MAY I take this opportunity to send Season's Greetings to all your readers, and special thanks to those who have helped Scope (formerly The Spastics Society) with their valuable time through volunteering, donations or support of our shops.

We are now reaching out to more people with cerebral palsy, their families and carers than ever before through our services, in the support, information and advice that we offer, and through our network of local groups. Since the launch of Scope's individual membership scheme, disabled people, their families and carers have become more involved with the charity's decision making.

Over the past year, Scope has been playing a key role in lobbying the Government over its welfare reform proposals. We have been working hard to ensure that 'Welfare to work' will work for disabled people and not against them, by highlighting people's real needs.

The announcement in the recent Queen's Speech that the Government plans to introduce a Disability Rights Commission was welcomed by Scope, as we had been campaigning for this for many years. It is excellent news for disabled people, as long as it is adequately resources. If it is, then it should help to make the Disability Discrimination Act more enforceable. Scope will continue to campaign for full civil rights and we hope the Commission will bring people with disabilities closer to gaining equal rights.

Thank you for your support over the past year, and I look forward to your continued support as Scope heads towards the new Millennium, working with us to create a fairer society for all disabled people, their families, carers and supporters.

Best wishes for the New Year.

Jim Hoskisson

Chairman,

Scope, formerly The Spastics Society

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.