The Norfolk
Clinical Commissioning Group(CCG) decided to stop our funding after
forcing the group to become a registered charity so that, as they
told us, the CCG would be protected. Shame that was not a two way
street as being registered with Charity Commission may cause us
additional expenditure. Previously WNSAP had been recognised and
registered by the Customs and Revenue Services to the satisfaction of
that service.
As a supporter and
volunteer I have been asked by the Trustees of West Norfolk Self
Advocacy Project to write a bit for the blog. So more about the
group.
The members have
held a lot of meetings to work out what they wanted to do. The first
thing was to make sure that WNSAP continued to provide support to
vulnerable people in west Norfolk, that is those who have learning
disabilities and mental health issues. Members wanted to make sure
that people who get no help or support from the Learning Disabilities
Team at Social Services had somewhere to get help and support.
Since the NHS
funding stopped we have had an amazing three months with:
-
an increase in people with disabilities calling for our services
-
an increase in family members and friends calling for our services
-
an increase in volunteers offering their help and support
-
an increase in support being offered by local businesses and companies
-
and of course our wonderful worker, David, who we were forced to make redundant continues to volunteer with WNSAP as the Senior Adviser
Once the word got
around of how WNSAP has been treated by Norfolk NHS, the response has
been wonderful with the increase in the volume of support.
For example a local
gentleman dropped by to see for himself what we do because he had
heard a lot about the group from a neighbour. He spent the whole
session with us chatting to all the members there that day. When he
left he made a huge donation to the group.
Another example is
that two people who had previously visited the group said that they
would set up and run a market stall for us at a Sunday fair, they
paid for the stall and provided things for sale, ran the event and
donated all the money raised to WNSAP.
Another example has
been that a crafts group has not only donated materials for members
to make things but has said that for the next year they will give us
some of the things they manufacture for us to sell.
I hope that gives
you some happiness at our survival. As there is so much good news and
interest within the local community the members and supporters say
that they will post on the blog more often.
