How will the third sector provide children's services in the Big Society?

Last year Guide Dogs was able to help more than 500 visually impaired youngsters start out on their journey towards greater independence. We want that number to increase, but reaching out to more children and young people is not without its challenges in the current climate.

The important work we do with young people on mobility and orientation is currently arranged through contracts with local authorities and as I’m sure you’re aware, councils are facing something of a financial squeeze at present.

There is admittedly some uncertainty around as councils have to make tough decisions on savings, but I think this offers a real opportunity to think about the way we work with other voluntary organisations to give these young people the support they need.

We of course want to continue our direct work with local authorities, but greater collaboration is surely the key going forward, because the bottom line is that we must do all we can to continue to provide our services, irrespective of what’s going on in town halls.

If councils are feeling the pinch, which they undoubtedly are, maybe this is the perfect opportunity for the experts to come together and reconfigure bespoke services for the future in a way that doesn’t rely on local government funding. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Of course it is far from that, but while there are understandable concerns, there is also an increasing recognition that this could be a way forward.

The relationship between government, both local and national, and the third sector is changing, but I believe that when we work together with our colleagues in other charities, we stand a good chance of coming up with solutions on behalf of the people who rely on us.

Guide Dogs of course specialises in mobility. Movement plays a part in almost everything we do, from brushing our teeth to crossing the road, but it’s also a natural learning medium for children because it’s how they explore their environment and learn to interact with it.

If you think back to when you were a child, how many of the things you used to do, like playing games, going out, catching buses, hanging out with friends and just “being a kid” relied on the ability to move around?

This is where the services of an expert children’s rehabilitation worker are so vital in teaching the skills and concepts that will provide a head start on their journey to independence.