09 Jan 2017

VODG focuses on progress and partnerships at this year’s annual conference

The theme of this year’s VODG annual conference is progress and partnerships. This focus was adopted to reflect the importance of voluntary organisations working together towards progressive approaches to inclusion.

The challenges are as intense as ever in the sector and whilst we have witnessed social care and disability issues rise up the public and parliamentary agendas in recent months there remains much more to be done to ensure the sustainability of voluntary sector services for disabled people. We look forward to welcoming plenary speakers who will address these topics:

  • Professor Tom Shakespeare, professor of disability studies and broadcaster
  • Lord Low of Dalston CBE, crossbencher
  • John Tizard, independent consultant and VODG lead founder

This year’s conference builds upon the success of the last and we are continuing to blend plenary sessions with opportunities for breakout discussions and networking across the membership. Breakout sessions are being delivered by partner organisations in collaboration with VODG:

  • Where next implementing the national living wage? (Trowers & Hamlins)
  • Can collaborative approaches to commissioning transform lives? (Learning Disability England)
  • How can social care improve engagement with STPs? (Care Provider Alliance)
  • How can we continue to promote equality and human rights during times of financial constraint? (Care Quality Commission)
  • Wellbeing teams as a radical new model for delivering care and support (Helen Sanderson Associates)
  • Gearing up together for the adult social care consultation (VODG members)
The conference also includes an issue-driven drama as Mixit theatre company perform about the STOMP healthcare initiative (to stop over-medication). You can preview the STOMP it out production here.The full conference programme and a summary agenda is available to download. Follow #VODG17 and @VODGmembership on 13 October for comment and reaction throughout the day.