ABOUT SYCIL
Background / Principles
The South Yorkshire Centre for Inclusive Living (SYCIL) was established in 1995 and is a registered charity and established as a company limited by guarantee. South Yorkshire Equality Training and Consultancy is a separate registered company and is the trading arm of SYCIL.
SYCIL was initially set up as a result of funding being made available by Trent Regional Health Authority and Doncaster Health for the purpose of providing a centre dealing with disability issues to those residing within the Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Area. SYCIL was established with the support of Doncaster Health Authority in an attempt to bridge some of the gaps in services for disabled people. The organisation also serves as a focal point for disabled people, carers and professionals.
A major priority is that the work and development of SYCIL has been and will continue to be informed by disabled people. SYCIL involves disabled people on many levels for example; advisory group, consultation conferences, seminars and surveys. The user centered approach is central to the philosophy of SYCIL.
Service Users
The services of SYCIL are open to any one who defines themselves as a disabled person so this could include people who have hidden impairments as well as someone who has a visible impairment e.g. wheelchair user. We also take enquiries from carers and professionals and others requiring information and support around disability issues. The service can be accessed in person, by telephone, fax, Minicom, letter or email.
Mission Statement
"To enable disabled people to secure independent, inclusive living and establish their equal and effective participation in daily life."
Strategic Aims
- To enable disabled people to have optimal independence, choice and control over their lives
- To ensure SYCIL has adequate capacity to achieve it's mission and outcomes
- To increase service providers understanding of the needs of disabled people
- To increase the skills and knowledge of disabled people to enable them to express their views
Ethos
SYCIL has a well-developed ethos firmly grounded in the social model of disability. SYCIL's Models of Disability Page In practice this means that whenever disabled people come to SYCIL for support they are not expected or obliged to fit pre-conceived ideas about what they need, or to accept preexisting solutions. Recognising that disabled people need more than policy statements and good will to change their lives SYCIL sets out to define and pursue the aims of disabled people.
SYCIL staff work to ensure that disabled people think about their lives as developing within the same range of possibilities and opportunities as everyone else, working together to identify and define the supports needed to realise disabled people's aims and ambitions. This has been achieved through the development of a resource that provides a range of integrated, alternative services with clear access for disabled people and their carers. Core services include the Independent Living Unit, IT Training and Support, Young Disabled Person Service, Maintaining Independence Service, Advocacy, Health Improvement (BME), Training and Education and Consultancy. From time to time SYCIL delivers projects to compliment the core activity of the organisation for example an Employment Project and a Peer Support Service.
Principles
The following principles have been agreed by local disabled people and are reviewed annually.
- The organisation will be consumer orientated with control resting with people who have a personal experience of disability
- Disability has social causes, which are not to do with personal impairment or illness
- A person's needs are defined by their own experience
- Service needs are inter-related and the success of provision for ones needs depends on understanding needs as a whole. SYCIL aims to work in a holistic way
- The organisation will encourage links with other voluntary and statutory bodies
- The organisation actively encourages the involvement of others in developments and thereby influences policy
- Publicise and promote examples of good practice that demonstrate principles of inclusion, participation and non-discrimination
- At all times SYCIL will strive to operate through a process based upon the development of an equal partnership between all those involved, working with and alongside people rather than for an on behalf of people, to enable the showing of skills, knowledge and experience
- SYCIL recognises and promotes the unique contribution which disabled people bring to the development and delivery of its services
- SYCIL will at all times strive to combat discrimination against minority groups, and recognise that people face multiple discrimination
- SYCIL aims to offer core services responsive to the needs of users and purchasers
Hours of Opening:
Monday - Thursday 08:30 - 16:30
Friday 08:00 - 15:30
Appointments are recommended.