All news
This page features news items about ibk and our work
NEWS ORGANISED BY DATEIndividual Budget Management and Payroll ManagementDid you know that ibk offers financial management services? We can either manage your full Individual Budget or only your Payroll. For further information please go to our
Management of Individual Budgets page. All documents you may need, including prices, are to be found in our library
Payroll documents
posted 17th May 2012
Lack of State SupportMelanie Philipson, an inspirational parent of two young adults, talks about the lengths she has to go in order to secure a fulfilling life for her disabled son. This short audio clip demonstrates the gap between the needs of families and the way support is organised by the state.
To listen to the audio clip please click her:
Melanie's audio clipposted 11th May 2012
Keeping yourself strong
Pippa Murray has produced two new flyers for her work on Keeping Yourself Strong
. For further information please go to the
"Keeping yourself Strong" page.
To download the flyers please click below
Keeping Yourself Strong Workshops for Parents.pdfKeeping Yourself Strong Flyer for Professionals.pdf 
posted 1st May 2012
MPs report on the oversight of special education for young people aged 16-25
A new report from the Common Public Accounts Committee acknowledges the shocking state of affairs in relation to young disabled people and Further Education.
To read the report please download it here
Parliamentary report on Oversight in Special Education 2012.pdf
The Centre for Welfare Reform's FE and Citizenship programme addresses the issues outlined in this recent report. For more information about this programme please contact:
pippa@ibkinitiatives.comor go to our
Personalised Transition / Further Education pageTo read more about our work in FE, please see:
citizenship-in-further-education.pdf Flexible funding routes FE.pdf
posted 2nd March 2012,
updated 8th March
Joint ibk and Kids projectGabriella is back at ibk after her maternity leave! She is working on a joint ibk/Kids project to provide short break services for disabled children and young people in Derbyshire.
We are looking to recruit support workers and find families in Derbyshire who need some flexible1to1 support.
There is more information on our
Personal Assistants' pageFor further information please contact:
gabriella.everitt@kids.org.ukposted 19th January 2012
Volunteering day at Losehill Hall, Derbyshire on 4th February 2012Losehill Hall is going to be a Youth Hostel and they need our help! ibk, Kids and the YHA are working together to make the grounds and building accessible to all children and young people. For more information please contact
debi@ibkinitiatives.comPlease download the flyer
Losehill Hall flyer -4th Feb.pdf
posted 12th January 2012
Christmas HolidaysThe ibk offices will be closed from 2.30pm on 19th December 2011 until 9am on 3rd January 2012.
We wish you all a peaceful and happy holiday from all at ibk.
posted 19th December 2011
New paper on "Citizenship in Further Education"This discussion paper by Pippa Murray and Jane Shepherd outlines the need for, and the possibility of,significant progress in personalising support in further education for young disabled people. It is an important paper that provides local leaders with clear stepping-stones for progress. Without these changes the citizenship of young people will be undermined, and communities will continue to fail to welcome the gifts of their young people.
the publisher is The Centre for Welfare Reform
to download the paper please click here:
citizenship-in-further-education.pdfposted 15th December 2011
ibk initiatives and Lives Unlimited (York) win grant to run pioneer projectA York-based community group of disabled people and families, Lives Unlimited, is joining with ibk initiatives in Sheffield to run one of only 10 projects in England to pioneer a new way for disabled and older people to plan and organise the support they need to live independently. The project is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE).
A grant of £20k will be used by Lives Unlimited and ibk to show how independent social workers employed by a community organisation can help disabled and older people to be in control of planning and organising their own personalised support, without any unnecessary bureaucracy.
Several members of Lives Unlimited already use a personal budget instead of traditional services to buy in their own support. Fiona Walker, Co Chair of Lives Unlimited says: “Living independently is my biggest personal achievement. When I was young I was told I’d never be independent – that I would always have to rely on other people. It has been a challenge but I am proud to employ my own personal assistants now. Independent living has given me more confidence.”
