This is the first time I have really fully been part of Social Media. I guess it is an acceptable evil in a World where we want or need to share. I am not convinced I will be any good at it, however I am hopeful it will be an aid to remembering and correlating what I learn. I also hope it will allow people to add anything they feel is useful. 

I have been given an amazing opportunity from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and I am hopeful that my fellowship will certainly make a difference in the way we look at commissioning of services.

My idea is based on travelling to Central Florida and seeing how we can work better together to fund the solutions to end homelessness in the UK. I plan to travel at the end of May 2019 and with the assistance of those I meet to learn how joint commissioning can effectively support innovation and sustain services over a longer period. That services remain and don't just disappear every 12 months or 2 years leaving people looking for support, but not knowing where to find it.

This will hopefully encourage long term commissioning for services that develop and grow over geographical, political and local authority borders. That imaginary lines drawn on maps do not stop people receiving what they need, equity not equality of wellbeing.

I know big aspirations for a few months of work but it is important for individuals to try and make a difference and continue to improve on what is there and not throwing the baby out with the bath water every recommissioning cycle.

As I start out on my adventure I am reminded of a quote by George Carlin, who also played Rufus the mentor for Bill and Ted:

"Have you ever noticed that the only metaphor we have in our public discourse for solving problems is to declare war on it? We have the war on crime, the war on cancer, the war on drugs. But did you ever notice that we have no war on homelessness? You know why? Because there's no money in that problem. No money to be made off of the homeless. If you can find a solution to homelessness where the corporations and politicians can make a few million dollars each, you will see the streets of America begin to clear up pretty damn quick!"

I am not convinced we have to monetarise homelessness but we need to know how to fund it properly and sustainably. I am hoping my excellent adventure will end with some lessons for the future of commissioning services people need and can rely on. I am hoping we can build a better future where the right to a roof is a given and hopefully one day my occupation will become obsolete, I know big pretensions.

The meeting of great minds.

As I set off for Florida I hope we don't have to wait until 2688 for it to be great, for the air to be  clean, the water to be clean, even the dirt to be clean.  That bowling averages are way up, mini-golf scores are way down. And that we have more excellent water slides than any other planet we communicate with. That everyone who wants a home has a home and it is sustainable, and it is what they want not what we as society thinks will do. 

As Rufus said: "I’m telling you this place can be great! But it almost wasn’t... it’ll all make sense. I’m a professional."