The Leonard Cheshire Charity
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The Leonard Cheshire Charity
Now this thread may suit here or perhaps Jet Blast, I don't know (I'm sure some will put me right about it), but it does concern one of our greatest heros from the Second World War and his fight to help the community after the war.
In the Telegraph today it reports that this charity organisation is being forced to alter it's name due to the lack of recognition of it's founder.
This man who after seeing some of the fiercest action in the war and the dropping of the Nagasaki bomb, went on to found the Leonard Chesire Foundation.
This for me is just another case of the swing of our hertiage to the media celebrity drive era that we are now forced into.
Along with the Uniform in Airports thread these events do make me wonder why we are keen to sacrifice so much for our society.
What will it's new name be? Some PC driven tripe I am sure.
Yet again the name of another hero is lost to fashion.
Finally a link for those that don't know all about the man.
In the Telegraph today it reports that this charity organisation is being forced to alter it's name due to the lack of recognition of it's founder.
This man who after seeing some of the fiercest action in the war and the dropping of the Nagasaki bomb, went on to found the Leonard Chesire Foundation.
This for me is just another case of the swing of our hertiage to the media celebrity drive era that we are now forced into.
Along with the Uniform in Airports thread these events do make me wonder why we are keen to sacrifice so much for our society.What will it's new name be? Some PC driven tripe I am sure.
Yet again the name of another hero is lost to fashion.
Finally a link for those that don't know all about the man.
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Originally Posted by The Daily Telegraph
Various new names have been suggested, among them Equability UK, A-BL UK, Disability UK and eQual UK.
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This reminds me of NATS (National Air Traffic Services) who post-privitisation paid some monkeys millions for a rebranding exercise. They came up with a few wavy lines and a change of name from NATS to NATS. I wondered has the world gone mad or is it me?
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What will be the fate of the "SUE RYDER FOUNDATION"?
She, after all, was his Wife.
Before moving to "La Belle France" we lived in a village which housed a Cheshire Home and a Residential/ Care home for the mentally retarded. That is probably a "Non PC" way of describing the latter; but the work done by the Staff there meant that they could live in a village community, go to the Village Shop and be an unusual (but nevertheless welcome) part of the Community.
I regularly took books we no longer wanted and magazines to the Cheshire Home and sometimes I had to queue to hand them over. The fetes or "open days" were packed; as they were for the other Home.
Maybe we should forget the "PC" Brigade and start teaching some modern history in our Schools so that future generations have some inkling of the sacrifices that were made to ensure that they could live in a free democratic society.
Unless, of course, Tony & Gordon change the rules regarding society.
She, after all, was his Wife.
Before moving to "La Belle France" we lived in a village which housed a Cheshire Home and a Residential/ Care home for the mentally retarded. That is probably a "Non PC" way of describing the latter; but the work done by the Staff there meant that they could live in a village community, go to the Village Shop and be an unusual (but nevertheless welcome) part of the Community.
I regularly took books we no longer wanted and magazines to the Cheshire Home and sometimes I had to queue to hand them over. The fetes or "open days" were packed; as they were for the other Home.
Maybe we should forget the "PC" Brigade and start teaching some modern history in our Schools so that future generations have some inkling of the sacrifices that were made to ensure that they could live in a free democratic society.
Unless, of course, Tony & Gordon change the rules regarding society.
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Perhaps
Perhaps one tactic would be to suggest closure of the charity. If the name of Leonard Cheshire is insufficently well known, perhaps his Foundation's work will not be missed. On the other hand, perhaps there would be an outcry. Perhaps, just perhaps, this would be sufficient to raise the profile of Gp Capt Cheshire's service to the UK to the point where it is actually appreciated.
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"What we are suffering from is a lack of awareness of what the charity does," he added. “We are one of the largest charities in the country and undoubtedly we have one of the lowest public profiles."
Clearly the names Equability UK, A-BL UK, Disability UK and eQual UK would immediately help the disinterested populace to understand the important work the LC fund does.... Instantly clear to me!
Clearly the names Equability UK, A-BL UK, Disability UK and eQual UK would immediately help the disinterested populace to understand the important work the LC fund does.... Instantly clear to me!
