Events

NBN Conference and AGM 2010

Monday 21st June

Birmingham Voluntary Sector Resource Centre

138, Digbeth

Birmingham B5 6DR

Download the Conference and AGM flyer here

Guest Speakers:

Julia Slay: New Economics Foundation
‘Co-production – a manifesto for kinder and more interdependent communities’

Ralph Broad: Local Area Co-ordination Animateur, Inclusion North
‘Local Area Co-ordination – focusing on people…’

Why you should attend:

It is arguable that both the challenges and opportunities that pertain to personalisation and self direction in social care have never been so stark. It is clear that principled and independent support brokerage – the sort that assists people to plan, evolve and direct their own support and contributes to the development of kinder and more interdependent and inclusive communities - has a key role to play in ensuring the successful implementation of policies that are clearly designed to remedy the imbalance in power between citizens and the institutions and professions that act for the State.

However, Support Brokerage is little understood, regularly misrepresented, and barely influential because those of us who practice and develop the art are disparate and unorganised – in need of a robust and pro-active membership organisation.

The NBN has found itself caught in a vicious circle, needing significant resources to get properly organised as a significant and truly representative voice but only likely to achieve the necessary funds when it can show itself to be just that.

There is no shortage of interest and demand – in fact the unpaid volunteers who seek to hold the Network together in their often illusory ‘spare time’ cannot meet folk’s expectations. So, if we are to break out of the vicious circle, it is clear that we need to involve lots more people, facilitate real regional activity, and build an organisation that has its thumb demonstrably on the pulse of best practice in support brokerage – and wins the respect and funds it needs to promote self direction and the people who help it happen.

Succinctly, the NBN needs YOU!

So, if you need the things that a strong and influential network can provide, please take personal responsibility to make it happen. Get involved and join us at our AGM and Conference on June 21st. You’ll be very welcome.

Bob Rhodes (Chair) NBN 2010