Memorandum and Articles of Association

1
Memorandum and Articles of Association

• To promote, undertake, encourage and provide
  facilities for research
• To promote, undertake, encourage and provide
  facilities for the treatment and rehabilitation
• To promote and protect the physical and mental
  health of people with communication disorders,
  particularly but not exclusively through AAC
  strategies
• To promote, undertake, encourage and provide
  facilities for the publication and exchange of
  information relating to research and strategies
  to support people who use AAC
• To advance the education of members and the
  public about AAC and needs of people with
  communication disorders.

CM2008
2
4 Targets for 2007/8

• Focus on the Bercow Review (and other government
  reviews)
• 2. Stronger links with other charities and
  disability organisations

CM2008
3
4 Targets for 2007/8 (contd)

• Ensure Communication Matters financial viability
• Survey of Associate Membership and wider AAC
  Community

CM2008
4
Bercow Review

• 2007
• November Consultation document
• December AAC Focus Group
• 2008
• January Submission
• March Interim Report
• April Scoping Event
• May Final submission
• July Report published

CM2008
5
Other Government Reviews and Activities

• Reviews
• Scottish AAC Funding Review Campaign resulting
  in a short life working party looking at
  provision and support
• Independent Living Strategy
• Lamb Enquiry
• Networking and Letters
• Letters and emails with DoH, DCSF, ODI, Scottish
  Government
• Briefing papers with Scope, Communication Trust
  and alone
• Meetings DoH and DCSF

CM2008
6
Stronger links with other charities and
disability organisations

• Communication Trust/Consortium
• Scope
• 1 Voice
• Individual Consortium members
• Communications Forum
• Communication Forum Scotland
• Foundation for Assistive Technology

CM2008
7
Opportunities created

• Becta

• QCA 4 consultations and a focus group with
  teenagers
• Communication Trust Conference speaker
• Universal Home Access Advisory Group

CM2008
8
Sub-groups

• Funding and Finance
• Publications
• Increasing Involvement
• ISAAC Awareness Raising
• Marketing
• Business Planning
• Conference Abstracts and Planning
• Study Days
• Web Development

CM2008
9
Funding and Finance

• Financial Planning and Budgets
• Fundraising
• Becta 3000 for Project Jubilee
• Conference sponsorship
• Conference fundraising

CM2008
10
Publications

• 2 new focus on leaflets
• AAC in medical settings
• In conjunction with practitioners and people who
  use AAC
• Speaking with someone who uses AAC
• Originated at CM007
• Widely consulted with people who use AAC
• Press releases
• Website content (the next big job)

CM2008
11
Publications

• E-News /- 3000 people
• Journal
• Technical Editor Patrick Poon
• Editor Sally Millar

CM2008
12
Journal development survey response

• 79 share it with others
• 75 found articles relevant to them
• Liked conference papers, articles, research
  papers and diary dates
• No preference to move from paper version
• Want to on-line search articles

CM2008
13
Increasing InvolvementDevelopments

• AAC Forum
• AAC Forum for people who use AAC
• Strand at CM2007 and CM2008
• Leadership Development Scheme
• Communication Cards

CM2008
14
Communication Cards

• Originated from CM2007 workshop
• Business or post card size
• Personal information
• Key Tips for Communication

CM2008
15
Marketing

• Review of mission and vision statements
• Benefits of Communication Matters activities
• Roadshows
• Different categories of membership
• Study days and conference
• Support for business planning

CM2008
16
Conference Abstracts and Planning

• Abstract Review
• Programme
• Liaison with speakers
• What you told us........

CM2008
17
Survey response - Symposium

• 50 never been to symposium
• Delegates 2007 373
• 2008 444 18
• Reasons to attend (average 3 reasons)
• Equal split networking, training, exhibition
• 40 have presented, 70 would consider presenting
• More adult acquired focus

CM2008
18
Training/Education

• 58 sessions
• 115 individual speakers (26 of attendees)
• Strands
• Child
• Transition
• Adult
• People who use AAC
• Research
• High Tech/Low Tech

CM2008
19
Plenary Speakers

• 4 plenary sessions
• Lucy Dobson and Katrina Moore
• Sarah Ezekiel
• John Bercow MP
• Sarah Blackstone

CM2008
20
Exhibition

• 1Voice ACE Centre Advisory TrustCALL
  Scotland The Communication TrustDynaVox
  Systems Ltd Inclusive Technology LtdLiberator
  Ltd The Makaton Charity Mounts More
  Ltd PossumProxTalker.com LLC QED Ltd
  Scope Sensory Software InternationalThe
  Signalong Group Smartbox Assistive Technology
  LtdTechcess Ltd Toby Churchill LtdWidgit
  Software Wolfson Neurodisability Service

CM2008
21
Study Days 2008

• 2008 eyes off the ball
• Change of strategy for remainder 2008
• November 5 2008 ICH London
• Eye Gaze Day
• Mick Donegan
• Speakers - high tech and low tech
• Workshop
• Exhibition

