I'm not a morning person. Especially not in winter, so
getting up in the dark to do BBC Breakfast and other interviews was a trial. I
know I'm being wimpish! And of course a great opportunity to talk about how
charities and social enterprises working together with health professionals
deliver better health outcomes in hospitals and in the community.
Of course I had to battle against the usual stereotype of
charities as do gooding volunteers dispensing tea and sympathy. Surprised to
see the Royal College of Nursing being so dismissive, indeed patronising, about
the value of our intervention in the long term. I'm afraid they are out of
touch with the nurses in casualty in the hospitals who have professional home
from hospital services like those the Red Cross and RVS provide. The BBC
breakfast package this morning had a good case study along these lines, of a
trained volunteer helping frail elderly people get out of hospital
quickly.
Nurses and doctors are keen on the professional support
they get in A+E from charites who work with them to tackle problems like a lack
of suitable transport to get older people home and ensure they are looked after
there.
Look also at services like Voluntary Action Rotherham,
who have helped cut casualty admissions by 20% through supporting people in the
community.
Or the collaboration in Calderdale and Kirklees between
Community Transport and Age UK. This provides a home from hospital and
befriending service, which enables older people to stay independent and safe at
home.
I did a round of interviews and then off to do my new
trustee role at the Helen and Douglas House childrens hospice. I'm a new
trustee and its a good thing, I'm sure, for me to see governance from the other
side of the table! I know many charity CEOs have trustee positions and this can
only be for the good.
Helen House was the first children's hospice in the
country - set up in Oxford and then joined by a hospice for young adults. I had
my induction last week. A very professional day when I learnt much about
safeguarding amongst other things.
This will now be my second board meeting and I'm blogging
from the coach up to Oxford!
January has proved to be incredibly busy and in many ways
very challenging. I'm hearing a lot from CEO members about pending cuts in
council spending. I'm afraid it will be a similar story whoever wins in May;
austerity is here to stay.
On that subject Acevo was at the launch yesterday of the
"Inclusive Economy" report, jointly chaired by Ed Balls and Larry
Summers. The launch was at the FT and featured a number of what we might call
‘macro’ recommendations about the changing world of work, technology and the
fight against inequality.
It might be a little unfair - given the scope of the
report - but as my Policy Director pointed out, a report that was supposed to
be about inclusive prosperity was strangely silent on the role of the third
sector and what we do every day to help families and communities stay strong in
the fact of change. An inclusive economy requires social cohesion and strong
communities. It requires an effective third sector and great social leaders.
I'm afraid too many politicians on the left and right still don’t get the
point.
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