Notes of the Strategic VCSE Forum Held on 14 March 2018 at 1.00 p.m.

Present: Apologies:

Lesley Whatmough Support Marianne Grimes Broughton Parish Anne Ross Support Staffordshire Rooms Tracey Gould Choices Housing Sian West SSNMH Liz Hill Stafford and Cannock Bev Henderson Stafford League of Friends Neurological Karen Wardell Stone Community Hub Alliance Cllr Anne Edgeller Staffordshire County Council Gavin McAllister SARH Carl Gerrard Shaw Trust Elizabeth Lodge SARH Anthea Lavene Tittensor Village Hall Cathy Jones ASIST Kate Harrold Stafford Borough Council Shaun Rimmer Staffordshire Matthew Turner SCVYS Wildlife Wendy Fidgett JCP Tony Pearce U3A Nicky Jones AU-Sums Jennie Losh Gatehouse Theatre Volunteers Jenny Webb Shopmobility Steve Roden Choice Recovery Mark Simpson Choice Recovery Stafford and Cannock Sue Kneill-Boxley CPRE Stafford Mark Lawton Brighter Futures Ryan Creswell Building Better Opportunities Dan Gibbons Re-Solv Caroline Bradford The Beth Johnson Foundation Jo Yendole Stone Community Hub Karen Wardell Stone Community Hub Charlotte Brady Starfish Services – Social Hub Anne Hawkes Special Needs United Grandparents Oliver Rothwell MEA ( Warmer Homes) Eileen Jordan Old Chapel Works (CIC)

1. Welcome, introduction and Apologies Anne Ross opened the Forum, welcomed everyone to Stafford Leisure Centre and thanked them for the use of the room. Introductions conducted

2. Notes of the last meeting – Agreed a true record

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3. Matters Arising – Please note that in future Agenda’s will not be sent out by Locality Staff, they will be sent out by our Central Team. Notes of Forums alongside Agendas can be found on Support Staffordshire Website: www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk.

Please respond to Locality Administrators with Acceptance or Apologies (Not Central Team), this gives an idea of numbers for room layouts and Refreshments.

To obtain more information about Support Staffordshire and information on Forums please register for our e bulletin through our website.

4. Presentations

 Tracey Gould - Choices Housing – Lean on Me

Raises awareness and communication for carers who are struggling. Can arrange home visits when 1st diagnosed. Volunteers can assist by supporting the carer. This is a free service. More Volunteers are required, there will be flexible opportunities and training will be provided. Please contact: [email protected]. Re: Volunteers

Limewood Choir has released The Lean on Me Song.

Presentation available: www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk

 Mark Lawton – Brighter Futures

Provides a listening Service for aged 18’s and over and have concerns about their own Mental Health and is free to access.

Presentation available: www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk

 Ryan Creswell – Building Better Opportunities

Offers 1:1 support tailored training to boost self confidence

Presentation available: www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk

5. Partnership Meetings Update – Kate Harrold

 Community Wellbeing Partnership

Update on the last Community Wellbeing Partnership meeting 30th Jan

This meeting is jointly chaired by the Police (Gemma Ward) and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) (Debbie Danher) and includes a range of organisations who have a responsibility for delivering wellbeing programmes such as Community Pharmacies, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, Stafford and Rural Homes, Probation Services, County Council, Borough Council etc. Support Staffordshire attend to represent the voluntary sector.

The Partnership discussed four areas that they would like to develop as their priorities for 2019/20:

 Signposting & Social Prescribing - getting our IAG offer right (pulling together what we know) - getting that info out there  Early Intervention - routes for people who are on the cusp of services – e.g. Staffs Connects reject / Id by FARS / Police.

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 Healthy Communities - asset based - community connectors, working with Parishes, developing community capacity / assets  Environment - Housing / Health in All Policies

A working group was set up to develop a framework for this.

The partnership spoke about the ‘Place Based Approach’ the County are running in Highfields and Doxey which is about bringing the wider community support services into local schools (Stafford Manor High School and Doxey Primary School) there are two events which Matt at SCYVS is planning to develop this.

The partnership received a presentation from Kathryn Whitfield at the CCG about a ‘Frailty Hub’ pilot which has been successfully running in Lichfield and Tamworth and they are looking to replicate in Stafford, it is based around a multi- agency clinical team working with frail hospital patients.

The partnership received a presentation from Hayley Smith at the Borough Council on the Homeless Reduction Act and new Strategy the Council will be consulting on during April and May.

