We are a diverse voluntary cultural organisation wishing to engage with partners on a variety of issues.
One of our current projects is an environmental art initiative in partnership with British Waterways. We also have other projects supporting artists and orphan children in other countries.
If interested in being our partner under the theme of Independant […]
Independent Living
Overview
Many adults rely on government support due to physical disability, mental health needs, drug and alcohol dependency, or old age. Members of the Innovation Network are already searching for new ways of supporting these adults to live independently. This high priority issue has established arrangements for commissioning, but is also undergoing radical changes through the introduction of direct payments and individualised budgets, there is strong innovation within the third sector, but connecting this with new forms of demand is a challenge.
Key Topics
Latest Blog posts
Looking forward to 2gether08 tomorrow, which I am glad to say numerous Exchange contacts are attending, particularly the session I am kicking off with Sian Lockwood from NAAPS, which we are calling Independent 2gether. It’s at 11.50 tomorrow morning - do come and join us.
Here’s the very brief presentation on our thoughts.
It’s vital that the views of citizens, service-users and those who represent and support them help to shape both the strategy of Innovation Exchange and its decisions about which innovations to work with. That’s the right thing to do – people have a right to be heard about issues that affect them – and […]
Innovation Exchange is heading off to 2gether08 on 2nd and 3rd of July. The event will bring together 300 people to explore how digital technologies can bring us major social benefits. Their line is, ’solve bigger problems’, which I really like. Along with the Sian Lockwood from NAAPS, we are running a […]
Today, socially-minded, non-profit, MESOMOCO CIC launches its first service: a powerful, free, self-help, online social network for the mental health community. Called NET.mesomoco.org.uk, this ‘gated-community’ was set up to support mental health sufferers, carers and other socially-minded organisations, such as the mental health registered charities.
It is hoped that NET.mesomoco.org.uk will enable people in the mental […]
Continue reading 'New Online Social Network: A Mental Health, ‘Facebook’ like, ‘gated-community’'
What happens when you put innovators, public service commissioners and investors who share one interest in the same room? Well, check out the video clips below and follow this link to find out what happened at our Festival of Ideas: Innovation for Independent Living event .
Below is a clip of Cabinet Minister Ed Miliband’s thoughts on innovation.
See John Craig […]
Continue reading 'Video coverage of the Festival of Ideas: Innovation for independent living event'
Earlier this year, we commissioned independent research into opportunities for innovation on the theme of independent living. Over 20 people were interviewed via telephone including commissioners, social investors and innovators. Before releasing the final draft, we wanted to know your thoughts in response to the key emerging questions that were coming out of the research […]
Continue reading 'Research paper - Innovation for independent living (by Jean Barclay)'
“The desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world” wrote espionage novelist John LeCarre. Yet since the rise of the ‘knowledge economy’ that is where most leaders stay, locked away by organisational priorities and packed schedules. This can be an effective approach when we already know what needs to be done and […]
Brandon Trust (based in the South West) and Symbol Family Support Service (based in Kent) have teamed up for the first time in a new partnership to plan a Family Assessment Centre for parents with learning disabilities. We are on a roll with this ‘idea’ - in fact it has gone beyond the ‘good […]
Continue reading 'Parents with Learning Disabilities & New Technology'
What is the problem you are working to solve?
Fact: people suffering with long-term and chronic conditions are doubling every ten years. Added to this is the increase in an ageing population particularly in rural areas. This means that health and social care services will be overstretched and people will be encouraged to, and often want […]
