We had some good news last week. We had confirmation of a grant from The John Ellerman Foundation to fund an Outreach Worker for at least 12 months, allowing us to launch our planned outreach project.
Outreach always sounds so cliched doesn’t it? However, the truth of the matter is that we have about 3,000 people on our database, but we know that 20-25,000 people are affected by retinitis pigmentosa across the United Kingdom. We do a lot of things right in providing information and support through our helpline and other services, but we obviously aren’t reaching as many people as we should be.
This is true of several groups of people; Asian people (who are particularly prone to developing RP), people who have just been diagnosed (and need information and perhaps emotional support), people in rural areas (who have difficulty accessing all health services), and younger people with RP (with whom we seem to have perpetual difficulty engaging).
So now we can plan information events up and down the country, produce more materials, work with other charities and agencies, and attract attention to our services and our cause. This will lead to us helping more people, attracting more members, becoming even more representative, and becoming more influential.
We’ve started recruiting straight away … and as we make progress I’ll add further items on this blog and of course on our main site.
>> Recruitment link <<
Tags: asian, ellerman, inherited blindness, outreach, retinitis pigmentosa, rural, young people
April 8, 2009 at 12:04 pm |
Hello David, just a thought, I have just read the job description, very comprehensive! However, is it absolutely essential for the candidates to drive? This requirement could preclude suitable applicants (people with RP) who would have an inbuilt knowledge of the subject. I know there are Rehab Officers with RP who get help with their transport needs from Access to Work (support worker/driver). Also in this current economic climate where people with disabilities are finding it increasingly difficult to find work we should be mindful of our own members.
Kind regards,
April 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm |
Hi Stephen
An interesting debate, and one that reflects conversations we’ve had here including with our trustees about the role. I think it would be difficult to do this job without a driving licence, we are expecting our OW to be out-and-about most of the time, not just on ad-hoc days.
Buckingham has no rail station and we are also trying to reach people in rural areas, where public transport can be a problem too.
If we had an applicant without a driving licence I guess we’d look at it on its own merit, but I think its unlikely, unless there was unlimited access to a driver, that they would be able to get to the places we would want them too.
I do agree that someone with knowledge of RP through personal experience could bring a lot to the role, but this could apply to friends and family of someone with RP too. For example, I have had one enquiry from a lady who has a son with RP.
Finally, first and foremost, we need someone with the right skills for the job, and that’s most likely to come from someone working successfully for another charity in a similar role. Thus they are likely to empathise with disabled or disadvantaged people well anyway.
I hope this helps to follow my rationale. I’m open minded if you know how we could resource unrestricted access to a driver/guide for an indefinite period at no cost (if only … !).
Keep on blogging
David