SUPPORT STAFFORDSHIRE (TAMWORTH) VCSE FORUM Thursday 20th September 2018 – 9.30am - 12.30pmSt Johns Room, Tamworth

PRESENT:

Clare Jolly Support StaffordshireJames Flintham Support StaffordshireAngela Hickin Support StaffordshireRob Morgan Dig-it

Trevor Baker Tamworth Stroke Patients and their Carers

Helen Titterton Places of WelcomeSue Ward Shoebox TheatreDennis Powick Together4TamworthKen Norchi Together4TamworthMaureen Evans Cruse Bereavement South StaffsGordon Moore Together4TamworthTracey Hackett Citizens Advice South East StaffordshireStan Wilde Radio TamworthAnne Dobbs Radio Tamworth

David Sharpe Together4Tamworth

Mark Lawton Brighter Futures

Kate Bywater Landau

Sylvia Geldard Spin

Stephanie Ivey Tamworth Borough Council

Karen Mills Mercian Ability Partnership

Davina Allen HEAT

Debbie Hill Action on Hearing LossSimon Peaple Heart of TamworthApologies were received from: Kathy Coe, Julie Cappleman-Morgan, Liz Paine, Cheryl Rice, Coops

1.

2.

Welcome and introductions

Clare Jolly welcomed everyone to the forum and invited everyone to briefly introduce themselves.

Matters Arising from Last Time

Clare reviewed the minutes from the last meeting. Further to information about

‘Everyone’s Health’ it was raised that a flyer found in Tamworth Library gave details of meetings taking place. Other members believe that there are specific target areas that may attend these. CJ will make enquiries to clarify. – Clare can confirm that initially it is for people aged 50+ who live in target ward areas. However, if there is still space then it will be opened out to the whole of Tamworth

On the section about Citizens Advice Witness Service minutes need to be amended to take the word ‘support’ out.

3.

4.

Clare Jolly – Support Staffordshire Update

Hospital voting – Clare talked about hospital voting and forms were available in the room. Anybody that wanted to vote should complete and return to Clare before the end of the Forum.

Moorgate – Clare updated the group on progress made with Moorgate old Primary School. The survey has now been completed, including use of a drone. The results will be revealed at a meeting on 25th September between Support Staffordshire and the Architects. From this, the next steps can be planned. It’s hoped that a Steering Group can be formed to help this project as it moves forward. Clare is already welcoming any enquiries from groups interested in using facilities at the school or becoming tenants.

Concerns were raised with regard to County Council funding and possible facility withdrawal/building closures. Specific reference was made to the youth centre, courts and other vacant buildings. Clare will make enquiries to see if there are grounds for these concerns.

Community Buddies pilot project– Support Staffordshire are receiving daily referrals to the project. More Buddies are needed.If you would like to become a buddy or know of somebody that could be referred to the scheme please contact clare.jolly@supportstaffordshire.org.uk.

Let’s Work Together – Training sessions are available online, please see Support Staffordshire website for details.

Right Start Training – Clare promoted the Right Start training and leaflets were available with the new dates on. Clare emphasised that you can go to any training, not just Tamworth and asked the group if there is anything you would particularly like to see in Tamworth to let her know so that she can tell the people that plan the training for the next time round.

Rob asked if training could be given for Staffordshire Observatory. Clare acknowledged this and is trying to get them to come to a future Funders Fair in Tamworth in November.

Community Connectors – Clare informed the group that volunteers are still needed for this role. If anybody would like to know more then please speak to Clare.

Social Action – James updated that he has been compiling a ‘Directory of Activities’ for the Castle Ward. James is encouraging groups and individuals who provide these activities to keep updating him with information so that the directory is kept up to date.

Mark Lawton – Brighter Futures

Mark gave a presentation on the Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline that has been awarded The Standard Award for the third time. The helpline provides a 0808 number

that is free and confidential. Confidential meaning that callers ID cannot be seen by the recipient and that the helpline number is not detailed on an itemised bill and no calls are recorded. It is an Out-of-Hours service available to all over 18 year olds (no upper age limit). Calls are kept confidential and anonymous – some statistical information is needed for the commissioners, such as geographical area and age range but nothing personally identifiable. They also provide Text and Internet help services and a ‘Ring Out’ service that is a separately manned line that will make calls to clients that have been professionally referred as someone who may need help. There is also a Directory of Services available on their website where you can input your postcode and radius to find local services.

Mark completed his presentation by asking anybody for questions and also said that if you feel anything is missing from the mental health directory please contact him.

-Question raised about the training the call takers received – All staff are paid and have been professionally trained to handle calls but not medically trained.

-Question raised on how Brighter Futures ensures funding goes to the right place (‘Dovetailed’) and manages waiting lists – Mark informed that BF offers immediate help to help people find a way forward and unfortunately does not have control of local budgets.