The project will work with up to 12 disabled or older people, people with mental health problems and families. It will develop ways of working that give people the information and support they need to feel confident to make major life choices like housing, employment and support networks and to be in control of their own lives and less dependent on the state.
posted 15th December 2011
We have moved offices!On 23rd November we packed ibk into boxes and moved offices! We are now located in the welcoming base that is St Mary's Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4QZ. Our new telephone number is 0114 223 0236. Mail and phone calls to the old address will however be forwarded for the next 3 months to be sure we leave no-one behind.
posted 28th November 2011
A new briefing paper to break down barriers around Further EducationYoung people with learning difficulties face multiple barriers when it comes to Further Education. As part of their work on Personalised Transition,The Centre for Welfare Reform and ibk initiatives have launched a new programme to break down barriers around FE. If you are interested in joining us please contact Pippa:
pippa@ibkinitiatives.comTo download the briefing paper please click below
Briefing Paper - Citizenship _and_ Further Education.pdfposted 21st November 2011
ibk & Lives Unlimited chosen as a SCIE social work pioneer project siteibk initiatives and Lives Unlimited (York) have been given a grant as one of ten social work practice pioneer projects in the country to pioneer a new way for disabled and older people to plan and organise support without any unnecessary bureaucracy. The project, which starts in January 2012, is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE). For more information go to:
http://http//www.scie.org.uk/news/mediareleases/2011/021111.asp
posted 17th November 2011
Volunteering day at Losehill Hall, Derbyshire on 26th November 2011Losehill Hall is going to be a Youth Hostel and they need our help! ibk, Kids and the YHA are working together to make the grounds and building accessible to all children and young people. For more information please contact
debi@ibkinitiatives.comPlease download the flyer
Volunteer at Losehill Hall.pdf
posted 8th November 2011
Invitation to the launch of "Learn to Live" in Devon and in WestminsterLearn to Live: self-direction for children and young people is about a new way of teaching and learning that leads to a personalised single plan for children and young people with additional needs. The plan is family led and is designed to ensure that
all services respond to
the family’s needs and aspirations.
Simon Duffy (Keys to Citizenship and Centre for Welfare Reform), Pippa Murray (ibk) and Ellen Tinkham School, have been developing person centred practice leading to self-direction for young people, with increasing success and influence for nearly a decade.
"Learn to Live" was launched in Tiverton, Devon on 3rd November 2011
There will also be a London launch in Westminster on 22nd November 2011
For full details please download the appropriate invitation and contact
Christine Walker at Ellen Tinkham School to reserve your place.
Learn to Live Devon launch 3rd Nov 2011.pdfLearn to Live Westminster launch 22nd Nov 2011.pdf
posted 1st November 2011
1Voice Winter ExtravaganzaOur friends at 1Voice have organised a weekend of creative workshops for young people who use AAC. There will also be parent workshops, music, dinner and a disco! The weekend will be held on Friday 9th December-Sunday 11th December. For further information please download their flyer or contact them directly - their email is
info@1voice.info1voice winter extravaganza.pdf
posted 11th October 2011
Centre for Welfare Reform - A New Script for Social WorkPersonalisation is being undermined because social workers are not being given the chance to change their practice and escape the unnecessarily bureaucratic structures that have been created around them. Real progress will only be possible if social workers are given the chance to do their jobs properly. The values of personalisation and social work are essentially identical - but social work needs a new script that takes it away from a care management system that is no longer fit for purpose.
To see the film please go to
posted 27th September 2011
Volunteering Fairibk hosted a stall at the University of Sheffield volunteering fair on Wednesday 5
th October 11-3pm at the Octagon Centre. This was for students wanting either volunteering or part-time work.
For more information please see the flyer
Sheffield University job fair.pdf
posted 20th September 2011, amended 6th October 2011
Candi York film releaseibk is pleased to let you know the Candi campaign film (for parent participation) is now live. CANDI is Children AND Inclusion. They are based in York and are the local forum for parents of disabled children and young people, or those who have additional needs.
Please click on the link to see their film
yorcandicampaign
posted 20th September 2011
Relaunch of ibk websiteibk relaunched their website in August 2011! The ibk website has been given a radical overhaul. Visitors can now find out what we are up to, learn about our innovations and get involved with different aspects of our work. We would love to hear what you think of our new website. Please
contact us
posted August 2011