Children, Families & Young People’s Forum

Meeting Notes

Monday 11^th April @ Play Resource Centre, Runcorn

Present- Tony Crane, Pauline Ruth, Geraldine Derby, Stuart Duncan, Kath Parkes, Matthew Roberts, Barbara Egan, Gaynor Bevan, Liz Smith

Apologies- Dave Jones, Angela Conway

- GD ran through the notes from the Terms of Reference meeting on Thursday.

- Everyone agreed that this was comprehensive and there was nothing else to add at the moment.

- The terms of Reference will need to be presented to the CYPSP Management Committee. TC agreed to do this and add it onto the agenda for May’s meeting.

- Funding needs to be transferred from the Under 14’s forum account into the new merged account. LS is organising this with GD.

- There will also need to be costs added after the first 12 month period in 2006, for example secutarial costs etc.

- There were thoughts about looking and planning what positions need to be filled and who these people maybe.

- It was also agreed that a launch/conference should be organised for the new merged forum.

- TC mentioned that those people who attended or where members of the forum’s before they merged need to be briefed about the merger as Family Forum and Under 14’s have not met for a while.

- GD agreed to do a committee report about the new CF&YP Forum

- KP mentioned that the FF have not come together and it would be best to inform them of the merger by doing one official mail out to all of the 3 forums once TC has met with the CYPSP.

- GD said that she would do a committee report to send out and circulate with some information about the merger and the launch/conference event.

- It was also said that the Participation Strategy that is being worked upon will also be important for this forum.

- KP had had a verbal agreement from Ian Grady regarding the social enterprise work around having a consultation co-coordinator which will hold information regarding consultation work done in Halton. This post would have to liase with Nicola Barron who is also doing some similar research.

- The view of the new CF&YP Forum is to have an accessible, open group. There will as has previously be a core of people who attend, people who dip in and out and those who just wish to be on the mailing list.

- The option to stay on the mailing list and not have to attend meetings is important to some people as this is the only way they have access to or receive information about this field.

- The new database at Halton Together will also help to gather and update membership details and options of membership.

- LS agreed as the forum is clearly informing people even if they do not attend.

- KP, BE & GD are going to do an interim brief and update of the current situation regarding the forum, the merger and the launch.

- BE is also taking the lead on establishing a group to plan and organise the launch. PR, GB have agreed to help and TC is asking Wendy Sheppard if she can join the group.

- In the mail out it is going to be asked what time is most suitable for the launch as parents, childminders and nursery workers also attend. We would be excluding the public if it was put on in the day.

- It was noted that the Under 14’s forum ran well of an evening and attendance was good. There was also a networking opportunity over a buffet.

- The Halton Stadium is the choice for the launch event.

- There was some debate over providing crèche facilities at the launch and forum meetings. A question of ‘Would providing crèche facilities encourage you to attend?’ and if we should be encouraging parents to have young children out at such a late time.

- Possible date for the launch, September 13^th or 14^th BE is provisionally booking venue till time are confirmed.

- GD emailing Sure Start co-ordinators and Child Care management groups for parents and co-ordinators to attend and about a parent being on the committee panel.

- This group meets pre-forum meeting as driver group.

- Next Meeting

SD had booked the Play Resource Centre for Monday 23^rd May @12pm (lunch provided)