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From my recollection of his endeavours after the war, GpCapt Chesire's initial efforts lost momentum and he found himself on an empty estate, nursing a terminally ill man. When he personally took on the palliative care of more needy people, the right kind of people came out of the woodwork to help him. Perhaps the winding up of the current regime and a new start would be more fitting to the memory of Leonard Chesire.
I just looked at the website and it's obviously lost the plot.
I just looked at the website and it's obviously lost the plot.
"Volunteers and residents in its 50 homes were asked for suggestions for a new name after its leaders said: "The Leonard Cheshire name can be a barrier to achieving the organisation’s goals."
Various new names have been suggested, among them Equability UK, A-BL UK, Disability UK and eQual UK."
Time to contact [email protected] to tell them to drop such an absurd notion. I just did!
The present name must stay - and whoever does the corporate PR should make sure that the Leonard Cheshire name is NOT seen as a 'barrier to achieving the organisation's goals'.....
Can you imagine the Earl Haig Fund becoming 'EH-UK' or EuroPoppy or something equally absurd?
UPDATE: Their reply.......
"Thank you for contacting Leonard Cheshire's Information Service. We will endeavour to answer your enquiry within 3 working days. If your email is for a different person or team we will forward it on. If you require an immediate response you can also ring us on 020 7802 8200. The Information Team is available to take your calls between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday."
OK - 2 days, 23 hours 50 minutes and counting.....
Various new names have been suggested, among them Equability UK, A-BL UK, Disability UK and eQual UK."
Time to contact [email protected] to tell them to drop such an absurd notion. I just did!
The present name must stay - and whoever does the corporate PR should make sure that the Leonard Cheshire name is NOT seen as a 'barrier to achieving the organisation's goals'.....
Can you imagine the Earl Haig Fund becoming 'EH-UK' or EuroPoppy or something equally absurd?
UPDATE: Their reply.......
"Thank you for contacting Leonard Cheshire's Information Service. We will endeavour to answer your enquiry within 3 working days. If your email is for a different person or team we will forward it on. If you require an immediate response you can also ring us on 020 7802 8200. The Information Team is available to take your calls between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday."
OK - 2 days, 23 hours 50 minutes and counting.....
Last edited by BEagle; 5th Jul 2006 at 09:09.
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I also expressed my sentiments by email and like BEagle got the same reply. So I then telephoned the number (020 7802 8200) given in the standard email response and expressed my feelings regarding the dropping of Leonard Cheshire's name. I was assured that Leonard Cheshire's name will not be dropped from the title of the charity but it is intended that function of the charity be incorporated into the tiltle with Leonard Cheshire's name. They say they are doing this to make the public more aware of the purpose of the charity. Time will tell.
Mel
Mel
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
A robust response in The Times Is it 'cos I is a war hero? 
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Mrs IB used to work for them. She was made redundant when the management and command structure changed several years ago.
It started to go down the tubes, when the bean counters got their mits into the management structure....but ain't the where all once good organistions eventually fail?
It started to go down the tubes, when the bean counters got their mits into the management structure....but ain't the where all once good organistions eventually fail?
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Don't change the name
Like many here, I was disgusted at the idea that the name would be changed.
I am just off the phone (020 7802 8200) to the HQ and was "assured" by a very nice lady (excuse me if the spelling is incorrect - Lumsa) that the name would not be changed, and the idea was ludicrous!
She said 'they' were very upset at some press misrepresentation that a name change was on the cards.
She also said that 1 in 5 of those under 35 did not know the name Leonard Cheshire and in conversation I said the younger section that seems to have been targeted were not those who dip in their pockets to help keep money flowing in, so they are not realy a sounding board for a name change.
I have asked that the marketing department phone me back, that I may put my protest direct to them, and move to insist that NO move is made to change the name.
I closed the phone call saying I want to live out my life seeing Leonard Cheshire Homes the headline banner, and nothing else smart nor fancy and the idea that his name was, "a barrier to achieving the organisation’s goals was an insult and please pass it on!
