Independent Options welcomed over 50 people to its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 2 October 2010. People who use the organisation’s services, and their families, heard Keith Burdett (Chair) give a formal welcome to Chris Barker (Chief Executive Officer), who joined the organisation last year, and pay tribute to the work of Rob Henstock, her predecessor, who had been Executive Director since 1993. Chris Barker highlighted the organisation’s achievements over the last year, which included maintaining Excellent Care Quality Commission ratings for all registered services, developing new supported living services for people with Individual Budgets and securing a five-year grant from the Big Lottery Fund to support the Independent Options Children and Family Centre. She said that her task for the year ahead was to build on the organisation’s track record of success and move forward with the delivery of a new three-year plan. Chris explained that Independent Options would be continuing to modernise its infrastructure to deliver the best and most cost effective services. She said that the organisation will be seeking to grow its portfolio of services and working to find a wider range of income sources to achieve long-term financially sustainability. Chris told the meeting that, like all Third Sector organisations, Independent Options was looking at how it can weather the tough economic conditions but said that there was a positive focus on the opportunities that exist as well as the threats Chris thanked Independent Options’ staff and volunteers for all their hard work and commitment during the year. She also thanked service users, and their families, for all the feedback they had provided over the last year. Chris said ” Our work is shaped by the views and wishes of the people and families who use our services and they will continue to lead our way.”
