Halton Access to Sport Forum

Thursday 26th February 2004

At HVA, Runcorn

 

Present

Ralph Owen – Family Link (Scope), George Ross – Halton Disability Services, Kath Parkes - HVA, Stephen Brinkley – Greenbank, Paula Parle – HBC (sports), Peter Wyman – Merseyside sport, Lyn Williams - HVA

 

Apologies

Ian Rigby, Ian Johnstone, Ross Ford – Action for Blind

 

1.               Minutes of previous meeting

Minutes were accepted as a true and proper record

 

2.               Launch

Invitations have been sent out.  Parents have not responded well.  The Mayor and Mayoress will be in attendance and the press have been invited.

 

Copies of the suggested menus were submitted and the £3.00 option was preferred with smoothies rather than canned drinks for the adults.  Kath to check cost implication.  It was also requested that the soft drinks for the children be additive free.  Pickles should be provided in the place of nuts and the buffet should be ready for 7.30pm.  Kath will relay all details back to caterers.  Numbers were agreed at 70 for the buffet and 30 smoothies/80 carton drinks.

 

Although tickets have been sent it is not clear if they will be needed to access the venue.  Paula will check.  An invite will be sent to Kath to forward to Ross Ford.

 

Paula is still waiting for confirmation of pricing for goody bags for the children.  It is hoped that tshirts can be provided with the club name “Sports for All” printed on them.

 

3.               Runcorn Club

A subgroup meeting of George Ross, Paula Parle and Ian Johnstone was held to discuss the development of the Runcorn Club.  Currently the Cavendish minibus runs children to Chestnut Lodge but is unable to do the same for Brookvale due to the timing of the club.  Alternative venues are being sought but none have been found to date.   The school currently hold and afterschool club which finishes at 6pm.  There is money in the budget to pay for Mike to keep the children at the school until 6.20pm and then run them to the sports club.  An answer is still needed from the school because they would need a member of staff to also wait until 6.20pm.  The children would also have to join the afterschool club.

 

4.               Equipment

No equipment has been bought to date for either club due to problems with storage.  An order has been submitted today and for larger items such as athletic sets and golf sets only one item has been purchased but for smaller items, enough has been ordered for both clubs.

 

A lockable container has been purchased and will be locked inside a cupboard at Brookvale.  The problem with storage at Chestnut Lodge is a decision by planning department.  A container was purchase for storage outside but planning department have refused permission to allow this.  It was suggested that we find out more about the reason for this decision.

 

Many alternatives were discussed such as storing the equipment at another site and transporting it to the club but the problem would then arise if a member of staff was absent or if the mode of transport was not available.  George will contact Halton Transport to investigate costs for transporting a container on a regular basis to Chestnut Lodge.  A further suggestion was made of a storage container suitable for a car.  This could possibly be fixed on the school site and might not come under the regulations as the fixed container.  Paula will check with Sue.

 

5.               AOB

Fairfield school had offered the gym as a venue but this has now been withdrawn as unsuitable for disability use.  It was suggested that Ian investigate use of facilities at Peter & Paul.  It was also suggested that Halton Stadium should be contacted with a view to venue and storage.

 

Sports Splash – council activities – there is no mention of disability access.  Paula confirmed that even when they were offered there was not much take up.  It was agreed that this should not be the reason to cancel the activities.  It was suggested that a multi-sport/taster day be offered which would hopefully give wider appeal.  Paula will investigate. 

 

Strategy – George would like a formal structure to the forum with elections taking place for the committee.  A constitution was drawn up and went with the Sports England bid but George cannot locate this.  This item was requested to be put on the agenda for the next meeting.

 

Date/Time/Venue next meeting   22nd April 04, 5pm at Chestnut Lodge