What is Our Futures?
Our Futures is a model of support for families with a disabled relative. It promotes planning for the future and supports people with disabilities to be full citizens.
Our Futures offer families:
- Peace of mind
- The potential to develop a good life for the person they support
- A method of influencing public policy
- A new way
Our Futures families learn leadership skills, make long term legally secure financial and practical plans. They support the person they are caring for to have a good life, not just good services.
Our Futures is committed to community inclusion - through social enterprise, and through engaging volunteers from the community. To ensure independence and a continued focus on serving members, Our Futures groups do not seek or accept statutory sector funding after the first two years set-up period.
Our Futures was developed in British Columbia twenty years ago based on an understanding that caring is a family affair. Family carer interests is growing across the UK in response to 'introduction to Our Futures' events that are being delivered by Our Futures UK, as an In Control project.
Our Futures core services are:
- Future Planning - a mananged process using expertise and practical help with legal, financial and guardianship issues. Assisting families to plan safely and prepare for the future.
The model offers a supportive process within which families can consider the issues of long-term care and support, and how their resources can best support their disabled relative.
- Personal Networks - this involves intentional relationship building around a person who has become isolated or disempowered because of disability. It involves the community in caring citizenship and supports families by expanding the number of relationships in that person's life.
- Family Support and Advocacy - providing families with a range of practical and emotional support from people who understand.
- Our Futures grouped together, act as a voice for people with disabilities and their families. There is a campaigning role at local and national level, focussed on the priorities of Our Futures members.
- Social Enterprise - supporting disabled people to fulfil their potential and, where appropriate, seek to create employment opportunities using the social enterprise model.
- Lifetime Commitment - a commitment to remain involved with the disabled person for his/her lifetime, valuing the person and providing core services as needed.
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Our Futures core values:
- Family Leadership - Families are involved in all aspects of the organisation and make up, whenever possible, the majority of board members. Our Futures belongs to and serves families that are its members.
- Self-sufficiency - After initial set-up costs, Our Futures does not seek or accept statutory sector funding, leaving it free to advocate, challenge and campaign for its members. Its relationships with funders are equal and based on reciprocity.
- Safety and security through relationships - 'An individual's health and safety is directly related to the number of relationships in his or her life'
- Contribution equals citizenship - To be part of one's community one must give to gain. Everyone has a contribution to make. People living with disabilities are citizens with rights and responsibilities. Society benefits from an expectation of inclusion, from caring citizenship.
Contact Information:
E: futures@embracewiganandleigh.org.uk
T: 01942 513053 |
