Popular Post Ghostrider Posted August 27, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 If you do have a problem with the way things are being run i suggest you confront them face to face and also inform your local councillor. Totally irrelevant. The Council has no direct control over COPE, and COPE employees are under no obligation to engage with the general public on staffing and/or management matters as far as I'm aware. The Directors of COPE are a somewhat incestuous self-appointed group, and COPE's core funding is provided by the SCT, another somewhat incestuous self-appointed group. The Shetland public, in whose name COPE operates and whose collective funds are being spent to ensure COPE's very existence, have no say over, nor avenue to challenge any prt of that process whatsoever. It is cronyism at its very worst. One cosy little group of mutual back-scratchers presiding over a pot of everyone else's money, handing it out as they, and only they see fit, to another cosy little group of mutual back-scratchers to spend however the two groups see fit to agree between themselves. Were the SCT a private fund, whole other ball game, those involved could run it however they so decree, and hand out as much as they like to whoever they like for whtever they like, but its not. This is allegedly a public fund and an allegedly public service, both run allegedly by public servants, yet the public has no control, no influence, and most worryingly of all, there is no accountability to the public for anything at any stage. THAT is where the real problem lies IMHO. Your argument would seem to suggest that just because a few of the target group of clients benefit from COPE's work that the orgnisation should be exempt from scrutiny and criticism. Thats a bit like arguing that just because you get your black bag collected once a week, the Council should be exempt from scrutiny and criticism. I've yet to see anyone claim the mangement and employees of COPE are doing a "bad" job with what clients they have, rather that management and employee numbers are growing increasingly disproportiate to client numbers, and that decisions are being taken and policies enacted that have all the appearance of reducing COPE's income streams, not increasing them. Would you not rather see reduced staff costs, increased income and hopefully increased client placements, than the reduced client placements which are almost inevitable from higher staff costs and reduced income. Or are you a proponent of "any cost is worth it, if only a miniscule number of clients get any benefit at all"? Surely COPE is first and foremost all about their clients, and the management and employees only exists to enable and support the client service. Given the way things are going its starting to develop an appearance that clients now are of secondary importance, and only exist as justification for paid staff to continue drawing their pay cheques, and the public is increasingly seeing it that way. George., Scorrie and Sukibind 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urabug Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Not sure I would agree with all that Ghostrider,they are bound by many rules and regulations and no doubt have to be qualifyied to certain standards which by there very nature means they(staff)will be paid accordingly. Usually better qualified one is the better paid one is. Can you think of any other way to provide this service,better and more cost effective. If you can I'm sure they want to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George. Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Not sure I would agree with all that Ghostrider,they are bound by many rules and regulations and no doubt have to be qualifyied to certain standards which by there very nature means they(staff)will be paid accordingly. Usually better qualified one is the better paid one is. Can you think of any other way to provide this service,better and more cost effective. If you can I'm sure they want to know. I would suggest that they do not want to know of any way to provide this service in a better and more cost effective manner. They want to continue doing as little as possible for as few as possible, for as much money that they can possibly screw out of the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urabug Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 I seem to detect a degree of grievance towards COPE from several angles. Looking from the outside COPE appears to be doing a good job. Considering there budget was cut I guess they are doing the best they can. If there were any irregularity within the establishment,surely it would have been identified long ago. If folk have concrete proof of any misdemeanour,then take it to the appropriate authorities for investigation . I will sit back and congratulate them meantime until I am made aware otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 I seem to detect a degree of grievance towards COPE from several angles. Broadly speaking, I support what Cope are doing as, despite their "mission statement", they are only really providing respite care. Impossible job with impossible 'clients' and, with an insignificant chance of getting a 'result'. Perhaps, if they (Cope) were more 'open' about their activites etc. then, there may not be so much (valid) critcism. Ghostrider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukibind Posted September 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 I can only assume that you, Sukibind have some form of vendetta with COPE.Perhaps if more people had asked questions about the now disgraced Kids Company Charity it wouldnt have got as bad as it did with money being spent to fund a 'crack den landlord'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bon scott Posted September 26, 2015 Report Share Posted September 26, 2015 I like the idea of COPE.It's a shame that it's getting negative posts.Now has the original reason for it gone?Wondering if the participants are only there so the able body's get paid? Where is it should be the other way around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironwithin Posted September 26, 2015 Report Share Posted September 26, 2015 I like the idea of COPE.It's a shame that it's getting negative posts.Now has the original reason for it gone?Wondering if the participants are only there so the able body's get paid? Where is it should be the other way around.I like the idea as well, but seems that in practice yet again it's a bit of a scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Local organisation COPE Ltd won the best social enterprise award at the Highland Business Awards for 2015 at the weekend. http://www.shetnews.co.uk/newsbites/11475-cope-wins-highland-award Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukibind Posted December 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 I see from their Facebook page that COPE didn’t win the Social Enterprise of the Year at the UK Social Enterprise Awards in London. If only they had put as much effort into seeking other funding as they did filling in forms for this award then perhaps The Shetland Charitable Trust would be able to reduce the huge amount of funding they give to COPE and give some much needed financial support to, for example, Shetland Disability, who help ALL disabled people in Shetland. I have a good idea! if you have stuff you no longer need, why not put it to the Sale Rooms and then donate the money raised to Disability Shetland. That way you know you are helping all the disabled people in Shetland, and not just a few. side show bob and George. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speccy Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 The saleroom is closing down I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukibind Posted December 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 No problem. Just advertise your stuff on Shetlink - give 10% to Shetlink and the rest to Disability Shetland. You could even give stuff away now and then as freebies to help people in real need. Frances144 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berserker Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 Pretty sure the Sale Room is not closing. They have been given notice to move out of their current premises next year but are looking for new premises to keep it going. Can't find anything on their facebook page to confirm that though. George. and crofter 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crofter Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 Pretty sure the Sale Room is not closing. They have been given notice to move out of their current premises next year but are looking for new premises to keep it going. Can't find anything on their facebook page to confirm that though.That is what they said on Radio Shetland last week, they are in the current premises until March. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 What grand plan does our venerable elders and betters have for Leask's shed that requires its repossession? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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