VOLT 3 rd July 2014 Bethany Offices PRESENT AND APOLOGIES Present : Andrew Murray – Bethany Christian Trust (AMuray) Jasbir Singh – Sikh Sanjog (JB) Anne Munro – Pilmeny Development Project (AMunro) Ian Dyson – Link Up (ID) Melanie Kilburn –Bethany Christian Trust Passing the Baton for Older people (MK) June Dickson – EVOC – (JD) Deborah Clark – Sikh Sanjog – (DB) Apologies: Willy Barr Eddie Dunlop Mary O’Connell Everyone introduced MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes agreed and seconded MATTERS ARISING CSMG Discussion JD reported she was informed by the Network that that CSMG and Network will decide on the representative for North CSMG. JD & Louise Rogers, Development Worker for Children Young People and Families are meeting Steff Kaye to discuss. AM commented that the CSMG had approached VOLT to involve them initially but now it seems Structures are top down. Not one person can represent all Third Sector interests and opinions. JD will liaise with colleagues to put across VOLT perspective. JD shall inform the Forum about the outcome of the meeting she will attend on 22 nd July. Representation and future role will be discussed. The members of the forum ACTIO N REQ’D JD
Transcript
VOLT
3 rd July 2014
Bethany Offices
PRESENT AND APOLOGIES
Present :Andrew Murray – Bethany Christian Trust (AMuray)Jasbir Singh – Sikh Sanjog (JB)Anne Munro – Pilmeny Development Project (AMunro)Ian Dyson – Link Up (ID)Melanie Kilburn –Bethany Christian Trust Passing the Baton for Older people (MK)June Dickson – EVOC – (JD)Deborah Clark – Sikh Sanjog – (DB)
Apologies:Willy BarrEddie DunlopMary O’Connell
Everyone introduced
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
Minutes agreed and seconded
MATTERS ARISING
CSMG Discussion
JD reported she was informed by the Network that that CSMG and Network will decide on the representative for North CSMG. JD & Louise Rogers, Development Worker for Children Young People and Families are meeting Steff Kaye to discuss. AM commented that the CSMG had approached VOLT to involve them initially but now it seems Structures are top down. Not one person can represent all Third Sector interests and opinions. JD will liaise with colleagues to put across VOLT perspective. JD shall inform the Forum about the outcome of the meeting she will attend on 22nd July. Representation and future role will be discussed. The members of the forum thanked Steve Gowanlocke for all he had contributed.
Much thanks to Andy and Bethany for providing a lovely lunch!
AIMS OF VOLT
With WB stepping down the Forum have decided to revisit the aims. Aims were collectively designed and signed up to by VOLT members. Point 3 of the Aims referencing ROA working party it was noted that these became the Neighbourhood Partnership.
ACTION REQ’D
JD
AMurray asked who is representing NP from VOLT. WB as the Chair of the Forum is the representative on the Leith NP. The Forum has no members on Sub groups. AMunro raised the need to look at governing documents formed by the aims.The Forum agreed that the word Co-ordinate be changed to strategic overview in point (4) of the Aims. JD will change the wording and circulate.
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Leith Timebank - http://www.pilmenydevelopmentproject.co.uk/timebank
AMunro gave an update. All is going well and they are working on their Annual Report. AM distributed new leaflet. Many people from Eastern European countries linking in but not so much from Asian members of the community. AMunro and JS discussed the need for the Timebank and Sikh Sanjog and others to work together to encourage more participation from the BME community.
Sikh Sanjog - http://www.sikhsanjog.com/
25th anniversary this year had a celebration event. The 25th AGM shall take place in September. Trishna Singh, Director, Sikh Sanjog has been awarded an OBE. The forum extended their congratulations. There is a new programme being compiled for after summer. Issue with crèche and funding. AMunro going to be developing older men’s carer group and would like to link in to Sikh Sanjog. Ladies seem to be willing to engage but males are difficult.
Bethany - http://www.bethanychristiantrust.com/
Bethany are opening new projects in Inverness and one in Wester Hailes with a new worker starting in August. Conference 10th October Central Hall Tollcross. Safe families for Children in Scotland, the new project will be the theme of the conference. American innovator coming across to launch at conference. Speaking about befriender mentoring programme, cinnamon network. There are micro grants for befriending and foodbanks. £2000 befriending funding for work with isolated older people. Working with self-reliant groups (Wevolution) on in Maryhill Glasgow, 10 women come together and save £1 each, then do something bigger. Launch at East End of Glasgow launderette and now employ a woman full time. Noel (Wevolution) will also be speaking at the conference. Mentoring people from challenging backgrounds. Conference cost is £75 but VOLT members have access to free tickets. Contact Andy Murray at Bethany [email protected]
Inspiring Leith - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inspiring-Leith-Link-Up/412940595424594
Funding was meant to stop at end of July presume it’s being continued. Review and re-asses what we have been doing and have a think about what’s happening. Most groups stopped for summer, they feel they need a bit of a break – volunteer run. Regroup over the summer to think about activities and future then move forward. ID not long back to work from having paternity leave due to the birth of his son. Members delighted to hear this and extended congratulations to Ian on the birth of his son. Continuing for another
year and just opened another Link Up in Saltcoats. Seem to have gone a bit bitty for some reason.
