Scope blames credit crunch as it cuts senior posts

By Sunil Peck

The disability charity Scope has announced a series of high-level redundancies in response to the financial crisis affecting the UK economy.

Five senior managers, including two executive directors, have been made redundant, but more jobs are likely to be lost as it “streamlines its administration and management functions”.

The charity said that it had cut costs by £1 million a year, but hopes to find another £1 to £1.5 million a year in savings. It is also taking other practical measures to reduce overheads, such as cutting non-essential expenditure and reviewing purchasing arrangements.

It blamed the problems on the “credit crunch”, which has caused a shortfall of £1 million a year in income from property sales, and £500,000 a year in legacy income. The value of the charity's investments has also dropped by around £800,000. It said this financial situation was likely to worsen if Britain’s economic prospects do not improve.

Scope chair Alice Maynard said: “Scope, like many other charities, is feeling the pinch of the current economic slowdown. We are operating in a tough economic environment and therefore need to take tough decisions. This is pre-emptive action aimed at mitigating the full impact of a possible recession.

“These changes will mean we have to focus on our key priorities in the short-term, which include delivering excellent services to disabled people and their families and the continued lobbying and influence of our Time To Get Equal campaign. Our commitment to disabled people’s equality and human rights remains at the heart of our mission."

Scope’s chief executive, Jon Sparkes, said the measures would better equip the charity to campaign during a challenging economic situation.

He said: "We will have a leaner senior management team but one which will be completely focused on building on our achievements to date and working in alliance with disabled people to defend their human rights and promote equality."

He also paid tribute to the two executive directors who were made redundant, Andy Rickell and Stephen Bowen, who both played key roles in Disability Now’s development.

He said: “Andy Rickell and Stephen Bowen are both exceptional and inspiring individuals and made a huge contribution to Scope’s work to increase disabled people’s equality.

“Andy was a passionate ambassador for disabled people’s rights and was instrumental in helping Scope work towards becoming a strong ally of disabled people. He also increased Scope’s profile as a leading media commentator on disabled people’s rights, including in Disability Now, where he helped lead public debate on key disability issues.

“Stephen was an inspirational member of the executive management board and brought his expertise in human rights to our work on disability rights. His achievements include providing effective leadership for our campaigning work, particularly Scope’s flagship Time To Get Equal campaign, and his work to re-launch Disability Now, playing a key part in the historic appointment of Ian Macrae, the magazine’s first ever disabled editor.”