DIAL UK News
Latest News
Right Payment Programme
The Right Payment Programme helps to ensure that the right amount of Disability Living Allowance is paid to the right people at the right time. Introduced in May 2007, it builds on the previous Periodic Enquiry process, and is part of DWP’s wider strategy for welfare reform and tackling benefit error.
Under the programme, samples of cases are reviewed each year to measure and correct any error and ensure customers receive the benefit they are entitled to. The programme focuses on whether the DLA payment is correct and looks at potential underpayments. as well as overpayments. If the review finds a change in entitlement, the award is adjusted.
For more information, please visit the DWP’s website at www.dwp.gov.uk
Touchbase Magazine – March 2008 – Edition 50
News Archive
Charities and Public Benefit - 31 / 03 /2008
In January 2008, the Charity Commission published its statutory general guidance ‘Charities and Public Benefit’, which explains that to be a charity in England and Wales, an organisation must have charitable aims that are for the public benefit. The Charities Act 2006 explicitly included public benefit in the definition of a charitable purpose and removed the presumption of public benefit that had applied to charities for the relief of poverty, advancement of education and the advancement of religion.
In the general guidance, the Commission has established two key principles of public benefit and within those principles, some ‘important factors that must be considered in all cases’:-
Principle 1:
There must be an identifiable benefit or benefits
(a) It must be clear what those benefits are
(b) The benefits must be related to the aims
(c) Benefits must be balanced against any detriment or harm
Principle 2:
Benefit must be to the public, or section of the public
(a) The beneficiaries must be appropriate to the aims
(b) Where benefit is to a section of the public, the opportunity to benefit must not be unreasonably restricted:
by geographical or other restrictions, or
by ability to pay any fees charged
(c) People in poverty must not be excluded from the opportunity to benefit
(d) Any private benefits must be incidental
To read the Charity Commissions full statutory guidance on Public Benefit, please visit www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publicbenefit
Charity Matters – PKF Acctants & business advisers – Winter 08
Statutory Dispute Regulations - 05 / 03 / 2008
The Employment Bill, which should come into force in spring 2009, will bring welcome changes to employment law, including the abolition of the statutory dismissal and grievance procedures. Charities will therefore no longer face dilemmas about what constitutes a grievance and the complicated ways in which the statutory procedures interact.
The provisions concerning procedural unfairness in dismissal cases will be abolished. Before the statutory dispute regulations came into force, employment tribunals needed to consider only whether the employer acted reasonably at the time of dismissal.
The bill also includes provisions to clarify and strengthen the enforcement framework for the national minimum wage and provision to strengthen the employment agency standards regime.
Reasonable Adjustments for Disabled People - 25 / 01 /2008
Did you know that there are over 8.5 million disabled people in the UK with only 2 million of those in employment?
It is against the law for companies to discriminate against employees, potential employees and in some cases volunteers who are affected by disability, at any time.
This includes the failure to make reasonable adjustments, which will enable people to start or remain in employment.
A few examples of reasonable adjustments could be:-
- Flexible working hours
- Providing extra training
- Providing modified equipment
- Allowing people to work some hours from home
- Providing a reader or interpreter
- Making adjustments to buildings (eg Installing a ramp)
People who feel that an employer has discriminated against them during recruitment or during the course of employment can contact the Equality and Human Rights
Commission Disability Helpline on 08457 622 633 or textphone 08457 622 644
The DIAL UK office will be closed during the following period:
From 2.00pm on Friday 21st December 2007
Until 10.00am on Thursday 3rd January 2008
Please note that an answer phone service will be available during the festive season and this will be checked periodically.
All the staff and volunteers at DIAL UK would like to wish you all a very merry christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.
Yours sincerely,
Jane Thompson-Brierley
Operations Director
Companies Act Implementation - 30/11/2007
Many of the provisions that were due to come into effect on 1st October 2008 have been postponed until 1st October 2009, including:
- Company formation
- Company constitution
- Company names
- Directors’ right to give a service address rather than residential address
- Removal of former members from the register of members
For the following provisions, implementation may remain 1st October 2008 or postponed to a later date:
- Directors’ statutory conflict of interest duties
- Minimum age for company directors
- Right of a person with goodwill to object to a company name
Independent Living Review - 26 / 10 / 2007
As part of the Independent Living Review, two executive summaries have been published from reports commissioned by the Office for Disability Issues. The first “Better Outcomes, Lower Costs”, presents evidence from existing literature that savings to health care and social care budgets, could be made by investing in housing adaptations. It also shows that investment in independent living benefits individuals and wider society. The evidence in the reports supports the Audit Commission’s recent recommendations for greater investment in adaptations and equipment to secure better value for money, reduce waste and deliver better quality of life.
