Notes of the South Strategic VCSE Forum Held on 22 March 2019

Present Apologies Anne Ross Support Staffordshire Ron Myatt Community connector Maxine Landon Support Staffordshire Val Chapman SSDC Volunteer Alice Shone Support Staffordshire Sonja Oatley Community Volunteer connector Karen Leighton CASS The Carers Margaret Community Association Rogers connector Peter Holmes Walking for Health Harry Rogers Community connector Ian Wright Healthwatch Chris Haynes Community Staffordshire? connector Malcolm Cheslyn Hay and Chris Sproson Community Podmore District Local History connector Society Pauline Kelsey Gt Wyrley Carnival Keith Elder Community Committee connector Janet Johnson SSDC Catherine Community Andrews connector Bev Richardson Breathe Easy Mark Lawton Staffordshire mental health helpline Maggie Quinn SSDC Madeleine Busy Minds Cheadle Lisa Dyke Stafffordshire Libraries Graham Carter Community connector Penny Gibbs Cannock Chase CCG Heather Dean Codsall & Bilbrook Cancer group Lee Murphy GWCH Community Ivor Hind PACE Group Sarah Wiggin GWCH Community Ann Marston PACE Group Bette Webb Gt Wyrley Townswomen’s Guild Barbara Holmes Gt Wryley Townswomen’s Guild Karen Jones Co-op Pioneer Josh Slater MLSCU Cannock Chase CCG Lynn Griffiths South Staffs College Karen Dungey South Staffs College Derrick FROGS

Saunders Miriam Landywood Voluntary Whitehouse Centre Lyn Clerk Landywood Voluntary Centre Gary Suth Gt Wryley Local History Socety Tony Newall Gt Wryley Local History Society Joseph Birks Making Space Kymm McKail Recovery Hub Peter Barker Staffs County Council Davina Allen Warmer Homes South Staffs Helen Plummie Cheslyn and Wryley Community Group Sue Fearnley Trinty Methodist Church Codsall Dot Burton Gt Wryley Wesley Hall Pat Jones Gt Wryley Wesley Hall John Cook Gt Wryley Wesley Hall Maureen Cook Gt Wryley Wesley Hall

1. Welcome was given by Anne Ross and all present introduced themselves.

2. Notes of last meeting were agreed as a true record .There were no matters arising.

3. Presentations a) Maggie Quinn – Community Wellbeing & Partnership Officer for South Staffs Council  There is a good cause lottery fund that organisations can apply to. Organisations can sign up and sell tickets to friends and family. At present for every ticket (costing £1), 30p goes to the organisation and 30p to SSDC. As of 1st April, 50p will go to the organisation and 10p to SSDC. The tickets can be obtained by applying online to www.southstaffslottery.co.uk/ Tickets are also available for individuals to buy online or by phoning the council.

 SSDC have been awarded “Working to become a Dementia Friendly Community”. As such they are encouraging all organisations to become Dementia aware. One is being a “Dementia Friend” which encourages the use of helpful signage amongst other ideas. A help pack can be obtained by contacting southstaffordshire.thegoodlife.uk.net/  From May there will also be Lifestyle Roadshows where support and medical organisations can come to explain their services.

 SSDC have conducted a residence survey in order to ascertain the views of local people on living in South Staffs. The results were positive. Two thirds of people stated they were satisfied with the Council. 91% were likely to recommend South Staffs as somewhere good to live. 88% feel safe during the day. 86% of residents use the internet.

b) Karen Leighton – Carers Association South Staffs. CASS is based in and covers all of Staffordshire. Members of the organisation can be recognised by the yellow scarf they wear. They offer help and support to carers, dementia sufferers as well as the sufferers themselves. Help can be offered individually or in a group situation. They have a community link worker Lisa Brickles who is funded by DC to link all appropriate services. Some of the activities are;  Group sessions for people living with dementia at St Lukes Cannock.  café for carer support.  Training has been provided for a Health Liaison worker to work at GP surgeries to help give advice with issues in relation to dementia.  Cannock Hospital will be hosting training sessions on moving the elderly.  Cannock will also being hosting a course for male carers not only to help them with their own health but how to understand how to look after female sufferers by helping with applying make- up, hair dressing and simple cookery skills.  Living Well with Dementia support groups at Cannock and a new one in Wombourne (2nd Wednesday of every month). Further information on any aspect of CASS can be obtained from [email protected] c) Joseph Birks – Making Space. The Recovery Hub is a community help organisation for people with mental health issues who need support. Services are available across Staffordshire. Individual and group support is available. Referrals can be via professionals or can be self- referrals. Full presentation and further information on this organisation can be found on http://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/local-forums/vcse-locality-forums

d) Karen Dungey – Rodbaston College South Staffordshire College are looking to work with charities who need volunteers. They want to provide their young people with employability skills and make them aware of the world of volunteering. Rodbaston College are holding a Volunteers Fair on March 28th 10.00-13.00 if any organisations want to meet potential volunteers. Students can help in a number of ways such as media, IT, photography, horticulture etc.

For further information about how the college may be able to help you contact [email protected]

e) Peter Holmes – Great Wryley Walking Group  Walking for Health This organisation offers the members a chance to walk with others to improve health and also offers social opportunities. There are 12 leaders and walks cover villages on the outskirts of the South Staffordshire conurbation. The group, with others have been part of a number of organisations who have collected for and purchased 16 defibrillators. For more information contact; [email protected]  FROGS – Friends of Great Wyrley Memorial Garden This organisation has created a memorial garden “Great Wryley Memorial Gardens” and would welcome volunteers. Equally they would like to be considered to be the hub of the village. There are a number of areas within the gardens such as WR Memorial, Remembrance boxes, Sensory Garden and many more. The garden also has bird and bat houses and a bug hotel. For more information email [email protected]

f) Miriam Whitehouse – Landywood District & Volunteer Centre This organisation is focussed on helping the elderly, people with dementia and carers. There is also the Rainbow Club aimed at helping children with special needs. Fund raising has allowed them to purchase a mini bus to take people out on trips. They have also organised boat trips. The vision for the future is to develop facilities for respite care. For more information contact; [email protected] 4. Community Connectors Updates There were no updates at this meeting due to no Community Connectors being able to attend

5. Local News Round Up  Helen Heywood- Kingswood Trust – Kingswood have been awarded funding to allow them to provide nature projects for children with special needs.  Davina Allen – Warmer Homes South Staffs – This is an energy provider who have funding to make home visits to help with simple practical tasks. They can also help with providing central heating to qualifying clients.  Support Staffordshire provide training and workshops on a wide variety of services. Contact Anne Ross Locality Officer [email protected]  South Staffs Volunteer Star Awards will be held at Perton Park Golf Club on Thursday 20th June 2019. For more details and to nominate one of the categories go online at www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk  Holmcroft Youth and Community Centre Stafford are holding a funding fair on 27th March16:30-19.:30 Tickets on eventbright.  Carers Connect Group based at Trinity Methodist Church Codsall. This will be launched on Monday 22nd April. This is a multi- agency group aimed at working with carers of young children and also people with dementia. It will be open every 2nd and

4th Monday of each month from 10-1. Information can be obtained from Anne Ross or Sue Fearnley at Trinity Church.  Gt Wryley Carnival Committee – 20th April there will be a St George’s Day procession followed by a fete. On 29th June there is an opportunity to advertise your Organisation , £15 a stall.  Landywood Station Revamp – Lee Murphy. If you would like to help with this project contact [email protected] 6. A.O.B There was no other business

7. Date of Next Meeting will be at Coven Memorial Hall Coven on Wednesday 12 June 2019 at 10.00-12noon