Framework's launches publication to celebrate its 10th anniversary

Friday 15th July 2011

The Nottingham-based homelessness charity Framework, which works with homeless and vulnerable people in the East Midlands and parts of South Yorkshire, celebrated its 10th anniversary on 1st July 2011. To mark this occasion the charity has published a 10th anniversary book to commemorate and reflect on the past ten years.

Framework's Chief Executive, Andrew Redfern, highlights the government's dire approach to public service reform and the undermining of Supporting People in a powerful piece by stating, "This anniversary coincides with radical change in the political and financial environment. The road ahead looks very different from the one that Framework has travelled so far. Much of what has been achieved is now under threat. Change is both inevitable and welcome but avoidable destruction is not.

"For some reason the perspective from Whitehall, Westminster and even the local town hall is differ¬ent. SP is being destroyed by the recklessness of politicians and the incompetence of civil servants. All three parties are implicated. Labour removed the ring-fence from SP, ignoring much expert advice and many representations from providers and serv¬ice users. The Coalition has cut the budget and re-allocated it as part of a general redistribution from poor areas to rich ones. With nothing to protect the programme's resources, the winners use the money for other purposes at local level while the losers cut services to the most vulnerable people."

Andrew describes the accomplishments of Framework, in addition to the services that have been lost and are now at risk, before looking ahead to meeting the challenges that stand before the charity and finally ending with a poignant note, "Framework remains a channel through which concern is translated into effective action: in its work the charity realises the shared vision and purpose of many - individual donors, local businesses, churches, schools, ser¬vice commissioners, staff, board members and all volunteers, and service users - who gift their time, talents and resources in so many different ways.

"This is a book of stories - human stories and that of an organisation that serves them."

The stories demonstrate how one charity, at least, has been able successfully to ride the shifting tides of public policy and, in the process, increase its ability to deliver services to the people it was set up to support.

The full document can be found at www.10yearsofframework.org. Hard copies of the review can be ordered at a cost of £10.00 by emailing janet.lawless@frameworkha.org.

Posted by 0 for Framework Housing Association