Passing the Baton for Older People - http://www.bethanychristiantrust.com/
Project for older people. Just about to target a number of churches. It was started in Leith but have presence all over the city. Specifically targeting churches. Funded by the “Reshaping Care for Older People – Change Fund Innovation Grant” this service encourages people aged 65+ to get active and build friendships to combat isolation and loneliness through practical support from volunteers, co-ordinate by a trained Project Facilitator. Passing the Baton for Older People operates in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Will encourage to expand through cinnamon network, there are funds. Different Development workers will target specific areas n Edinburgh. DB asked if it is only Christian churches. All volunteers are from churches. Manager from a church then create a team of volunteers. People of all religions/no religions are helped but all volunteers come from churches.
Pilmeny Development Project -http://www.pilmenydevelopmentproject.co.uk/
The next meeting of NE LOOPS group, 9th July at Portlee Resource Centre, looking at multi-agency context of local organisations working in the area. Key strands networking, strategic, sharing, SWD have put some money together for each LOOP area to look at infrastructure and unmet needs. More discussion on Monday and some clarity of what will happen In NE. Identified older male carers are terribly socially isolated, difficult to engage, model used specialists support work, right cultural knowledge, language and culture appropriate support. Link into existing group. 8-9 week programme over the summer. Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi and Nepalese been identified.
Date for diary 1st October – UN day of the older person, combining forces with Edinburgh Leisure. Ageing Well and libraries (Get up and Go). Commonwealth legacy money funding a taster day, lots of activities for older people to try, followed by a tea dance in afternoon, Councillors will launch Get up and Go booklet. People have been encouraged to come along. Pilrig church initiative – community conference planned for October targeted at older people, information needs and signposting, congregation and older members of general population. 9th October held at Pilrig church on ground floor. Open to anyone.
Summer project for kids posted on website. Trip t M & D intergenerational trip to Blair Drummond.
ELECTION PAPERS FOR NEW CHAIR – DISCUSSION
AMunro explained that due to the Neighbourhood Partnership Review and also the reviewing of all Local Community Plans the Neighbourhood Partnerships seem to be in a period of limbo, especially in relation to the Sub-Groups Jd explained that due to LCP reviews the Sub Groups have been suspended as priorities might change with new ones being identified. Structure especially round subgroups are being reviewed.
WB has indicated that he wants to stand down as chair. EVOC have procedures that are used when electing a Representative onto the Neighbourhood Partnership Board. As the Chair of the local Forum is normally the Representative JD felt that this would be the procedure to use. It shall also keep the Forum right and evidence a transparent and clear processes has been followed. JD explained the election papers to the meeting. AMurray
asked about the frequency of meetings of the NP. Board meetings and public meetings take place at 6/8 weekly intervals. VOLT have requested that they can send 2 representatives as one person will find it difficult to represent the whole third sector. At the moment, due to the discussion recorded above, the number of meetings are unclear. If the NPs follow original intention they will take place every 6 weeks or so. The NP Boards will actively be looking at representation. Also looking at members who are on the board, need and frequency of attendance will be looked at.
Leith NP having a meeting on the 15th of July which AMunro and a member of staff from the Citadel shall hopefully attend. Will know more then. JD explained that there can be confusion around why Forums exists, with some believing the Forums were set up to be the 3rd Sector link to the Neighbourhood Partnerships, however we must acknowledge that some Forums were in existence before the NPs were formed.
MK raised her concerns that she would not be able to clearly and fully explain the role of the Chair and the Representative role on the NP, all agreed that this was the case. Could not explain to anyone we’d nominate what the job entails. WB may be best placed to pull together some bullet points and a descriptor be collated to go with nomination forms. Need a more comprehensive job description, JD & WB TO LIASE
AMunro commented that the introduction of the election papers was a good reminder that the Forum needs to focus on getting the correct paperwork in place, for example there is no constitution.
Action By Whom CompleteMeeting with Steff Kaye and Louise Rogers to discuss CSMG representation on 22nd July. JD to report back to members of VOLT outcome of meeting.
JD
The Forum agreed that the word Co-ordinate be changed to strategic overview in point (4) of the Aims. JD to change and circulate
JD 7/7/14
Contact Andy Murray. Bethany Conference cost is £75 but VOLT members have access to free tickets. [email protected]
ALL
Leith NP meeting on 15thJuly to look at draft priorities. Anne Munro and a member of staff from Citadel to attend and report back to Forum.
AMunro & Citadel member
More comprehensive Job Description for position of Chair and NP Representaive to be compiled.