CM2008
22
Study Days 2009

• Jan/Feb The Role of Story Telling and Language
  Development
• Annalu Waller, Nicola Grove, Rolf Black
• London, Manchester, Edinburgh
• June AM Write to Talk, PM Phonic Awareness
• Caroline Musselwhite from USA
• London, Manchester, Scotland
• Dates TBC Basics of AAC
• AAC in Family settings

CM2008
23
Road Shows survey response

• Reasons to attend
• Range equipment, try things out, talk to specific
  supplier
• 97 will definitely/probably go again
• Specific comments
• More needed, locations sometimes iffy, more stuff
  for u5s and PMLD
• Confirm suppliers attending beforehand

CM2008
24
Roadshows

• 2007
• 16 shows
• 1130 delegates
• Wide range venues from church halls to hotels
• 10 suppliers

• 2008
• 15 shows
• 1247 delegates
• Emphasis on better quality venues
• 9 suppliers with new interest

CM2008
25
Membership Services

• Support the board
• All membership enquiries
• Conference and study days
• Road shows
• Financial/legal Records
• ISAAC
• Communication channels
• Website
• Journal
• E-news

CM2008
26
2008 - Montreal

• Major governance review agreed changes, bylaws
  to be written
• Over 40 UK delegates including 8 people who use
  AAC
• Major awards included
• Words
• Ablenet Literacy Award
• Fellowship

CM2008
27
Fellow of

• Toby Churchill
• Over 30 years designing and manufacturing AAC
  3rd oldest company
• Respected world wide
• To be presented here tomorrow (low key)

CM2008
28
Benefits of membership

• NGO status to UNESCO
• Knowledge of international developments
• Equipment
• Research
• Best Practice
• 4 key projects
• LEAD
• READ
• BUILD
• International Awareness of AAC

CM2008
29
LEAD

• Leadership Project by and for people who use AAC
• Guidelines on what is a leader
• What is needed for good communication partners
• Take up board and sub-group roles
• Made CM think about what we could do
• The Leadership Development Programme

CM2008
30
READ

• Research, Education, Awareness and Documentation
  Project
• Making information accessible
• Global exchange of information
• Promotion of research and development of AAC
• Dissemination of research findings

CM2008
31
UK Research

• Lack of crucial research
• Prevalence
• Evidence of need
• Excellent work carried out in universities and
  centres
• Focus needed via collaboration
• Opportunity with BIG Lottery

CM2008
32
Communication Matters Research Strategy

• Research that will underpin a statutory right of
  an individual to assessment of need and where
  appropriate the provision of AAC and ongoing
  support services
• Research that aims to influences local and
  national policy and practice and leads to better
  services and interventions for people who use AAC
  by understanding their needs, the impact of
  specific impairments and the difference being
  able to communicate effectively brings
• Research that promotes community learning and
  creates opportunities for people who use AAC and
  their families

CM2008
33
How research will happen

• Collaborative bidding with institutions/organisati
  ons working in field AAC
• Expressions of interest from 11 groups
• Initial bid to BIG Lottery up to 500k
• Setting up an independent research panel
  volunteers needed
• Annika Dahlgren-Sandberg agreed to be an advisor

CM2008
34
BUILD

• Supporting emerging AAC nations by sharing
  information
• Encourage volunteers to spend time in developing
  countries

CM2008
35
ISAAC AAC Awareness Raising

• Many Stories One Voice contest
• 125 entries, 34 from UK
• International Youth winner
• Sean Lucas age 7 from Swindon
• All stories on USAAC website

CM2008
36
Judging Process

• All entries had names removed
• Panel of judges
• Roz Brown
• Lizzie Ball
• Tina Dethridge
• Jayne Glass
• Bernie Henderson
• Toby Hewson

CM2008
37
Project Jubilee 23 October 6pm

• 3 authors invited to 11 Downing Street
• Sean Lucas (age 11 and under group)
• Beth Moulam (age 11-18 group)
• Alan Martin (Adult)
• Guest speakers
• Nicola Grove
• and ?? to read a story
• Target media coverage
• Sponsorship by Becta
• Places for members (by draw)

CM2008
38
October 2008

• Public Story Readings
• All UK stories here
• Stories all on symbolworld.com
• http//www.symbolworld.org/index.htm
• Organise something and tell us about it

CM2008
39
Income/Goodwill

• Review of current resources
• Income 2007 188,496
• Profit at y/e 2007 30,000
• 379 Days from volunteers 67,462
• 225 days _at_ 40,000 salary
• Donated services/goods 6,000

CM2008
40
Sustainability

• Communication Matters can have a
  massive impact
• Input with volunteer Trustees not sustainable
  longer term
• Time to consult

CM2008
41
On line survey January 2008

• Added a set of questions what do you want CM to
  prioritize?
• Response rate 438 people
• Match between respondents and associate
  membership categories

CM2008
42
Priorities for Communication Matters
Priority High Med Low Not Rel
Increasing awareness PWUAAC/families 99 85 14 2 1
Increasing awareness of AAC 97 85 14 0 1
Lobbying 94 72 22 4 1
Education all AAC community conference, study 67 31 1 1
Days and roadshows 98 67 31 1 1
Links to government departments etc 94 61 33 5 1
Focal point for research in AAC community 92 48 44 7 1
Definite information resource for AAC and signposting 93 46 47 8 1
Workforce development via accreditation of training, networks for clinical supervision, signposting to training 90 42 48 9 1
Resources for benchmarking/evaluating BP 90 40 50 9 1
Developing multidisciplinary working charter 84 36 48 14 2
CM2008
43
Why Communication Matters?

