Personalisation is about giving people choice and control over the support they receive.

It has transformed many people’s lives. But community and voluntary organisations, while welcoming the concept, are sometimes struggling to know how to practically engage with the personalisation agenda.

Traditional ways of running and funding charities will not always work in this new era.

In response to this need, Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers is hosting a Personalisation Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Birmingham, on Wednesday, September 21.

For over 25 years Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers has been supporting adults with a physical disability. The charity was founded by Leonard Cheshire who saw that many people with physical disabilities, while having their immediate care needs met, were missing out on the things that actually make life worth living.

Since 1986 when our first project began in Wallingford, we have been working with people to see their ability not the disability and to enjoy the leisure or learning opportunity of their choice.

We do this through facilitations to clubs or societies, one-to-one volunteers, social events and other activities.

Many folk throughout Oxfordshire have been involved in one of our projects as a member or a volunteer.

It’s great to get a chance to say thank you to all our volunteers — the hour or two they spend sharing an activity with an RCV member really does make a huge difference.

While our important work continues, we are very aware that the personalisation agenda is having a huge impact on everyone who is in receipt of adult social care. We are delighted to have some of the top speakers and developers of personalisation at our conference, including Martin Routledge (Think Local Act Personal Partnership), Claudia Wood (DEMOS) and Sharon Allen (Skills for Care). Topics covered include: personal budgets, self-funders, developing chargeable services, creating a social enterprise, cultural change, personalisation in my life.

For more information or a booking form, go to our website www.rcv.org.uk, email info@rcv.org.uk or ring 01926 485446. For information on current volunteering opportunities, visit our website or call 01235 817800.

  • If you are interested in contributing to this column contact Sarah Beer at OCVA by email at voluntaryvoice@ocva.org.uk