The second report is a review of existing literature on the cost and benefits of an “independent living approach” to service provision. This has involved analysis of over 100 documents in the public domain. It also features specific case studies, which investigate different types of support in detail to form a view on the best approaches. It assesses costs and benefits at an individual, service delivery and national level.
The full reports are available on the Office for Disability Issues website:
www.officefordisability.gov.uk/publications
Hard copies can be requested at
office-for-disability-issues@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Positive about Disabled People Symbol - 30 / 09 / 2007
We are please to anounce that DIAL UK has recently been assessed by Job CentrePlus to use the Positive about Disability Symbol. The symbol is awarded to employers who show their commitment to employing and retaining Disabled People. Employers who use the symbol have agreed with Jobcentre Plus that they will follow 5 areas of Commitment:
- To interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy and consider them on their abilities
- To ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss, at any time, but a least once a year, with the disabled employee what can be done to make sure they can develop and use their abilities
- To make every effort when employee’s become disabled, to make sure they stay in employment
- To take action to ensure all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make these commitments work.
- Each year, to review the five commitments and what has been achived, to plan ways to improve on them and let employees and Jobcentre Plus know progress and future plans.
This symbol will be displayed on all job vacancy advertisements, inside and outside of the organisation. It will also be displayed on all the paperwork used by DIAL UK. If you would like further information about the Disability Symbol, contact your Disability Employment Advisor at your Local Jobcentre Plus Office.
To find details of your local Jobcentre Plus Office and information about the full range of Jobcentre Plus disability services and programmes, visit their website: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
National Lobby of Parliament On Wednesday 17th October 07
There will be a National Lobby of Parliament to support the Disabled Persons Independent Living Bill
The Lobby will commence at 2.00 pm at Westminster Hall and will be preceded by a stunt event (the details of which will be confirmed later).
If you are interested in attending please let you local MP know and ask them to be there so you can talk to them. (See suggested template letter and campaign details attached separately in mailing)
The second reading for the Bill in the commons is on 19th October 07
If you want campaign postcards, which will be delivered to the PM, please contact:
ruth.scott@scope.org.uk.
If you would like general campaign leaflets contact Sue Bott Director
NCIL,
4th Floor
Hampton House
20, Albert Embankment
London
020 7587 1663
Think Tank Report - 27 / 07 / 2007
A report by an influential think-tank has found that improving the skills of disabled people to world class levels by 2020 would boost economic growth by £35b over 30 years. The Social Market Foundation (SMF) report on disability and employment, produced in association with the Disability Rights Commission, says that such a strategy would also tackle child poverty. The report proposes a national commitment to reducing the skills gap between disabled people and the rest of the population, forcing employers to take more responsibility in employing disabled people and giving those who are unemployed more help to improve their skills.
For more information or a copy of Disability, Skills and Work ring: 020 722 27060 or visit: www.smf.co.uk
2007 – The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All
The campaign was officially launched in the UK on 14th May. The aim of the year is to generate a major debate on the benefits of diversity for European societies. It will make people in the EU even more aware of their rights to enjoy equal treatment and life free from discrimination. The years coincides with the creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR)
In the UK its efforts will focus on:
- Rights- ensuring people know their fundamental rights to equality and freedom from discrimination, as well as changing negative attitudes;
- Representing - increasing the participation of all people in society;
- Recognition – celebrating diversity; and
- Respect – eliminating stereotypes and prejudice.
The CEHR is engaging ministers, MP’s, senior officials and key national and local equality experts in national and regional talks. This will help create fairness and freedom for all. The outcomes of the discussions will be shared with European leaders in Brussels in December Want to know more? Visit: www.cehr.org.uk/content/european.rhtm Disability Equality at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is committed to promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities, both as a service provider and as an employer. Currently the trust is working on its action plan for improving services for service users in accordance with the Disability Equality Act 2005 and the Disability Equality Scheme.