-Question raised about STP, budget & funding –BF CEO is a member of STP. BF tender expired in April 2018 but was extended for 12 months and subsequently been extended again to be 18 months.

Davina Allen - HEAT

Davina gave a presentation on HEAT. It is a service provided by Marches Energy Advice. MEA has run the Heat programme, behind the scenes, in Tamworth for past 7 years in conjunction with Beat the Cold, although now it is their sole responsibility. They can offer advice via a Freephone number, text or email and accept referrals too. To receive grants for improvements individuals must qualify – it’s not just those in receipt of benefits, other criteria considered includes such things as age or income. Contact HEAT for more information. If you think someone needs help in their home, contact HEAT – Davina assures that they will do the very best to find a way to help.

It was asked if HEAT would help with solar panels – Davina advised that they can offer advice but the excess needed to be paid by the client is usually too great for the client to take up. Davina also said the number of enquiries about solar panels has lessened in recent years. They are working with some housing associations although not in Staffordshire, about renewable energy in particular Ground Source Heat Pumps.

Warm Home Discount – Is automatically given to the elderly, others can get it if they meet the criteria but they have to apply for it. Each Energy provider will have its own rules and regulations for qualification so you need to ask them directly. HEAT are able to come out to group meetings with a laptop to help people contact their energy supplier and apply.

Warm Home Discount not to be confused with ‘cold weather payments’ that are automatically made by DWP to benefit recipients, if temperature drops below specified level for specified number of consecutive days.

HEAT can make home visits where they find that a phone call isn’t quite good enough

but this has to be limited to just one visit however they will make referrals to other agencies if further welfare assistance is needed.

Davina made the offer to go out to local groups if they wish to present and to help with applications/advice.

3. Network and Sharing – This part of the Forum allows members to share updates on their organisation as below, as well as the chance to network with each other.

Kate (BBO/Landau) – Kate talked about their service as being one to get people back into work. They are running a 7 week course on taking charge of your life in Tamworth Library, 2-4pm starting 9 October, FREE of charge

Dennis (Together for Tamworth) – Their first visit to a Forum meeting so he gave the history to how they came about and involvement with Tamworth carnival, Teddy Mayor’s Picnic, relationship building with Ankerside Manager. He asked for business cards from Forum members as they are keen to develop relationships in the sector. Next year’s carnival is 1 June 2019.

Debbie Hill (Action on Hearing Loss) – Also new for the forum. Although they do focus on veterans (pre 1950’s) they are happy to speak with others. They are able to attend groups’ meetings and carry hearing screenings and give advice of what to do next.

Shoebox Theatre – Provided flyers about fundraising evenings with a ‘Who done it?’Theme. They can be also accessed from the home page of website: www.shoeboxtheatre.co.uk

Places of Welcome – Helen gave a brief description of what Place of Welcome are and they are growing around Tamworth. There are now 7. Leaflet attached.

Rob (DIG-IT) Rob reminded everyone that Dyslexia Awareness week starts 1st October. One of the events is to be the screening of a film made by Tom Davis on the subject of dyslexia that has been crowd funded. It is hoped that this will be at Landau Forte 6th Form College, just waiting for them to confirm.

Tamworth Borough Council (Community and Voluntary funding scheme) – The scheme is now open for applications.Festive grants are also available – aimed at social inclusion over the festive season. Up to £300 per ward available, this can be split between several groups or just go to one. You must contact your ward councillor to apply. Details on the TBC website.

Heart of Tamworth – Simon talked about planning for the next winter night shelter. He also said that the Dementia Café is now being attended by 40-50 people per week (numbers have trebled). The Friday bereavement group is now being offered on an evening too for those people who work.

Simon suggested that maybe the next forum could be at the Sacred Heart as there was plenty of parking and some people have had to leave the meeting due to parking restrictions.

Citizens Advice South East Staffs – Tracey talked about ‘Walk-In’s’ twice a week at The Community Together Hub on a Tuesday and Thursday. They have a telephone advice line, run the Evolve project and will talk to groups about Big Energy.

South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health – reminded the group that anybody can have a one off toolbox and they have a network news that people can sign up to

Mercian Ability Partnership – Are always looking for volunteers. They offer support for anybody that has a disability or health issue. Karen has offered to support other groups if they want to do something similar to them (previously on Support Staffordshire e-bulletin)

After everybody updated on their organisation the Forum ended with valuable networking amongst groups and those that didn’t need to run off for car parking completed evaluations.

DATE OF NEXT FORUM: 10.00am – 12.30pm, 11 December 2018

Venue: (upstairs meeting room) St John’s RC Church, 8 St John Street, Tamworth B79 7EX