For many, the new year can be the start of exciting new beginnings, following a break and returning to work with energy for the new year ahead. At Respond we are going through a period of transition involving a significant number of endings as well as new beginnings.
Like many charities, Respond has experienced financial pressures due to the changing commissioning and funding landscape. In the last few months of 2023, we experienced a sudden loss in income and a period of financial uncertainty. To future proof and ensure long term sustainability of the charity, we developed an organisational recovery plan and began a restructure, which included the development of new roles, some of which will now be recruited to early this year.
We will be focusing on our therapeutic services for survivors, families and young people and our specialist advocacy services with sexual violence and domestic abuse focused support, in which our unique trauma informed approach to supporting autistic people and people who have learning disabilities who have experienced trauma, is nationally recognised for the successful outcomes and impact achieved.
Additionally, we are continuing to grow and develop the Training and Consultancy service where we can extend our reach and help and support other professionals and organisations in this challenging field using the vast knowledge and expertise we have acquired through our work over the last 34 years.
One of the outcomes of the restructure involved making the decision to close the Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) service, which for several years has been difficult to secure funding for. COSA provided a much-needed specialist service for autistic people and people with learning disabilities in the community who have been at risk to themselves and others. Following the closure of this service and the pausing of the Forensic psychotherapy service earlier in 2023, we will need to continue to reflect on how we can think about and support the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities who may be at risk of or have harmed others, in the development of our future strategy and services.
Our Transforming Care work will be coming to an end in the Midlands at the end of January when the contracted work with Black Country NHS Trust ends after over three years. The development of a base in Birmingham and the Transforming Care Service developed enormous skill and knowledge within Respond as well as partnership and connection nationally, as a bespoke specialist service providing relational work and circles for autistic people and people with learning disabilities to support their transition from long stay institutions. We know that there continue to be many people still in this situation and many families very concerned about their loved ones.
Therefore, this new year is a bittersweet start to the year for us as a charity. Over this next month we will sadly be saying goodbye to some very valued colleagues who will be leaving Respond following the restructure. They have contributed an enormous amount to Respond over many years to our trauma informed approach and we wish them all the best in their new roles.
On a personal level, it has been enormously helpful to have experienced the kindness and support from a number of experienced CEO’s who have been through similar situations, which has helped me to lead Respond through this very challenging period.
We really value the support from all our stakeholders, our partners and commissioners and are incredibly grateful to our current funders including The Three Guineas Trust, John Lyons Charity and Sir Halley Stewart Trust for their ongoing support and investment in our work. These relationships in the sector and our funding have been critical in our recovery as a charity. We are a resilient charity and have been able to weather this period of uncertainty and now move forward remaining committed to our vision that all autistic people and people with learning disabilities are empowered to thrive.
Thank you.
Georgina Hoare, Acting CEO, Respond
