Archive - 2010

Money, money, money

The Comprehensive Spending Review continues, and by and large we're none the wiser about what will actually come to pass when it's all done and dusted. We know it's not going to be good and thanks to the likes of the Institute of Fiscal Studies poorer people are going to take a more than a fair whack of the economic medicine about to dispensed from the Treasury. But, don't be fooled - the Government is playing a skilful game. They have said there will be cuts, and given out some pretty big numbers but there is no real inclination of what actual impact will be.

Going through the latest media coverage mentions for Scope, a sharp-eyed member of the media team noticed a bizarre discrepancy. One of the regional papers featured two different articles mentioning Scope. 

In one, Scope was described as "a UK disability charity for children and adults with cerebral palsy". However, in another piece - published in the very same edition! - Scope was apparently a charity "set up to help people with living with cystic fibrosis".  

Got a call this week from a regional newspaper about a report highlighting that several police stations in their area - which were open to the public - were effectively off limits to disabled people because of poor access.

Some disabled "mystery shoppers" visited the stations and found a myriad of barriers including no accessible parking, enquiry desks that were too high for wheelchair users - which meant their head barely reached above the counter - and no accessible toilet in the public waiting area.

Today the BBC reported that Two escape from Argentine jail guarded by dummy! The report went on to say that due to a lack of funds only two out of their 15 guard towers were occupied at any given time. And, here is the 'deal breaker' (when I knew this is the best story I was going to read all day) they put a football with a prison officer's cap in a third, to create the illusion of an extra guard.

Just been working with Suzanne Little, a teacher from Scope's Meldreth Manor School on a feature for SEN magazine about ultra violet light and how it enhances the experience of creating art for young people with complex support needs.

The language you use can pull you in a number of different ways.

One of the key challenges we face in the media team is trying to translate the language of someone from inside the organisation, who lives and breathes a Scope service into language that someone who has no previous knowledge of disability can understand.

We've had lots of enquiries from disabled people who are really worried about the Government's plans to press ahead with moving more people on to the new Employment Support Allowance and other benefits, despite ongoing concerns about the reassessment process.

Many are already struggling to make ends meet as it is and are fearful their benefits will be cut off completely, severely reduced or delayed. They are also concerned about the reassessment process and the possibility of tribunals, with all the stress and anxiety this will bring.

12.30pm Here we are at Scope HQ, George O is just kicking things off, let's see what they say - "tough but fair"...?

12.35pm "Lower spending rather than higher taxes" - where are the cuts going to be made...?

12.40pm 25% cuts across all departments, but protection for NHS, defence and education.  This doesn't bode well for Welfare...

The Media team are all gathering in front of the TV at 12.30pm today to watch the budget as-it-happens.  We'll be summing up some of the headlines and what they might mean for disabled people.  We'll also be tweeting at http://twitter.com/scope

A cross on a piece of paper, a mark next to a name, democracy, debate, representation or soundbites and the political thrust and parry of Westminster. What does voting mean to you? Are the British only free at election time, or does voting confer something more profound on the person casting?

There is no getting away from it the election is everywhere, even if we are still at the phoney war stage and the bullets have yet to start flying. And, like in a lot of other organisations the residents of Scope Towers are busy planning and preparing.