The Opportunities Trust is a group of organisations working together to provide a rich menu of activities and support for people with disabilities and impairments across Cambridgeshire. The organisations include Cambridgeshire County Council, voluntary groups, social enterprises, independent companies and community groups. They are all working together, with carers and clients, to improve the choice that you have about the services available to you.

The key objectives of the Opportunities Trust are:

+  to create a Cambridgeshire Providers Network, ensuring equity of service delivery and a comprehensive range of opportunities for people with disabilities

+  to facilitate, support and develop a partnership network, working collaboratively across all sectors, where organisations with the same goals can come together, providing inspired and innovative solutions to meet customers' demands

+  to develop, set and maintain shared high standards in keeping with good practice and national policy guidelines and establish a suitable level of quality standard for its members

+  to facilitate information and knowledge sharing with the membership

+  to work with its members in undertaking market analysis and facilitate development of opportunities across Cambridgeshire

Download the Opportunities Trust FAQ sheet (.pdf)

What being a member of the Opportunities Trust means

To be Members of the Opportunities Trust, organisations commit to earning an Opportunities Trust quality mark, which is currently being developed. The quality mark will look at every area of service delivery, checking that organisations are placing their clients at the centre of everything they do.

Broadly, members of the Opportunities Trust have agreed to a set of standards which:

+  encourage independence and self-worth
+  provide an atmosphere which encourages self choice
+  value people's differences
+  encourage those attending to lead their own activities and learning
+  promote development and independence through learning, activity and support

Organisations in the Opportunities Trust commit to working to a high quality, so clients, their carers and the people working with them can be confident that they will receive services and care they can trust.

A full quality standard is currently being agreed, but members of the Opportunities Trust are all committed to working to the seven principles of self directed support:

1. The right to independent living - 'I can get the support I need to be an independent citizen'.

2. The right to an individual budget - 'I know how much money I can use for my support'.

3. The right to self determination - 'I have the authority, support or representation to make my own decisions'.

4. The right to accessibility - 'I can understand the rules and systems and be able to get help easily'.

5. The right to flexible funding - 'I can use my money flexibly and creatively'.

6. Accountability - 'I should tell people how I used my money and anything I've learned'.

7. The capacity principle - 'Give me enough help, but not too much: I've got something to contribute too'.

To find out more about the seven principles, a summary document is downloadable from the In Control website.

Benefits of membership

For information about how membership of the Opportunities Trust also benefits providers, please download the following:

+  FAQs about the Opportunities Trust - 52KB PDF
+  Membership form - 21KB PDF