The History of The British Polio Fellowship

Background

During the 1930s, disabled people were shunned or, at best, tolerated by society. They were not expected to socialise, marry or work and were essentially treated as victims – passively receiving the charity that so called "ablebodied" people chose to give them.

In this atmosphere, two people with polio met in 1938. Patricia Carey was diagnosed aged eight, Frederic Morena aged 42. Frustrated by society’s approach to disabled people they decided to challenge attitudes and start an organisation "for people with disabilities, by people with disabilities". The British Polio Fellowship was born.*

Since that time, we have built a national organisation which has greatly changed the lives of many people with polio.

Here are some milestones from our history. For more information, we recommend you read a fascinating account of our past, "Something to lean on" compiled by Barry North.

* Initially known as the "Infantile Paralysis Fellowship" we later change our name to reflect the fact that everyone could be affected by polio not just children.

The British Polio Fellowship today

We are the largest national charity for people in the UK with Polio and Post Polio Syndrome. Through our Central Office, with nine Regions, 46 Branches and several active Groups we provide many services.

Vision

Our vision is of a society where people living with the effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome have all the resources they need to lead full, active and integrated lives and of a world where polio is completely eradicated.

Mission

The British Polio Fellowship seeks to empower and support all people in the UK living with the effects of polio and Post Polio Syndrome by:

• actively campaigning in support of their rights and needs and those of their carers
• providing information, advocacy, welfare and support to enable people to live full independent and integrated lives and being the first resource on polio and Post Polio Syndrome.
• supporting a Regional / Branch / Group structure that enables mutual support amongst members to be carried out in a caring and inclusive environment.
• raising the profile of The British Polio Fellowship to enhance its effectiveness and to seek out all those who may benefit from our services.
• developing world-wide alliances with other polio and Post Polio groups for the mutual benefit of all our members.

The British Polio Fellowship is committed to supporting and developing its staff and volunteers and to the most effective use of its resources.

Our structure

Since we incorporated in 2005 we have been governed by our members through the Management Council – the Trustees of our Fellowship. At least 75% of our Trustees are people with polio. 12 Trustees are elected by National Ballot on a first-past-the-post, one person one vote system.

Members are organised in branches, groups, regions and other networks, though many members do not belong to a formal branch and are supported through our Central Office.

Central Office

Our main office is in South Ruislip, Middlesex, where there are currently 18 employees who work on either a full or part-time basis. Six of these employees are fully or partly funded by external sources. This location is often referred to as "Central Office" and it comprises four departments: Administration, Membership and Development, Support Services and Holidays. We have nine Regions, and 46 active Branches and Groups.

The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees has responsibility for the strategic direction of the Fellowship and ensures the staff team achieves the Business Plan. At least three-quarters of Board members must be people with polio. The Board meets every two months. 

Memorandum & Articles of Association

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British Polio Fellowship Insurances

Personal Accident Insurance - download link

Business Interruption Insurance - download link

Property Damage Insurance - download link

Money Insurance - download link

Liability Insurance - download link

Chairman's Report for AGM

As with each AGM this report covers the previous year 2009 which was a special year for the British Polio Fellowship being our 70th Anniversary year. It was a very busy period but one which was extremely enjoyable. The particular highlights nationally were the 6 Super Forums which were held across the country. With an average of 140 members attending each one we were able to meet many of our members and give them the opportunity to gather information and meet together. Individual Regions and Branches chose their own special ways of celebrating.

Support Services

We have continued to provide a service to members with the main contact for many being our Support Services. The increasing demand on this team demonstrates the continuing need for help, information and support including advice on a wide variety of issues from benefits to care services. We remain the only national charity to provide heating grants to our disabled members who are under 60 with this team taking responsibility for this process.

The organisation was successful in securing funding from the London Councils, to provide disability advice to people who are over 50 and living with the effects of polio. The work is progressing well and is part of a 4 year project. You will be able to keep up to date with the work being undertaken through items in the Bulletin.

We have continued to expand and update our range of leaflets and information and have sent out 7,600 different pieces of information to members. The new and extremely comprehensive booklet on Post Polio Syndrome was issued to all our members and we received a tremendous response of appreciation. This was funded through the generosity of Branches and individuals.

The Welfare Project Co-ordinator funded by the Big Lottery has been hard at work. By the end of 2009 she had recruited over 50 welfare and befriending volunteers to support our members. Regrettably we were unable to secure external funding to continue the work for the Co-ordinator for Scotland and have also been unable to identify any funding to start a similar scheme in Wales.

Fundraising

Within fundraising our general appeals in 2009 were well received. With the larger fundraising team there was an increase in income compared to the previous year. We were delighted that the Pipeline Guild selected us as their Charity of the Year and they raised £16,000. This enabled us to do some refurbishment in the bungalow at Burnham on Sea. Special thanks also go to the Steam Owners and Drivers Club of Redbourne, and Dance International for continuing to support us by choosing us as their main charity.

The Regions

In the Regions, Branches and Groups continued to do a great job. They welcomed some of the 16 new members we gained each month, and have also increased their fundraising income by 5%.

During the year new Groups were formed in Derby, Coventry, Bury St Edmonds, Kings Lynn, Norwich, Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton and Ashford.

The Panels

We were pleased to welcome Professor Jim McKillop as the new Chairman of the Expert Panel. The extensive peer reviewed pathway to aid the diagnosis of PPS was published on the Map of Medicine Health guides. Two research studies were initiated at the end of the year to be conducted in 2010 one in collaboration with the Walton Centre in Liverpool looking at fatigue and quality of life in people with PPS. The other by Brunel University is looking at the relationship between the provision and use of assistance equipment and the levels of happiness and quality of life of people experiencing PPS.

The Orthotics Panel's major focus was on empowering users of orthoses by giving them as much information as possible on what they are entitled to in terms of service provision. They produced the booklet "Orthotics Service – What I have a right to expect from my Orthotics Provider". In addition fact sheets were produced relating to Callipers and Insoles, Surgical footwear and Orthotics.

We are grateful to the experts on both these panels for their time enthusiasm commitment and professional input.

The Holiday Programme

The Ron Scudamore Holiday Programme continued to be a popular member benefit with 78 individual members and 2 branches using the programme. Many members have expressed their appreciation for the support they have received both with information and funding.

The Indoor Games

We had another successful year with our Indoor Games in 2009.Those who attend always find it an enjoyable time and are always extremely competitive. This year it showed how determined members are to do the things they enjoy, as it was the year of "the snow" We all struggled to make our way to Leicester – but everyone thought it was worth it!

In Conclusion

Towards the end of last year we said goodbye to Graham Ball who led the Fellowship through a period of change for 5 years and welcomed John Hooper who has already made his mark and I am confident he will successfully lead us through the unpredictable years to come.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work of the Fellowship in Groups, Branches and Regions; sub-committees; the Board of Trustees and our hard working staff together with all those many volunteers who are too numerous to mention.

Thank you.

Annual Report 2009

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