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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