment bonds and their impacts of people in need of support. It has
> > been
> > proposed for example by Mission Australia as a source of funding for the
> > 'third sector.'
> >
> > SIB's do appear to further marketise care and support where the
motivation
> > to assist is of a monetary (involving effectiveness and efficiency)
nature
> > rather than one of social justice, rights or because assisting those in
> > need
> > is an inherently good thing, including as a vital buttress to a civil
> > society. Is there much of a published critique of SIB's along those
lines,
> > or opposition on such grounds from disability groups in the UK?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Erik Leipoldt
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Katie Holmes" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 4:20 PM
> > Subject: Re: Impact measurement tools
> >
> >
> > Dear Sue,
> > Sorry for the belated reply. The Third Sector Research Centre is
> > undertaking a review of tools and methods used to measure Social Return
on
> > Investment (SROI). Another useful contact might be Karl Wilding, Head of
> > Research, at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. I don't
> > think NCVO has conducted research in this area but he has a good
knowledge
> > of voluntary sector research.
> >
> > Demonstrating SROI is going to become even more important for voluntary
> > sector organisations if the Government proceeds with its social
investment
> > bond concept.
> >
> > Kind regards
> > Katie
> >
> > Katie Holmes
> > Research Manager
> > Communication Matters
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
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