Firstly, welcome to our new website and many thanks to you, our
website users who contributed to its development and gave so many
suggestions to make it easier to use. Please continue to give
us feedback so we can ensure we're constantly keeping the site
fresh and relevant.
The new features on the site will give our users the opportunity
to get involved in online networks and support each other - and
let's face it, in the tough times we're moving into, we need ways
of keeping strong and staying together.
Such a wave of change is happening in nearly every direction and
I know people are finding it incredibly tough. Can we take any
comfort in "a smooth sea never made a skilful mariner"? (perhaps
not) but the ethics and values of the In Control movement simply
have to find a way to survive in these difficult circumstances.
"It's not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most
intelligent, but the ones who are most responsive to change"
(~Charles Darwin). We all know that change is hard but I also know
that "the only human institution that rejects progress is the
cemetery" (~Harold Wilson). Most of us are already in the midst of
change and we are all at a stage of "let's plan or be planned for"
and this might be at a very personal level, or an organisational
level.
I do feel however, that there is some good news and some hope to
be found. I never cease to be inspired by the People Power movement
and the energy in this network. I attended a sector-wide
partnership group last week to launch the agenda of 'Think Local,
Act Personal'. The attendance was wide and varied from across the
field and every partner there wanted to strive for the best
outcomes for individuals who receive services. The end of the
'Putting People First' agenda feels like the end of a concept stage
and the start of putting real delivery into practice. Of course,
this delivery comes at the most challenging time to execute it but
it is also the time to really shift power to people and to make a
real difference to people's lives - helping people to "get a life,
not just a service" (~Gavin Croft) - so let's just go and do that
now.
Julie Stansfield, chief executive, In Control
Last Updated : 12 February 2011. Page Author: Paul Ferguson.