• Established since 1986
• Communication Matters is THE national
  organisation for AAC
• Sole focus AAC, cradle to grave
• UK Chapter of ISAAC and NGO status
• Strength of associate membership
• Strength of trans-disciplinary approach

CM2008
44
What if we do? What if we dont

• Dont change
• Continue to run symposium, study days and
  roadshows
• Let slip networks made in 2007/2008
• No-one will want to be Chair in future
• Another organisation may try to take AAC lead
• Do change
• Become a serious player, a voice to be reckoned
  with
• Deliver in areas outlined as a priority
• Role of Trustee becomes strategic not hands on

CM2008
45
Trustees Vision

• Doing everything we do now but even better
• The information point for AAC
• Journal, website, literature, physical library
• Lead on awareness raising
• Support for people who use AAC and families
• Lead on research and strategic direction
• Workforce development programme
• THE national organisation for AAC across UK

CM2008
46
CM2008
47
The Trustees Actions

• January Agreed action needed/Survey
• April/May Draft business plan and resource
  plan
• June Agreed vision/plans
• June/July Info out on enews
• Password to web pages to associate
  members for comment
• July Research strategy
• September Associate Members Meeting

CM2008
48
The next steps

• Employing a bid writer to make bids to Lottery
  Reaching Communities and Trusts
• NB Time limited/maximum commitment
• Additional resource committed for Patrick Poon to
  allow support for Chair short term
• Bids to include funding for CEO, additional admin
  and project manager including infrastructure
• Once core funding agreed carry out project work

CM2008
49
The cost of the plans

• Focus only on core funding
• Project work must wait until core funding
  established
• Bid writer costs capped at 7000
• (14 days _at_ 500)
• Additional support for Admin 4000 in 2008
• Planning 1000

CM2008
50
Next steps

• Look at the finances
• then decide

CM2008
51
Treasurers Report 2008

• Neil Hansen

CM2008
51
52
Membership Overview
CM2008
52
53
Membership, Categories Symposium
CM2008
53
54
2007 Accounts Audit
2007 Accounts
1. Income 2. Expenditure
Membership fees 20,550 Capitation to ISAAC International 4,977
Conference- 2-day 94,052 Conference- 2-day 70,735
CM Road Shows 34,003 CM Road Shows study days 33,686
CM Journal Sales (adverts overseas) 2,454 CM Journal 2,277
Other Journals 8,459 Other Journals 7,667
CM Publications 1,222 Administration 8,411
Study Days 11,830 Awards for All Grant 10,000
Donations 2,682 Charity Governance 15,763
Bank interest 3,243 Membership 907
Awards for All grant 10,000 Accounts audit 4,040
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 188,495 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 158,463

Change in reserve 30,033
NB due to rounding errors for pence - pound figures are not exact
NB due to rounding errors for pence - pound figures are not exact Assets at end of 2006 76,429
NB due to rounding errors for pence - pound figures are not exact
Assets at end of 2007 106,643
CM2008
54
55
Income vs. Expenditure
CM2008
56
Change in reserves
CM2008
57
2008 Current
1. Income 2. Expenditure
Membership fees 21,570 Capitation to ISAAC International 4,977
Conference- 2-day 98,752 Conference- 2-day 78,000
CM Road Shows 35,000 CM Road Shows study days 34,000
CM Journal Sales (adverts overseas) 2,500 CM Journal 2,350
Other Journals 8,750 Other Journals 8,000
CM Publications 1,222 Administration 8,800
Study Days 3,000 Subsidies pwuaac and families 10,000
Donations 930 Charity Governance 17,500
Bank interest 3,800 Membership 1,000
Awards for All grant Accounts audit 4,040
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 175,524 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 168,667
Additional expenses agreed  
Overall estimate 5 increase on 2007 Leadership Development Programme 2,500
Reprint focus on range 3,000
Website development 2,000
Planned expenditure for 2008 176,167
Planned overspend for 2008 -643
CM2008
57
58
Additional Expenditure 2008

• Assets at 31.12.07 106,436
• Reserve needed 90,000
• Available for development 16,436
• Cost conference/dissolving charity
• Add'l Admin Resource July-Dec 4,000
• Bid writer 7,000
• Development vision 1,000
• Research collaboration Regional Centres

CM2008
59
2009 Budget

• Current Plan (no change)
• 2008 inflation
• And subject to successful bids NEW with
• Core costs for paid staff

CM2008