The Disabled Motorists Federation

Peter Lyne (Vice president DMF)

Approximately 3 years ago when the AGM was last held in Manchester I was appointed Vice President. I was asked to introduce an alternative to Motability, for those on lower levels of benefit, and who did not therefore qualify under the Motability scheme. Soon after this meeting, I designed the concept of Aiding Mobility. Lumley Auto Ltd. realising the potential, employed me in a salaried position to enable me to continue to develop networking relationships with several national charities. This certainly opened the doors for dialogue with such national charities as Stroke Association, RNID, Arthritis Care, Scope, Vitalise and the Spinal Injuries Association. Several journeys were made to London to meet with appropriate charity representatives. However, owing to a lack of follow-up support, I was made redundant on 19th September 2006, since which time, I have dedicated all my working time to develop the required infrastructure, commercial contacts and networking opportunities which I hope will both protect and expand the DMF in the future.

However, as members of the DMF, your support is still required to make these opportunities work.

Charities can work as commercial ventures.  In reading numerous press releases both in the national press and mobility sector media, it soon became apparent that somebody is paying for all those plush offices and highly paid executive positions used by some charitable organisations (who for diplomatic reasons will remain nameless!!) These services do not come cheaply and it is certain that they are obtained from the revenue created by effective marketing and the ability to convince ‘Joe Public’ that they are the charities which he should support.

The DMF through recent developments, will soon be receiving greater levels of public awareness, thanks largely to the support I have received from John Killick and Pat McCarvill (An individual who is opening doors to some very significant commercial opportunities on behalf of the DMF). Scotland’s attitudes towards dealing with issues relating to supporting disabled people in the community appears to be a lot more positive than England and Wales put together and I have received many positive responses from both organisations and individuals who are located north of the border. Peter Ingram- Monk, a wheelchair user for most of his life is not a member of the DMF, but is undertaking a significant level of campaigning on our behalf. Peter is Convenor for the Scottish Disabilities Equality Forum, (SDEF) an organisation which reaches many thousands of disabled people living in Scotland. Through Peter’s efforts, details of the DMF will soon be circulated throughout all 46 SDEF organisations, following his request for John  Killick to prepare editorial promoting the aims, objectives and membership benefits of the DMF.

Owing to the products and services I have promoted on behalf of the DMF the first gentleman to get a vehicle was another Scotsman. He was unable at the time to get the vehicle he wanted through Motability. I was made aware of his requirements through my regular contacts with Inclusion Scotland. Our finance specialist Derek Hannah of Southern Finance intervened and secured the funding that Kenny required. Kenny has since introduced several charities, to which he is attached, to the DMF, two are showing interest in taking out Affiliated membership. Such stories show that the services available to members do work, but to date, with an odd exception, still remain underused by the majority of members. Are we making our friends, carers and relatives aware that many of these benefits are also available to them?

Please spread the word:- I realise that some of our members are associated with other organisations such as local, regional government or other charitable organisations. I have found that other charities and government organisations are only too pleased to exchange information or carry articles in their publications. As a result of contacts with other Wirral based charitable organisations, one of which is Wirral CVS, Birkenhead. I can tell you that details of the DMF will be included in the local CVS publication which is circulated to several hundred charitable organisations within the Greater Merseyside region. I think it is only fair to say that such success could also be achieved in many other regions of the UK.

Access to education:- As a result of attending a campaign last November at my college of further education, designed to encourage disabled people to take further educational qualifications, I have been requested to display details of the DMF on the 3 campuses of the college. Their new Principal, Mike Potter C.B.E. and his deputy, together with the college’s Marketing Manager are backing DMF all the way. Already they have given excellent editorial on their website, but we will also receive publicity in the college’s newsletter. Thanks to the efforts of John Killick and John Murden, new display stands were ordered and delivered recently. Please note that apart from helping to address the needs of 1300 disabled students using the college, our services will also be available to the 15,000 other students  attending study courses.

Supporting Motability will also be included in this project. Representatives from the communications department at Harlow are delighted that I have agreed to promote them while I am at the colleges. I have received an extensive supply of marketing material from them. One of their senior managers asked me last week why Motability and the DMF could not be seen to work together in addressing the needs of disabled people. Their standards of service continue to improve, but as Motability are keen to stress to me, they can still only support about 5% of disabled people, the rest don’t qualify. If the DMF can provide support for the remaining 95%, then surely between Motability and the DMF we are achieving something.

As a result of the development of Access to Education, within the last 2 days, I have received enquiries from 2 more colleges of further education in Greater Merseyside and am currently undertaking discussions with three universities, two in Scotland.

All I ask is that DMF members make use of the increasing range of products and services being developed, all of which will generate revenue for the federation. As John Killick has previously mentioned, our Webmaster, David Mason is working tirelessly on our new website. Via our present website we also generate revenue from using the Home Pages Friends facility, it costs the user nothing, so please use it. If you do not have internet facilities, please pass the message on to your friends and family. It does not cost them any more than they are currently paying to search the internet through the DMF website. I am sure they will be happy to oblige.

Peter Lyne Vice President DMF