Annual Report

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Chair's Report

Welcome to the 2009 Annual Report of Islington People’s Rights. I am particularly proud since this year marks the 40th Anniversary of IPR. It was originally established in 1969 as Islington Poverty Action Group, a branch of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). IPR has grown from one room and no paid staff, into a well-established advice agency with a strong reputation employing specialist caseworkers, and delivering contracts for the local authority and health services. We can look proudly at what we have achieved since 1969, and look to even greater achievements in the future.

In many ways IPR has just come through a challenging year, with changes in funding and staff turnover, but it has emerged stronger and more dynamic. It has continued to deliver high quality advice in welfare benefits and debt in places convenient to those who most need our support. The impact of the Recession has made demand for our services even greater than ever. New initiatives such as the Islington Debt Coalition seek to ensure that the impact on the people of Islington is minimised, and IPR has been playing a key role in this. IPR continues to evolve, although always providing high quality and effective advice for the people of Islington.

I must take this opportunity to thank all the staff of IPR for their work over the year to ensure our continued success. Gerard Omasta-Milsom has joined IPR, taking on the manager role in March, and we look forward to him developing IPR to achieve its full potential. Ahmad Butt our manager since June 2007 moved on, as did Jo Mitchell one of our Team Leaders. Very sadly one of our Specialist Caseworkers, Bill Courtney, died in April; a great loss to IPR.

I must also acknowledge the time and effort contributed by members of the management committee, not just through their governance role at monthly meetings, but also their involvement in staff recruitment and financial overview. I should particularly thank Sara Musgrave and Mike Chattin, who have now left the Committee. We welcomed Ruth Clarke to the Management Committee. I also thank the MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry for their continued support.

So, the message is clear, IPR is here to stay. We go from strength to strength, and whenever we consider future directions, we never lose sight of our purpose. We always ensure that the critical factor is the benefit to the people of Islington.

John Muldoon
Chair.