“Thank you so much for your time and thanks to the other workers / volunteers who have made me feel so welcome.  Also a massive thanks to the members who have given me so much.  I am not sure where I learnt the most or gained the most experience, my course or with you guys.  But without this experience I would not be in the position I am to carry on.

SOLO and its members will remain with me and I dearly hope I can return at a later date.

I wish you all the very best for the future.

Thanks for everything”

In these turbulent There has never been a more appropriate time to review the values that underpin the work of SoLO.  We have worked with our staff and trustees over the past six months and have agreed that the following reflects the ‘Way we do things around here’

Safe

• services are fully risk assessed, using appropriate equipment and resources
• staff act with professionalism and are vigilant at all times
• venues and environments are fit for purpose

Trusted

• positive relationships are evidenced
• delivers on promises
• reliable, prompt and response staff who are honest in all their dealings

Adaptable

• fun activities, fully inclusive and person centred
• staff who listen and respond to the needs of every individual
• appropriate and creative resources are used

Resilient

• responds to change, maintaining focus on aims and objectives
• learns from mistakes
• keeps the needs of its members at the heart of all it does

All the above are designed to ensure that what our members, volunteers and staff experience is:

Quality:

• services offer good value for money
• staff who go the extra mile to consistently ensure high standards
• solo members achieve positive outcome

Want to remember SoLO’s values? think Quality Star!

The amazing Lee Burden will be delivering a very interesting insight into autism and its fascinating associations and behaviours – and we have spaces to spare for this opportunity!

The date for your diary is:

Tuesday 13th June

Time: 630 to 830 pm

Venue: Walnut Close – SoLO premises

Please let Maria know if you are able to attend:  m.brown@solihullsolo.org

She looks forward to hear from you.

SoLO has had some really hard decisions to make, in the past six months, as a result of the withdrawal of funding for adult social care.  This money, which for the past 17 years has formed the foundation of our funding for all of our adult social activity programme (Night Owl, Thursday Crew, Funky Fridays, Open Door, Icebreakers, Leisure Links and Get Active) was withdrawn on the basis that the money would be channelled through direct payment and individual budgets to those who meet social care funding criteria.

In making the decision of what to do, the Trustees and Senior Management have had to look at the bigger picture and ensure that any action we take will not destabilise the whole organisation and put all of our members at risk.

From October 2016 – March 2017, we have worked with staff to consider how we bridge the gap in funding and we have taken account of the fact that many of our members with more severe needs now have their own funding to pay for their activity programme.  We have also recognised that, for many of our members with lower needs, the social activities that we provide through Night Owl, Thursday Crew, Funky Fridays and Get Active are the only opportunity they get to meet up with their friends.  Many, due to no funding, have no other outlet at all.

We have had the benefit of a social return of investment report that has been carried out on Night Owl, Thursday Crew and Funky Fridays and the evidence, that for every £1 we invest in these programmes delivers £14 worth of social value, has given us confidence that we should concentrate our efforts to ensuring that these are kept running.

In April, we took the decision to discontinue support for Leisure Links as most of the volunteer partnerships had naturally ended and we were able to direct others to the Personal Assistants Service.

From March – June, we have consulted with staff, parents/carers  and/or members, and volunteers at Icebreakers and Open Door to see what else we could do to bridge the gap and the final decision which will be actioned in July is:

• Open Door will finish on Wednesday 19th July
• Icebreaker Groups will meet for the last time in July

We will continue to fundraise to keep the other adult social care projects running and are still campaigning for some of this funding to come from local government.

This has not been an easy decision for any of us to make and we are working hard to enable those who have individual funding to be able to access other opportunities and ensure that those who don’t will continue to be able to enjoy low cost social and leisure activities.

If there is one thing that we can be certain of is that nothing is never certain!

Yesterday, we heard that the country will be going to the polls yet again, soon we will have a new Mayor of the West Midlands, the national minimum wage went up on 1st April, and new drivers will be tested on how well they use a SATNAV!

One of the main reasons that SoLO is still in existence is that we have been prepared to change and adapt to the environment that we live in.  Only today, I was reviewing the annual reports that we have on file since 2004 and was amazed by the evidence of how different some aspects of our organisation is and the developments that have occurred within a short space of time (13 years)  There is, however, some interesting similarities.

So what has changed since then?

1. In 2004, we were called Solihull Leisure Opportunities – we are now SoLO Life Opportunities.
2. In 2004, we worked with 78 children over the summer – this year we worked with over 450. We also worked with 230 adults during 2004- this year we worked with over 550.
3. In 2004, we delivered 2948 leisure experiences to our members, over the past year we will have exceeded 24,000 leisure experiences.
4. In 2004, we received a grant from the local authority for adults services – from June 2017 we will no longer receive any money from the local authority to support adults.
5. In 2004, our chair person was a parent of a young person with a learning disability.  In 2017 this is still the case, but a different parent.

In 2004, we articulated the aims for the future.

• Consolidate our funding position to ensure a firm, sustainable foundation for the further development of our work.
• Develop the arts projects into new award schemes enabling the young people to work towards a Young Arts Leaders Award Accreditation
• Develop a new project for children with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities to meet together after school with their friends.
• Develop a ‘Get Active’ Project, in partnership with the Youth Service in the North of the Borough, following an analysis of need carried out by the Connexions Personal Adviser which will enable members with moderate learning disabilities to be involved in sporting activities.
• Develop our Summer Play schemes into an activities scheme that meets the needs of parents for respite opportunities and maximises the opportunities for our members. The scheme will be worked in partnership with other respite providers to ensure that the parents are able to maximise their respite opportunities and the children enjoy more choice than was previously available.
• Gain accreditation under the Investors in People Award.

In 2017, we still have some similar aims:

• We have to consolidate our funding and with the development of personal budgets impacting on our grant funding this is more important than ever.
• Our performing arts programmes are as strong as ever.
• We have managed to keep the afterschool provision for children with profound needs and developed a Saturday Scheme with funding from children in need.
• We are developing new programmes for adults around supported living.
• We are working with the Enable team (emerged from youth service – early help) and are planning to support an existing youth club in the North of the borough.
• Our playschemes and holiday activities are constantly being refreshed and we are learning from feedback from parents (with a 97% satisfaction rating) what we need to do to improve.
• We will have to get reaccredited for the Investors in People Award (for the fourth time!)

Also, as in 2004, we have some difficult decisions to make.  We are having to move some of our adult provision onto schemes that are individually purchased through personal budgets and this may impact on what we can deliver.  We are going to have to invest in fundraising as there will be in increased need for more effort in this area as more and more adults do not meet the criteria for statutory adult social care.  Also, as in 2004, we are going to make some major changes to the way we are configuring our core staff team and this will begin shortly.

So, whilst change is in the air – some things don’t change.

One thing that has never changed is the vision to support people with a learning disability, in partnership with others (parents, carers, supporters) to give them the best chance they can have and reach their full potential.

Looking back, I can honestly say that I think our founder would be proud!

Huge thanks to Sainsbury’s Dorridge and their lovely customers – who have generously donated two trolley loads of Easter eggs so that our members can have extra treats this Easter.

The store has adopted SoLO as their charity of the year and the partnership is very eggciting in so many ways!  There have been two bag pack weekends already – and the tins at the checkouts have been emptied more than once throughout the time – thanks to generous customers.

The end of launch weekend is coming up fast and 12th/13th/14th May will see another bag pack – and more entertainment from our wonderful SoLO Choir and Totally Arts group who will both be performing over the weekend.

It is thanks to such generous supporters that SoLO can keep on doing what it does best!