TG
I am just off the phone (020 7802 8200) to the HQ and was "assured" by a very nice lady (excuse me if the spelling is incorrect - Lumsa) that the name would not be changed, and the idea was ludicrous!
She said 'they' were very upset at some press misrepresentation that a name change was on the cards.
She also said that 1 in 5 of those under 35 did not know the name Leonard Cheshire and in conversation I said the younger section that seems to have been targeted were not those who dip in their pockets to help keep money flowing in, so they are not realy a sounding board for a name change.
I have asked that the marketing department phone me back, that I may put my protest direct to them, and move to insist that NO move is made to change the name.
I closed the phone call saying I want to live out my life seeing Leonard Cheshire Homes the headline banner, and nothing else smart nor fancy and the idea that his name was, "a barrier to achieving the organisation’s goals was an insult and please pass it on!
TG
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The marketing people might, just might, be more subtle than at first appears. Look what they have achieved so far at minimal cost - an outcry in the national press and many websites, articles informing a new generation of what an exceptional man Cheshire was in both war and in peace, and acres of free newsprint publicising the charity.
I'll bet that they 'retract' their plan in due course, everybody will be pleased and they will have earned their fee.
On the other hand they might just be t**ts.....
I'll bet that they 'retract' their plan in due course, everybody will be pleased and they will have earned their fee.
On the other hand they might just be t**ts.....
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From the horse's mouth
............ http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=3887
For non-media enquiries, please call the main switchboard on 020 7802 8200 or email [email protected].
We believe that he [Grp Capt Leonard Cheshire VC] would have given his full support to reviewing our name. [yeh right!]
LC384 (LB)
Subject: Name Change
Date: 03/07/06
Core statement
The charity is committed to keeping Leonard Cheshire as part of its name, but has been exploring possibilities for how this can be enhanced so that it is immediately associated with disability. No decision has yet been taken on a new name and wide consultation continues.
In a recent awareness survey only one in five people under 35 had heard of Leonard Cheshire and an even smaller number know what the charity does.
In order to better support its disabled service users, who are at the core of everything the charity does, the decision was taken to explore options for an alternative organisational name that would immediately give a clear understanding of the purpose and nature of the charity, whilst still maintaining “Leonard Cheshire” within it.
Leonard Cheshire the man, the charity’s founder, his values and philosophy permeate everything the charity does and will continue to be promoted in all of its fundraising and communications activities.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=3887
Leonard Cheshire name and relaunch
Next year we will be relaunching Leonard Cheshire in order to gain wider public support for the charity and for disabled people. As part of this we are reconsidering our name.
Despite being one of the largest charities in the country we are not well known - only one in five people under the age of 35 recognises the name ‘Leonard Cheshire’ and an even smaller number associate us with the support of disabled people. In view of this we are exploring options that would give an immediate clear understanding of our support for disabled people whilst still maintaining “Leonard Cheshire” in the name.
We are at an early stage, but whatever decision is taken, we will continue to promote our founder Leonard Cheshire, his values and his philosophy. His leadership and humanity were fundamental to the foundation of the charity. They will remain equally significant in the future.
Leonard Cheshire was a very modest man and worked tirelessly to find ways to support disabled people. We believe that he would have given his full support to reviewing our name. He cared for one thing above all else – the provision of a life of choice, independence and inclusion for all disabled people and he would use any means to achieve this end. We have to find a new way to present ourselves that recognises all of this but, at the same time, tells the general public what we do and has a modern relevance.
-----------------
http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=15
During 2004/05 the charity’s UK service user numbers stabilised at around 21,000.
Continuing the positive trend of recent years, fees and grants for service provision (paid largely by local and health authorities) rose by 8.6%, from £110m to £120m. Voluntary income also increased, by 6% (from £12.7 million to £13.4 million), largely reflecting an increase in legacies.
Whilst fees and grants pay for the basic support packages provided to our service users, they do not pay for the additional elements that bring them real quality of life, the projects that can truly be termed “charitable”.
They do not pay for Discover IT, our most recent IT based project that allows disabled people to take advantage, in a supportive environment, of the many benefits that modern technology can bring;
nor for our work with individual service users that promotes their greater involvement in the life of the charity and the wider community;
nor for our growing work with volunteers, which keeps Leonard Cheshire close to its roots and brings an invaluable extra perspective to all our activities;
nor for our campaigning work on issues that affect the lives of all disabled people.
