Bosk

Started 55 years ago with 4 parents. Now 4500 members (not all C.P.) The Bosk is the biggest of 160 organizations for disabled people and the only one for C.P.

Parents org.

Started 4 month ago with 4 parents.

Start

How to start an organization?

• Be recognizable: make a short strong name with an extra. (logo or just play with the name like  
• Use it always so everybody recognizes you after a while.
• Start on basic level; let people know you are there.
• Start with all advices mentioned below on low profile, start with the most practical use.
• The parents in your group are the experts, they know what they need.

Finance

• Let the members pay, even a small price will add value. If they have to pay, you will have more commitment.
• Organizations can support you with materials or service instead of money: Like: Free hosting for your website, printing your leaflets etc.
• Support from Wanda Fund
• Try to get donations
• Try to get governmental financial aid..

Targets

1. Control interest of spastic children
2. Medical assistance
3. Integration in society
4. Changes in law. (The Bosk is busy with European legislation which does not exists at the moment.) There is no connection between law and health care, so there are long lists of people that are waiting for medical care.

• Don’t dream to much, be realistic. You grow step-by-step. Don’t do to much at a time!
• Take one goal a year.

Which advice do we give to parents first?

• Get you child to a hospital and further information about addresses and medical information. (Early Intervention)
• Ask the=m to become a member.

Activities

• The activities of a parents organization must only be: Information and attention from the society for spastic children. NOT MORE!
• Make all kind of information leaflets, books etc. You are welcome to copy all information that the Bosk has.
• Fight for basic needs in the community like: adapted libraries (building and books), adapted shops (one broad aisle for wheelchairs), entrance to official buildings for wheelchairs etc.

Marketing

• Let people know you are there: Parents, hospitals. Rehabilitation centre.
• Give medical people information about Celebrale Parese, and website addresses where they can find more. Let the parents be your messengers, they have contact with doctors. Put this information on a simple A4 paper as handout.
• Give parents your message in simple language,  give medical people same information but in their own(medical) language
• Make foto exhibitions on public places like libraries and hospitals
• Get e-mail addresses and GSM. Numbers from members or people/institution in their neighborhood so you can send them a newsletter and keep them informed. If they don’t have internet send an sms if there is news on internet and where to find it.
• Make newsletters always digital for the costs.
• Keep your internet site up to date.
• Give the same message, take 1 topic at a time, not 4.
• Be a specialist: Make yourself special so people want to be with you.

Newsletter

Recognition in information

• All information where to go to, where to get things.
• Special events for spastic children,
• Big news like Leo Beenhakker, but also small news.
• Pieces from newspapers
• Interviews with doctors
• New therapies etc.
• Internet links like your website, www.Wandafonds.nl and www.Bosk.nl

Knowledge

• Be an expert with low acces: Give (a combination of)  information that they can’t get anywhere else. For example: a map of all rehabilitation centre, and specialists, and logopedians.
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Proof your existence

• Make reviews of all your activities, write down what you do, what goals you reached and put it on your website and in newsletters.

Going on

• You go for the long term: It took the Bosk 55  years to get to the current kevel.
• You are big when everybody knows your name

We wish you a lot of success and all the decisiveness and

patience in the world, you will need it!