Annual Review April 2010 - March 2011
Changing attitudes towards disability and difference
Introduction
Who is JustDifferent? JustDifferent is a small dynamic charity, based in Sussex. It is led by founder and CEO Toby Hewson, who has cerebral palsy. JustDifferent’s vision is of a world where disabled people are accepted and included as equal members of society and where everyone values and respects each other regardless of their abilities or disabilities. JustDifferent’s mission is to promote equality and diversity and advance the education of the public on disability issues; and to promote the qualities, diversity, independence and health of people with disabilities.
Aims and objectives To provide work and training opportunities for disabled people To help educate parents and teachers regarding disability and difference To promote the properly supported and resourced inclusion of disabled children into mainstream education To make an early and positive impact on the education of children in disability and difference.
Founded in 2008, JustDifferent is a registered charity and was formed to make a positive difference to the lives of both disabled and non disabled people. With a passionate interest in the education system, Toby decided to use his years of voluntary experience as a springboard for creating an organisation educating children, young people and adults about disability and difference. When visiting primary and secondary schools to speak to children and teachers about his
Toby Hewson - founder, CEO and workshop presenter
life and his achievements, Toby observed that children and young people responded to his physical difference with imagination and curiosity. They viewed his wheelchair and communicator with fascination, learning that they are simply tools to assist him with his active life. From this experience, Toby founded JustDifferent to provide structured workshops delivered by other disabled adults in schools and organisations.
Change is possible JustDifferent believes that real change is possible in the way that people view those with disabilities. Free from the preconceived ideas that many adults hold, children engage with our presenters with open-minded enthusiasm. Today’s children and young people are tomorrow’s employers, policy makers and educators. To impress upon them that disabled people can achieve, participate and lead just like them is the ultimate goal of JustDifferent.
“I enjoyed listening about how we are different because then everyone will know they are beautiful in their own way.” Workshop pupil
CEO report I am delighted to report that since I founded JustDifferent, we have delivered 1,965 workshops to 61,966 children and young people in the South East and South West. This year has seen a huge increase in the number of workshops we have carried out reaching over 35,800 children and young people. That’s in excess of a threefold increase on the previous year! This is the culmination of a lot of very hard work and planning by the entire JustDifferent team. We have achieved this whilst significantly improving effectiveness and efficiency. We have completed development of our workshops for secondary schools and these are now being progressively rolled out. This year has seen us expanding our work into new areas of the country. We are now developing plans to work in other areas in 2012 and details of these will be announced later this year.
I am so grateful to everyone who has supported JustDifferent since we started our work. I am now looking forward to another record breaking year of changing the attitudes towards disability and difference of thousands more children and young people.
“All our teachers and children were inspired and enthralled by this experience.” Teacher, Lymington Infant School
“Toby is a shining example of how will power and endeavor help us to succeed. He continues to work tirelessly to raise the awareness of disability, difference and diversity as empowering to all of us.” Simon Weston OBE
Operational report The total number of workshops and children reached since starting JustDifferent in 2008 now stands at 1,965 workshops and 61,966 children and young people. We provide innovative, exciting and educational workshops on disability and difference to primary, secondary and independent schools. Challenging outdated and often uninformed perceptions of disability, our workshops are specifically designed to engage children and young people into thinking more imaginatively about the world they live in, and the diversity of the people within it. Created and presented by disabled people using a variety of simple interactive methods, our workshops encourage children onto a path of learning that is captivating and enlightening. Specifically trained to contribute to the social and emotional education of young people, our presenters are modern-day story tellers bringing a light-hearted attitude to disability and difference. As well as being fun and inspiring, our workshops also help schools to:
Meet national curriculum requirements for PSHE at key stages 1- 4 Meet national curriculum requirements for citizenship at key stages 1- 4 Contribute to the national healthy schools standard through the promotion of social inclusion Contribute to school improvement plans under the Every Child Matters agenda Meet the duty to promote disability equality under the Disability Equality Duty.
Operational highlights and impact report 2010
We delivered 1,137 workshops to 283 schools reaching 35,882 children and young people Recruitment and training of a team of 6 disabled presenters, reaching children across the South East, South West, London and Suffolk Development of new workshops to its existing key stage 1 and key stage 2 programme to reach a younger audience and reception classes Development and pilot of workshops for key stage 3 and key stage 4 delivered in secondary schools - to reach teenagers and young adults Awareness stands and speaker provision at over 10 conferences across the country on subjects such as disability and diversity including events in Southampton, Manchester, Bath and Birmingham Rapid growth of demand for workshops in London Group training and skills development session for all presenters.
“I was a bit scared of disabled people but now I know that they are really nice.” Workshop pupil
The need Misconceptions of disability Researchers from Leeds University's Centre for Disability Studies found that many nondisabled children have a poor understanding of disability and the lives of disabled people*. Typical misconceptions held by the youngsters included: Disabled people are not able to work They are unlikely to have girlfriends and boyfriends, marry or have children If they do have children, the disability will be passed on to the child Disabled people have tragic lives, often cut short by their impairment.
More than half of the schools surveyed admitted that they could do more in this area, but many teachers felt they had neither the time nor the appropriate expertise to put these issues across. Lack of employment opportunities Disabled people find it difficult to get meaningful employment, training and support on leaving school often leading to isolation and exclusion. In the UK only 23% of all disabled people are employed and these jobs are often low paid and elementary**.
