HALTON TOGETHER FULL NETWORK MEETING

 

HALTON STADIUM, WIDNES

 

WEDNESDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2004 AT 6.30 PM

 

 

Present

Andy Guile -Halton YMCA Foyer Project, Beth Edwards-Windmill Hill Residents Association, Bill Edwards-Windmill Hill Community Forum, David Millington-The Boys Brigade Halton Battalion, Dee Graal-Widnes & Runcorn Cancer Support Group, George Ross-Halton Disability Services, Glenice Bagley-Halton Carers Umbrella Group, Ian Rigby-Halton Access to Sports Forum, John Parle-Widnes Rotary Club, John Warburton-Halton Trade Union, Karen Tonge-Halton Table Tennis, Louise Tanner-Groundwork Mersey Valley, M Hill-Widnes Old People’s Welfare Committee, Michael Fry-HAFS (Halton Autistic Family Support Group), Michael Gelling-Halton Community Partnership Trust, Olive Harrison-Streets Ahead Tenants & Residents Assoc.

Pauline Ruth-Halton Children’s Fund, Brian Miller-Halton Crossroads, Chris Price-Breakaway, Chris McKie-Breakaway, Ken Gallagher-Breatheasy Halton

Deb-Breatheasy Halton, Matthew Roberts-Halton Access to Media, Graham Loftus-Boys Brigade, Moira Dickinson-Kings Cross Project, Jim Bell-St John’s Church, Colin Stone-Hough Green Scouts and Guides, Larraine Robinson-Parkinsons

 

In Attendance

Kath Parkes-Halton Voluntary Action, Debbie East-Halton Voluntary Action

 

Apologies

Adele Clarke-HBC, Albert Crossley-Beechwood West Community Centre, Alison Bowen-Girlguiding North West Division, Angela Kaye-Hough Green Millenium Arts Project, Ann Turner Culverhouse-Soroptomists/Halton Womens Aid, Annie Holligan-The Galligu, Barbara Beesley-Halton Diabetes UK Support Group, Barbara Haley-Halton Open, Christine Allison-Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Dr John Dearden-Wellspring Christian Trust, Chris Stone-Active Blind Leisure Enthusiasts, Fiona Clark-Alzheimer’s Society, Fr Peter Fox-St John Fisher and St Marish Parish, Frank Burrows-HEARTS, Hitesh Patel-Halton Citizens Advice Bureaux, Irene Webster-Acorn Community Nursery, Jacqui Skinner-Top Locks Project, Joan Warburton-St Johns Presbyterian Church, John Frodsham-North West Cheshire Scout Council, Judith Thompson-NCH, Linda Butt-Vision Support, Lindsey Wharton -3rd & 9th Runcorn Scout Group, Mike Bellairs-Halton Learning Partnership, Mike Shepherd-Murdishaw Community Forum, Nora Rimmer-Runcorn Residents Federation, Paul Taylor-Link, Pauline Sinnnott-Halton Community Development Practitioners Forum, Rev Margaret Eaton-Preston on the Hill Methodist Church, Rev Rob Anning-Widnes Methodist Church, Roland Marchal-Spark Lane Field Community Group, Russell Gates-Brookvale Community Centre, Sharon Petersen-PATH/Halton Happy Hearts, Shelagh Kearney-The Four Estates Ltd, Stan Martin-Halton Child Contact Centre, Sue Endacott-Family Link (Scope), Susan Ellison-Centre 8 Drama Group

Tracey Dean-Surestart Jolly Giraffe, Tracy Jones-Social Enterprise Network

 

1. Welcome and Introductions

Andy Guile welcomed everybody and thanked them for turning out tonight.  He explained that we would probably be making a few changes to the agenda.

 

2. Presentation of Halton Together by Andy Guile

Andy played a short presentation which helped explain a little of what Halton Together is all about, what they had spent their funds on last year and what their plans are for next year.

 

3. Guest Speaker – Health Study

Unfortunately the speaker did not attend.

 

4. Guest Speaker - Transport

Andy welcomed Linda Hanley from the Neighbourhood Travel Team who delivered a short presentation about the services provided.

 

One of the reasons for developing the travel team was as a result of gaps in services.  A large number Halton residents are quite isolated and the team identified the main gaps in the provision.  The travel team are funded by Neighbourhood renewal funds and other partners.

 

One of the great successes is the personalised journey plans to meet individual needs.  This aims at getting people out of their homes and targets isolation. 