The Companies Act 2006 - 30 / 05 / 2007
The Companies Act explains that directors must act in accordance with company constitutions and exercise powers only for the purpose for which they are conferred.
They should exercise independent judgement, reasonable skill, care and diligence. They must also avoid conflicts of interest, decline benefits from third parties and declare any interests they have in company transactions.
Directors are required to give regard to six factors when making decisions.
1. The interest of the employees
2. The long-term consequences of the decision
3. The impact on the community and environment
4. Fairness between members,
5. Relationship with others
6. And reputation.
These statutory duties do not cover all the duties of the Director. For Charity Directors, as the trustees they have a duty not to profit personally from their position.
For more information on The Companies Act:
www.companieshouse.gov.uk
Smoking Legislation - 30 / 04 / 2007
Legislation to ban smoking comes into effect at 6a.m. on 1st July 07. A similar ban was effective from 2nd April 07 in Wales. Similar to Ireland and Scotland, virtually all-public places, including workplaces, will become smoke free in an attempt to reduce the effects of smoking and passive smoking.
Flexible Working New Legislation from 6th April - 30 / 03 / 2007
Employers are being urged to be prepare for the new legislation on flexible working that come into force on 6th April this year. The Work and Families Act 2006 extends the right to request flexible working. These regulations were introduced for parents of children under 6 yrs (18 if the child has a disability) and those who care for adults at home. The right to request flexible working will be a trigger for employers to do more to recognise the needs of carers and provide extra support for these staff. To be entitled to the right to request flexible working an employee must have worked for their employer continuously for 26 weeks and not have made another application to work flexible in the previous twelve months
For more information on this go to www.dti.gov.uk
BBC Watchdog Programme - 29 / 02 / 2007
The BBC have asked Making the Links Project run by Assist UK to look for stories on the situation with Blue Badges for families with disabled children under the age of two.
They are aware that current legislation does not allow for families with a child under two to have a blue badge and are looking for families who would be willing to talk to them about their experiences. They are also interested in talking to families who feel a blue badge would make an enormous difference to them.
All calls and emails will be treated with confidence. If you know someone who would be interested please contact:
The researcher for BBC Watchdog Maria Atherton directly on:
Phone: 020 8752 4565
Or Mobile: 07766 09467
Email: maria.atherton@bbc.co.uk
Study aims to make Underground travel easier - 26 / 01 / 2007
A major new study aims to make underground travel easier for disabled people. London Underground and Direct Enquiries, a nationwide access register that makes access details more accurate and available, are assessing 274 stations. The three-month project will look at lifts, ticket booths and how accessible the journey from street to platform level is. Once completed the information will be available on the direct enquiries website:
Legal Update - 20/12/2006
New research, conducted by Business Link for London, reveals that only two fifths of small businesses in London have made reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The survey of 100 small businesses also showed that two fifths were unfamiliar with the DDA and how it would impact on them. Furthermore, whilst 70 per cent of respondents had never conducted an access audit of their premises, 61 per cent still believed that their business was “disability compliant.” A spokeswoman from the Disability Rights Commission said the research showed “ignorance and anxiety” yet also contained positive messages, notably that 63 per cent of those that had made adjustments said it had been less difficult than anticipated.
Legal Definition of Disability - 11/10/2006
The Disability Rights Commission has recommended that the government change the legal definition of disability, in order to allow more disabled people to make discrimination claims.
DIAL UK, adviceUK, Age Concern England, Law Centres Federation and Youth Access – have completed research into the infrastructure support needs of advice networks and how they are currently met from a sample of member agencies.
The research, funded by the Home Office and conducted by ADP Consultancy, examined the potential for modernisation of advice infrastructure, drawing on the views of front line agencies and the advice networks. The purpose was to address the need to modernise the independent advice sector infrastructure through the identification of overlaps and gaps and to make recommendations for improvements. The findings are to be used to develop more joined-up, effective and targeted support for frontline organisations that enables them to be more efficient and sustainable.
A formal investigation into employment issues has been launched by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).
This is the first in a series of articles about an innovative new Disability Rights Project developed in partnership between the Law Centres Federation and the Disability Rights Commission. This article will provide an overview of the project, with future articles providing a more detailed examination of disability rights law.
Funding Crisis is threatening services run by Disabled People across the UK
Last month DIAL UK announced to the network that it has had to make staff
redundant due to a funding crisis. It has been brought to our attention that
more and more Disability Organisations have had to make staff redundant following
a funding crisis In the sector.