The Council has now recruited a replacement for Richard Upton’s Community Support Officer Post, Sarah Ruff will be joining the Council in early April.

6. Update from Forum Representatives

 Carl Gerrard – Shawcross Trust – Social Enterprise - Based inside the grounds of Walton Hall Academy the enterprise gives students easy access to the learning opportunities, skills and qualifications on offer for gardening and horticulture. The Eccleshall enterprise grows and sells a large range of plants, bedding and perennials throughout the year.

Volunteers are always required

For further information contact: carl.gerrard@shaw-trust

 . Liz Hill – SCHLOF – Always looking for Volunteers.

For further information visit: www.staffordandcannocklof.org.

 Tracey Gould – Choices – Dementia Hub Outreach Service, looking for groups to talk to. Diane Wallace delivers Dementia Awareness talks which could be added to Support Staffordshire Training.

For further information Tel: 01785 215678 or call into Limewood on Limetree Avenue, Northfield Village, Stafford, ST16 3DF.

Ann Hawkes – Snug - Is a Grandparent led support and information group for grandparents of children with additional needs/disabilities.

Would like to encourage people to start other groups in other areas.

For further information contact: [email protected].

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 Charlotte Brady – Starfish Services –Social Hub - The Social Hub is a face-to-face social support network, set up and run by the charity: Starfish Services Limited, part of the Starfish Partnership. This is a project with a difference, because it recognises that mental health can be improved by refocusing attention on social health instead. It offers a programme of activities where socialising is the focus because this builds confidence, and self-esteem., ship. This is a project with a diffeationub.org.uk focus because this self-esteem. For further information contact: [email protected].   Nicky Jones – AU-SUMS - Operates from a base in Stafford, is supported by Midlands Pshycology CIC and families from across Staffordshire are welcome. Operates week-day sessions for families to meet for social and joint learning.

Hold a monthly, evening Parents Support Group on the first Wednesday of each month, where parents can offer support, advice and guidance. Also offers a daytime Parents Support Group, run in conjunction with the National Autistic Society.

Aims to offer training and workshops for parents, according to need. For further information visit: www.midlandsphsycology.co.uk. Or Email: [email protected].  Caroline Bradford - Beth Johnson Foundation - Covers whole of Staffordshire for anyone over 18 that is affected by cancer.

For further information contact: [email protected].

Or Visit: www.bjf.org.uk.

 Karen Wardell – Stone Community Hub Jo Yendole will be taking over Karen’s role at Stone Community Hub as Karen moves to pastures new.

For further information contact: [email protected].

 Kate Harold – Stafford Borough Council Sarah Ruff is taking over Richard Upton’s Role.

 Sue Kneill-Boxley – Campaign to Protect Rural (CPRE) Enjoy a delicious oatcake at Canalside Farm Great Haywood on Staffordshire Day, 1 May 2019.

For further information Visit: http://www.cprestaffordshire.org.uk/. Part

 Dan Gibbons – Re-solv Re-Solv works to prevent volatile substance abuse, also known as solvent abuse. Delivering prevention sessions in schools, colleges and other education settings and

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work to ensure that parents and carers are aware of the issue. Also supporting individuals who are struggling with an addiction to these substances.

For further information Visit: www.re-solv.org.

 Stafford Welcomes Refugees Supports all Refugees in Stafford alongside Staffordshire County Council in Development and understanding.

For further information visit: www.facebook.com/staffordwelcomesrefugees/.

 Tony Pearce-Staffs U3A - U3A is a learning selfhelp group of older people which enable members to share many educational, creative and leisure activities.

For further information visit: www.staffordu3a.org.uk/.

Eileen Jordan – Old Chapel Works CIC - In process of using the old fruit store on Mill Street, Stafford for use as a community kitchen and making good food available at the right price.

For further information contact: [email protected]. Or visit: http://www.oldchapelworks.org.uk/

Anthea Lavene – Tittensor Village Hall - Coffee and cake is on offer every other Thursday. Would like to get more of the community involved. Garry Jones advised to find out more details on the Acre network at Support Staffordshire website: www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/.

7. Any Other Business

Nominations for Volunteer Star awards to be held in June across Staffordshire. Closing Date Friday 26th April. (Leaflets provided)

8. Dates of Future Meetings

 5th June 2019 Village Hall (To be a market place)  25th September 2019 Derrington Village Hall

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