Turning Point (charity)
Turning Point is a social care organisation and registered charity[1] in the United Kingdom. It provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability. Turning Point runs projects in 244 locations across England and Wales and last year had contact with 130,000 people. In addition to providing direct services, Turning Point also campaigns nationally on behalf of those with social care needs.
Turning Point developed out of a pioneering alcohol project in South East London founded by Barry Richards in 1964. It now states that it is the UK's leading social care organisation.[2] The Chief Executive is Victor Adebowale, Baron Adebowale.
Turning Point is part registered charity and part social enterprise company, though it was originally a Registered Social Landlord. Its annual report for 2008/9 reported income for the charity of over £23 million, and total group income of over £63 million, the vast majority being funding from governmental health and social agencies.[3] Turning Point is one of the 100 largest UK charities ranked by annual expenditure.[4] A report by the think tank Civitas has argued that charities such as Turning Point that are so dependent on government funding are effectively acting as statutory services and should lose their charitable status.[5]
Further controversy was stirred up by Turning Point's partnership with Catch22 a youth support organisation and Serco the multi national private sector public service provider, to run 3 prisons. Running a prison, it is argued, is not a charitable activity. [6] This work has however been extremely lucrative for Turning Point.
[edit] See also
- Centre for Mental Health
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
- Mental Health Foundation
- Mental Health Providers' Forum
- Mind
- Nacro
- National Mental Health Development Unit
- Rethink
- Richmond Fellowship
- Revolving Doors Agency
- SANE
- Stand to Reason (charity)
- Together
[edit] References
- ^ Turning Point, Registered Charity no. 234887 at the Charity Commission
- ^ Turning Point website - History
- ^ Charity Commission accounts
- ^ Charities Direct: Top 500 Charities - Expenditure
- ^ http://www.intelligentgiving.com/when_charities_arent_charities
- ^ http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/10555/charities_that_run_jails_should_lose_charitable_status_says_howard_league_chief