Nor do fees and grants pay for the constant upgrading or replacement of services or the establishment of new services – new services that are often designed to address previously unmet need.
The residential services reprovisioning programme mentioned last year has made a solid start, and we anticipate further expenditure approaching £100m as the programme continues over the next seven years or so.
--------------------------
Seems to me, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Mind you, I'm not a marketing whizz-kid wanting a fat fee or after changing a famous name because 1 in 5 under 35 year olds don't know their bloody history.
TG
............ http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=3887For non-media enquiries, please call the main switchboard on 020 7802 8200 or email [email protected].
We believe that he [Grp Capt Leonard Cheshire VC] would have given his full support to reviewing our name. [yeh right!]
LC384 (LB)
Subject: Name Change
Date: 03/07/06
Core statement
The charity is committed to keeping Leonard Cheshire as part of its name, but has been exploring possibilities for how this can be enhanced so that it is immediately associated with disability. No decision has yet been taken on a new name and wide consultation continues.
In a recent awareness survey only one in five people under 35 had heard of Leonard Cheshire and an even smaller number know what the charity does.
In order to better support its disabled service users, who are at the core of everything the charity does, the decision was taken to explore options for an alternative organisational name that would immediately give a clear understanding of the purpose and nature of the charity, whilst still maintaining “Leonard Cheshire” within it.
Leonard Cheshire the man, the charity’s founder, his values and philosophy permeate everything the charity does and will continue to be promoted in all of its fundraising and communications activities.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=3887
Leonard Cheshire name and relaunch
Next year we will be relaunching Leonard Cheshire in order to gain wider public support for the charity and for disabled people. As part of this we are reconsidering our name.
Despite being one of the largest charities in the country we are not well known - only one in five people under the age of 35 recognises the name ‘Leonard Cheshire’ and an even smaller number associate us with the support of disabled people. In view of this we are exploring options that would give an immediate clear understanding of our support for disabled people whilst still maintaining “Leonard Cheshire” in the name.
We are at an early stage, but whatever decision is taken, we will continue to promote our founder Leonard Cheshire, his values and his philosophy. His leadership and humanity were fundamental to the foundation of the charity. They will remain equally significant in the future.
Leonard Cheshire was a very modest man and worked tirelessly to find ways to support disabled people. We believe that he would have given his full support to reviewing our name. He cared for one thing above all else – the provision of a life of choice, independence and inclusion for all disabled people and he would use any means to achieve this end. We have to find a new way to present ourselves that recognises all of this but, at the same time, tells the general public what we do and has a modern relevance.
-----------------
http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=15
During 2004/05 the charity’s UK service user numbers stabilised at around 21,000.
Continuing the positive trend of recent years, fees and grants for service provision (paid largely by local and health authorities) rose by 8.6%, from £110m to £120m. Voluntary income also increased, by 6% (from £12.7 million to £13.4 million), largely reflecting an increase in legacies.
Whilst fees and grants pay for the basic support packages provided to our service users, they do not pay for the additional elements that bring them real quality of life, the projects that can truly be termed “charitable”.
They do not pay for Discover IT, our most recent IT based project that allows disabled people to take advantage, in a supportive environment, of the many benefits that modern technology can bring;
nor for our work with individual service users that promotes their greater involvement in the life of the charity and the wider community;
nor for our growing work with volunteers, which keeps Leonard Cheshire close to its roots and brings an invaluable extra perspective to all our activities;
nor for our campaigning work on issues that affect the lives of all disabled people.
Nor do fees and grants pay for the constant upgrading or replacement of services or the establishment of new services – new services that are often designed to address previously unmet need.
The residential services reprovisioning programme mentioned last year has made a solid start, and we anticipate further expenditure approaching £100m as the programme continues over the next seven years or so.
--------------------------
Seems to me, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Mind you, I'm not a marketing whizz-kid wanting a fat fee or after changing a famous name because 1 in 5 under 35 year olds
don't know their bloody history.TG