 

The travel project has been running about 18 months and they have completed over 1,000 personalised journey plans and in excess of 70 surgeries.  8,000 travel packs have been delivered to students and several work related bus services have been delivered.

 

A journey sharing database has also been developed which puts people in touch if they are interested in car sharing.  This will be launched in April and will be free for residents/employees of Halton to join.

 

A question and answer session followed.

 

5. Minutes of the Last Meeting

Andy briefly read through the minutes of the last meeting and asked if there were any comments.  These were agreed as a true record.

 

Public & Patient Involvement Forum

Pauline Ruth explained a little about the forum and the aims and objectives.  Membership is open to the general public and aims at improving health services in the borough.  There is at the moment 7 members but there is a need to increase this.  Maximum membership is recommended as 28.  The forum allows members to have a say about local health services.  Information is gathered about doctors, dentists, opticians, chiropodists and all other health professionals and the forum will investigate how accessible the are, what the level of treatment is and how happy individuals are with the services in general. Presentations have already been conducted by the PCT and this has given an idea of the structure.

 

The forum is supported by HVA and there is ongoing training.  Pauline asked if anybody wanted any further details they can either contact her or HVA.

 

6. Panel Members

Kath outlined details of the Executive and Panel members of the network.  Members details are included in the pack.  The Panel currently stands at 41 members but there is a maximum membership of up to 49.  Any network member wanting to become more involved should contact Kath at HVA.

 

7. Action Plan – priorities of next year

The Action Plan gives a brief outline of what we are proposing to do with the funding next year.  Kath asked if anybody had any objections or burning issues could they please let her know by tomorrow (Thursday 26th February).  She apologised for the tight timescale which has been imposed by Government Office Northwest.

 

8. Website – development and maintenance (www.haltontogether.org.uk)

The website is now officially available.  Although at the moment this is basic and does not have a huge amount of information, the structure is in place to develop this.   The aim is to train up to 10 people from local community/voluntary groups in website design and maintenance.  These members will then form as a community website group and we will look to obtain external funding to enable them to receive financial reward for their group to maintain this on a rota basis.  Although we already have some volunteers we are still looking to increase this group and members should contact Kath if they are interested.  Groups are also now invited to send information to Kath for input onto the website about their activities.

 

 

9. PR and fundraising sub-groups

PR group

Dee Graal spoke about the recent media training course that she had attended.  It was very interesting and high level training by experienced broadcasters from the BBC and other media companies.  Lots of useful handouts and tips were received.  The members who participated in this training have agreed to form as a sub group to assist groups in the community to develop good links with the media.  Any groups interested in receiving information or advice can contact the group via Kath at HVA.

 

Fundraising sub group – John Warburton

A course is currently being delivered by The Projects Company who are a London based organisation.  This is again a high level training course over a 5 day period.  Again, these members have agreed to form as a subgroup to assist other organisations in the Borough with their fundraising.  If any groups would like to have access to this help they can contact the group via Kath at HVA.

 

10. Charity Fair

The Charity Fair is an annual event that Halton Together attended for the first time last year.  Norman Lloyd gave a brief outline of last years event.  He explained that there are a variety of seminars to attend covering a whole range of subjects. 

 

Andy explained that the pack included a list of the seminars being held and if anybody was interested to fill this form in and get it back to Kath as soon as possible.  Kath explained that we only had a limited number of places available so we really needed to know by the 19th March and we would have to prioritise the places.  The Charity Fair, like all the training courses being offered by Halton Together are open to all members of all groups registered and is not just restricted to executive or panel members.

 

11. Any Other Business

Training

Kath explained that the pack included details of training courses which are being offered by Halton Together.  There are 4 workshop titles being covered with regard to personal development and the timetable has already been set for these courses.  Free places are limited so members wishing to take advantage of the workshops should confirm to Kath as soon as possible.

 

As members have indicated interest in IT training, there is also a suggested outline for additional training.  Dates have not yet been set for these workshops so members should call to confirm their interest and then dates/times will be scheduled.

 

Questionnaire

A questionnaire is included in the pack and we would ask all members to complete this and return as soon as possible.

 

Halton Together Structure

The pack outlines the revised structure of the network.  The change will hopefully make the panel much more active and will assist with the flow of information from groups to the agencies/organizations delivering the services.

 

12. Date/Time/Venue of next meeting

The next Halton Together Full Network Meeting will be held on Tuesday 22nd June 2004 at 6.30 pm at Halton Stadium, Widnes.