BackCare

BackCare latest developments.

09 Jul 2009

Exciting new changes are happening at BackCare. Read more about the latest developments.

A summary of the latest developments from our Chief Executive Sash Newman.
I know it is important to be active and move around or at least do some stretches but, after the busy three months that we have just had, it is quite nice to sit down and quietly reflect on what we have achieved and what has been set in motion. 

New staff
First things first I would like you to join me in welcoming our latest member of staff. Patricia Watber, our research and information officer, joined us in March after a year of travelling straight from university where she did an interesting degree in bio chemistry with forensic science. Luckily for us she realised that working in a laboratory was not for her, CSI may look good on the telly but it can’t compare with working with real people. The main focus of Patricia’s job will be to ensure that information about back pain issues is made accessible to anyone that must know, should know and could know. She will be doing this by regularly updating the fact sheets and the website and informing the volunteers who work on the Helpline of any developments in the world of back pain. She has also contributed a couple of articles to this edition of Talkback. Once Patricia has completely familiarised herself with the workings of BackCare and the world of back pain she will be going out and about to deliver talks and represent BackCare at seminars, lectures and some exhibitions. 

Patricia is the second member of staff to join us this year; you may remember I introduced you to Janet Mee our corporate fundraiser in the last issue of Talkback. When taking on new members of staff it makes you look at policies and procedures and examine how you present yourself to a new person. Bit like having new neighbours in for tea, you try to imagine what they will think of your house and hospitality. This had the effect of making me look at our office through fresh eyes.  

BackCare’s offices
Obviously I have been here since August of last year so I was fully aware that in summer, or should I say hot weather as who knows when summer is?, the office is unbearably hot, which makes it hard to focus and really uncomfortable. What came, as a big shock however, is how cold it is in winter particularly as two of the offices have no heating and external walls. I had been lulled into thinking that I was going to be warm and toasty all year round, but sadly no.  

Then came the rainy season. Dries had been saying for sometime he would like a shower in the office so he could run or cycle to work. This is where the adage ‘careful for what you wish’ comes into its own. We were in the middle of a meeting when rain began pouring in through the roof directly over Dries’s desk. We were now in a comedy sketch worthy of the great Hancock himself. Something has to be done.  BackCare has been at the offices in Elmtree Road for some 15 years but the time has come to move and update the facilities. This is where the credit crunch might well work in our favour as there are rather a lot of office blocks standing empty. After a brainstorming session with BackCare staff and volunteers, where everyone was able to express what they would like in a new office, we decided that an office in Twickenham would suit everyone. We will be more accessible by public transport and still near enough for everyone to get to work comfortably. Who knows Dries may even get a proper shower – I will keep you posted. 

Website
The new website is working very well and we are pleased to report that the number of visitors to the site is increasing month on month. We are continually adding new information and updating the existing information. However, we realised that we do seem to have a bit of a gap where products are concerned. It is BackCare’s policy not to recommend or endorse any product since we believe it is better for each individual concerned to make their own informed choice and manage their particular circumstances. Back pain is such an individual condition that what works for one person may not work for another. This makes it hard for BackCare to recommend anything although, where possible, we try to present you with evidence-based information. 

We have decided to set up a classified section on the website where companies and shops will be able to advertise their products. This will give you the opportunity to look at what is available in the market place and to assess if particular products and services could be helpful to your condition. It will also help you keep up with the new products as they become available. The companies will by law have to adhere to the Advertising Standards Authority’s regulations, a copy of which can be found on the ‘Products and Services’ pages of the website. However, as with all advertisements and products and services, it is up to you to use your judgement and knowledge of your own condition to determine if any of the products available for sale will be beneficial to you. 

Talkback
We have also been looking at the role of Talkback within the organisation. Talkback has been in existence almost as long as the charity and is seen by our members as a very valuable tool for getting information about back pain issues. The magazine includes wide ranging articles that explore all angles of the back pain world as well as bringing you information about what the charity is doing on your behalf. 

 How well do we meet our mission statement? 

Mission statement:
To reduce the impact of back pain on society. 

Aims 

1. Making a difference to the lives of people with back pain – to be an independent source of information about the causes, treatments and management of back pain. 
   
   
2. Preventing back pain where possible – to promote best practice in the diagnosis, treatment and management of back pain. 
   
   
3. Working with carers, employers, and families etc to reduce the detrimental effects of back pain – to prevent incapacity from back pain. 

We are exploring the possibility of producing three different  ‘Talkbacks’ and are currently in negotiation with two contract publishers to check the viability of our ideas. If these ideas come to fruition then you will see a change in Talkback from October onwards. 

1. Talkback A (working title) to become a 64 page glossy publication, produced twice a year. This will be aimed at health care practitioners and the expert patient.
   
   
2. Talkback B (working title) to be a 32 page glossy magazine, produced four times a year. This will be aimed at consumers who do or may need to have information about caring for their backs such as people who engage in sport, office workers, manual laborers, pretty much everybody. You get the picture.
   
   
3. Talkback C (working title) to be an 8 page newsletter, produced every other month. This will be aimed at people who support BackCare either as members or committed givers. This publication will focus on what the charity is doing on your behalf to raise the awareness of back pain issues. 

As a member, you will be able to choose which of these magazines you wish to receive. We will keep you informed of the developments. 

BackCare Awareness Week and AGM
For the last three years, BackCare Awareness Week has coincided with the first day of the Back Show where we have also held the AGM. After analysing how well the Back Show worked for us in terms of raising our profile to the public versus the cost of attending it, we have decided that, whilst the Show was very valuable for back pain sufferers to learn about new and existing products, it was not a good vehicle to showcase BackCare. This year, therefore, we will not be attending the Back Show but instead plan to launch BackCare Awareness Week on 10 October with a 16 page supplement in the Sunday Telegraph (subject to sponsorship) on the Sunday before. See next page for more on BackCare Awareness Week. 

Over the last couple of years the AGM has not been that well attended, in fact at the last AGM in October 2008 there were only eight members excluding the trustees. As you can imagine, for the staff and volunteers the lack of numbers is disappointing as they are keen to showcase their hard work on your behalf over the year. The 2009 AGM will be discussed at the next trustees meeting and we will let you know where and when it will take place. Keep an eye on the website! 

When you start to write it all down the achievements are impressive. Oh I mustn’t forget the advice cards for doctors we are producing, the conference we are planning in October 2010, The 2011 regional workshops, the ‘Pain Train’ in conjunction with Pfizer for this summer, the two new books for November, the……………