Having started by becoming well informed by Roger Lindsay, a former volunteer who has prepared a well site on what is happening, I have now done a thorough survey of the question. I went to the AGM of the trustees last Thursday, I then talked in detail to Colin Henderson, a solicitor in Kendal who had a lot of experience from past involvement as a solicitor for the trust. I then spoke to their chairman John Dersley at length on this last Tuesday morning when he explained his plans for the Ulverston CAB.
I conclude that if Ulverston is to be sure of its own bureau it must fund this itself by a supporters group: Ulverston taking care of its own - truly "in this together". No other source is guaranteed. John Dersley has hopes but has taken no action to secure funding of this nature direct but has many plans based on hopes based on operating under the umbrella of a separate organisation : Cumbria Rural.
A figure of £50,000 per year from 1,000 people from the surrounding area would seem to me to be thoroughly attainable and could well spark off long term support from other sources. What is needed is some positive leadership and not the continuous 'hope' that money will come from some form of local/national government. After all : the banking system is beginning to think in this way with small time investors lending directly to small business and cutting out the unreliable, large middle men banksers (gangsters) (Note: "Peer-to-peer lending boom could make banks obsolete" in the Independent on Monday. So what's wrong with peer to peer support for local charities when we know exactly what is needed?
9 comments:
If you had the support of several thriving local businesses, finding the rest from covenanted donations from local citizens plus maybe a bit of fundraising activities should be possible. Or is the local population too few in number, especially with so much going on already?
With the number of people being helped by the CAB every year being given as 750 by Roger Linsay on his web site then I would have thought that the community including those helped would want to get involved. I have already talked to several people who say that they owe the fact that they still own their own houses to the support they got from the CAB. Surely these could start the ball rolling by contributing say one pound a month to the CAB in gratitude and to help others reap the same benefit in the future. If one hundred of those helped in a year could see themselves giving one pound per week: this would be the same as £100 per month, ie £1,000 per year. With this happening surely those able to contribute more would want to help out with ten pounds per month leading to two hundred of them contributing £20,000 per year. The next stage would be that seeing this happen,then most likely 50 people who were really able to afford twenty pounds per month , ie £20 times 50 = £1,000 would contribute a further £10,000 per year.
Without much effort as a community one can see that £1,000 plus £20,000 plus £10,000 would produce £31,000 per year. All that is now needed is for businesses to chip in a moderate amount of say 0.1% of their takings to send the figure way over the fifty thousand per year being tlked about - in fact more than £100,000 per year.
It's all very simple arithmetic and not that difficult. Then all is needed is for us to believe this is worth doing - and then - . . . DO IT.
I suggest the one pound per week at the beginning could be the starting point.
So:
Who's going to set the ball rolling?
Or have I come knocking at the wrong door?
People I talk to report that Barrow is a lot more generous . . . . and that we're far too superior and snooty to be bothered.
Some are realising just what a community minded place Dalton is by contrast.
Is it really that simple? Giving money is the easy part. Wouldn't people be needed to organise the whole thing and a charity status established? In other words a committee formed with volunteers willing to take on various jobs. I might manage a little cash but I'm not suitable to take on the responsibility of being on a committee.
Further thoughts: It would seem to me that taking care of the essentual charities of providing food and secure shelter to members of our community is very much within our capabilities, yet has Ulverston gradually charged away from being a caring society or have we become too insecure to take on problems other than our very own. Perhaps now is the time to reassess whther we fit in here ?
Yes, Gladys, I think it is that simple.
All the organisation is in place, though under a different name. The organisation coupled with Kendal will go under because of debt but there is the very real possibility of an alternative umbrella organisation - Cumbria Rural who at the present run two centres, one at Windermere - who could take over Ulverston. Now if we came "bearing gifts" as we could, you'd have thought we would be welcome !
Wow - Gladys you're offering "a little cash" that's marvellous. I'll offer some too - on a monthly basis - I'll shoot for ten pounds - how about you.
We're off. Anyone want to join us here?
The idea is to provide a Food Bank and a CAB for Ulverston - no more.
I thought a food bank was already operating at the Parish Church hall.
I'm just suggesting that there could be a fund to supply the needs for both under the same arrangement. Gauranteed by the people of Ulverston.
I wonder if Mr R linsay will offer his services for FREE.
I do hope so as a man of his vast experience can MAKE A DIFERENCE (MAD)
I find to often to my dismay that some idividuals do nought for nought.
ALBAN
Hi Alban,
Roger was already offering 16 hours per week for free. What is needed is cash - and incidentally not a lot - money to pay for professional leadership and skills who act as the support structure for the CAB. Note, there is always a professional (paid) supervision presence whenever volunteers are in contact with the public. The cost of the premises come virtually free. Roger and I have given up driving this project forward. We have alerted everyone we can and now it's up to others to show an interest. What comes across is that people are very reluctant to get involved before it is too late.
If you care that the CAB is about to close in it's present form then you need to speak up. Saying so here would be a start and your name will be passed on to others that also care.
Yes we need people who believe they can (be) Make A Difference. Sadly there are many MAD people about.
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