It has been announced that The National Centre for Independent Living have
issued staff with redundancy notices after they did not have adequate funds
to meet its current levels of operating costs after its Department of Health
(DH) Development Grant fund ended.
Third Sector announced that the Government is to conduct a wide-ranging study of the voluntary sector’s long-term future. The review will feed into the 2007 Comprehensive spending Review, which will set government spending strategies from 2008 – 2011.
Under provisions introduced in the Local Government Act 2003 a small business rate relief scheme will benefit businesses (including voluntary organisations which do not get rate relief) that occupy a single property with a rateable value of less than £8,000.
Statement from the Office For Disability Issues
Thank you to DIAL UK for contributing to the consultation exercise we held in September. As you may remember, one of the things that we talked to people about was the establishment of an Office for Disability Issues (ODI) and what its remit might be.
DIAL UK CHRISTMAS OFFICE CLOSURE REMINDER - 13 / 12 / 2005
Another reminder that DIAL UK closes on Friday 16th December 2005 at 4pm and will reopen on Monday 9th January 2006 at 9am.Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Disability Action in the Borough of Barnet Vacancy- 30 / 11 / 2005
Information and Advice Worker
Principles of Welfare Reform - 04 / 11 / 2005
On Monday 10th October the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions, the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP announced the new Principles for Welfare Reform. I am please to say DIAL UK was invited to attend this launch along with many other National Organisations.
WEBSITE TO FIND OUT ABOUT PUBLIC SECTOR CONTRACTS - 04/10/05
The Office of Government Commerce will launch in late 2005 a web portal to help small and medium enterprises, including voluntary organisations, identify and bid for public sector contracts.
CHARITY FESTIVAL WEEK 2005 17th July to 23rd July - 30/03/2005
The above event is specifically for disabled and special needs golfers that hold a current golf handicap certificate. Raising Funds for LOROS & SSAFA Leicestershire & Rutland Open for Disabled Persons
Action Learning for Managers Project (2001 - 2004) - 21/12/2004
Action Learning for Managers was a very successful partnership project that ran from September 2001 to December 2004.
Information Service - 08/12/2004
View and search for latest content: Video, Audio, CD ROM and Factsheets via our Information Service
Evaluation reveals IQP success - 13/10/2004
Research by consultants Bob Widdowson and Christine Forrester has concluded that IQP is a success.
Job recruitment on-line is growing fast with more than a third of job seekers looking for work via the web in 2002 alone, according to the Employers' Forum on Disability.
Volunteers Needed for Biometrics - 22/03/2004
Enrolment The UK Passport Service (UKPS) is seeking 1,000 disabled people aged 18 or over to take part in a biometrics enrolment trial. The trial will test the registration and verification of facial recognition, iris and fingerprint image biometrics.
Quality Project Tackles Exclusion - 28/10/2003
The Inclusive Quality Project, the only free support service for voluntary groups pursuing the legal advice services Quality Mark, launched its new web site on 23rd October.
Factsheets Available - 28/10/2003
The following Factsheets are available: Independent Living for Disabled People Transport and Travel for Disabled People Disability Living Allowance & Attendance Allowance: Survival Guide For A Doctor's Home Visit How Incapacity for Work is Assessed Incapacity Benefit - Survival Guide To Medical Examinations
DIAL UK receives Visionary Design Award for www.dialuk.org.uk - 06/12/2002
DIAL UK, on the 5th December was presented with a Visionary Design Award for their outstanding efforts in ensuring their web site is accessible to visually impaired people. The Awards were presented at The Lowry, hosted by broadcaster, businessman and author Martyn Lewis, CBE, and sponsored by Barclays.
DIAL UK's Annual Conference and AGM - 06/11/2002
'Connecting the Network',took place at the Hanover International Hotel in Bradford on Wednesday 23rd October.
DIAL UK Launches Campaign to end injustice in Medical Assessments for Disabled People - 27/11/2001
‘A Bitter Pill’ – a campaign calling for the end to injustices within the system of medical assessments for disabled people claiming benefits Was launched on Tuesday 27 November 2001 by DIAL UK, the national disability charity.
DIAL UK launches new web site - 24/09/2001
DIAL UK officially launches their new website - www.dialuk.org.uk
- at its 2001 AGM.