Values and beliefs We believe … In supporting and empowering disabled adults to join our team as workshop leaders across the UK In equality of opportunity for disabled people (in the provision of equal access to education, training, employment, health, transport, leisure facilities, housing; and the right to a personal, family and social life) That the inclusion of disabled children and young people in mainstream education is desirable and achievable In ongoing reflection and learning in our work, and the work of others committed to disability equality. We are committed … To encouraging the active participation of children, young people, educationalists and others who wish to engage with us To keeping abreast of developments in the inclusion debate and responding to these in our policy, practice and procedure To clarity, communication and care for all those we develop relationships with.
*Findings from the Disability Equality in English primary schools (DEEPS) project. Questionnaires were sent to 500 primary schools around the UK in 2008, and researchers talked to groups of children in year two (aged 6-7) and year six (aged 10-11) in six schools. **Source: Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey, Jan - March 2009.
Monitoring and evaluation of our work JustDifferent continuously monitors and evaluates its services through a variety of tools. Each school receiving a workshop is asked to complete an evaluation form. Children are encouraged to send letters and comments about their experience to JustDifferent and to the presenters. This information has been invaluable to JustDifferent, helping develop the workshops to meet the demand and needs of different organisations. The following extract is a letter from a primary school which received a day of JustDifferent workshops.
Dear JustDifferent There is nothing like actually confronting the issues! I think I speak for a lot of teachers when I say that with little personal experience of disability, it is difficult to talk to the children with real meaning and understanding. The workshop was a real learning experience for me and I know that experiences like this are the best way to learn and gain an understanding for children and adults. The photos and commentary were excellent as it really showed the children that Toby can do the things that they can and enjoys lots of the same things. The photos challenged their ideas on what a disabled person can and cannot do. This fitted in very well and would enrich the learning experience for this aspect of the curriculum. Thank you so much. I was certainly challenged today and I know the children were too. I admire what you are doing and hope it really takes off as this is a perfect way to introduce children to the issues of disability. Best wishes Mrs Reardon Teacher
�Outstanding, fun, interesting, informative, clear and challenging.� Teacher - Tubbenden Junior School
Meet the presenters
Ross Smith
Presenters currently cover Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, London, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Wales and Worcestershire. Our presenters who have a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brittle bones, and shortened arms due to the effects of Thalidomide; others have acquired disabilities.
Alyson Wright
Matthew James
Owen Griffiths
Kevin Ogden Emily Scrivener
Amy Lewington Toby Hewson
“The difference I feel I make when I do my workshops is telling children that people in a wheelchair are not scary and unapproachable. I can still have fun and do sports and there are no differences between me and them just because I use a wheelchair.� Kevin - JustDifferent presenter
Fundraising report JustDifferent receives no government funding and relies on voluntary income to enable JustDifferent to deliver its charitable aims and objectives. We are greatly indebted to a number of charitable trusts, organisations and individuals, whose generosity enabled JustDifferent to establish and develop itself in the first two years. In 2010 JustDifferent worked with a number of trusts and foundations and schools to provide income to support the operational costs of the charity. March 2010 saw the arrival of a part-time fundraising officer to assist the fundraising manager in enhancing and developing a strategy to generate sustained income through a variety of income streams including trust and foundations, local authorities, schools, community and corporate donations, individuals and legacies. As well as running costs, JustDifferent strives to identify funding partners who can support JustDifferent in strategic and development plans to deliver workshops in new geographical areas. We continue to work hard to raise the funds needed to support JustDifferent. We would like to thank all the trusts, foundations, community groups, schools and individuals that have supported JustDifferent during 2010. There are many ways in which you can support JustDifferent. Please visit our website at www.justdifferent.org for more information. Alternatively please call us on 01243 778275.
If you would like to donate online, please visit www.justgiving.com/justdifferent
Other fundraising successes during the year included donations from: The Platinum Trust £10,000 The Strangward Trust £5,000 The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust £10,000 Bernard Lewis Family Trust £10,000 Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest £1,600 Sussex Community Foundation £2,000
The workshops
“The three workshops we had today were with our older children and throughout the day they have been chatting about what has gone on. They loved the activity with Amy’s walking frame and I think some were quite surprised by all of Amy’s achievements.” Teacher - Kent
JustDifferent — Summary of accounts 2010-11 After a very successful year delivering 1137 workshops and reaching 35,882 children in primary and secondary schools across the South of England and Wales JustDifferent has succeeded in seeing a significant increase in income whilst continuing to reduce costs, streamline workplans and adapt to the new economic climate. We continue to be proactive in developing a wide range of fundraising opportunities to ensure our financial base strengthens and develops.
Incoming resources Income from trusts
£115,200
Donations
£20,315
Primary school income
£15,516
Grand total
£151,031
Outgoing resources Presenters salaries/fees
£80,447
Travel
£22,749
Marketing to schools
£11,292
Wheelchairs Office expenses and rent
£1,626 £23,026
Governance
£1,200
Fundraising
£19,221
IT costs
£5,588
Legal and professional fees
£3,590
Accounts and payroll
£5,502
Grand total
£174,241
Trustees, governance and management Chairman: Anthony Hewson OBE Trustees: Alyson Heath Hugh Vivian CEO: Toby Hewson Fundraising officer: Karen Dwyer Product development, recruitment and training: Julia Jarrett
Thank you to our major donors in 2010: Sobell Foundation, Boltini Trust, Chichester Cathedral, The Platinum Trust, The Bernard Lewis Family Trust, The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust Workshop photographs by www.kathryncollinson.co.uk
Contact us: JustDifferent The Old Workshop Mill Lane Walberton West Sussex BN18 0QE Website: www.justdifferent.org Phone: 01243 778275 Email: karen@justdifferent.org
If you would like to meet Toby Hewson and the team at JustDifferent, please get in touch. We can also arrange for you to see the workshops in action and experience the impact of our work first hand.
www.justdifferent.org
A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales No. 06533949. Charity No: 1125004