South Forum Meeting Minutes

Chair: Mary Annal

SOUTH FORUM MEETING MINUTES

Held on 30 June 2015

In Stonehaven Community Centre

09.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.

Attendees

Mary Annal Aberdeen Foyer (Chair) Marleen Hardy CHILDREN 1ST (Minute taker) Kirsty Forrester Community Engagement Officer South Forum (ADP) Brian King Treasurer Joan Love ADP Community Member Chrissie Gutteridge Community Member Anne Adams DPYK Bruce Findlay Employability Service Aberdeenshire Council Sharon Butler Community Member Marvin Watt Community Member Beverley Cattanach Aberdeenshire Council Keith Simpson Aberdeenshire Council Wayne Gault ADP Janet Tennant ADP/DA Lorraine Stephen Foyer Dawn Tuckwood NHS Frances Donohoe Aberdeenshire Council Paul Chisholm Aberdeenshire Council

1. Welcome and Apologies

Mary Annal welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves.

Apologies were received from:

Nicola Kenyan and Lesley Murison

Mary Anal opened the meeting by asking members to sit in groups to have a “Conversation Café” to discuss The “Barriers” preventing people attending Forum meetings and how these can be overcome. The group were given 40 minutes to have this discussion.

MA asked for feedback from the group on this topic. Representatives from each group gave feedback. KF read out scenarios around barriers and how these can be overcome discussion followed by the group and suggestions were put forward. 1 2. Minutes of meeting – 28/04/15 and Matters arising

The minutes of the above meeting were discussed and approved

Matters arising - none

3. ShARE Update

CG gave a brief update on the group

The group meets every Sunday from 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. at the Invercarron Resource Centre – families are encouraged to come along to the meetings as well as community members to offer support for families and friends. There are two rooms available plus a kitchen. A suggestion box will be available for comments. It was noted that this would be a safe place for community members to go along to on a Sunday.

Advert will be going out soon and a radio chat with Mearns FM to discuss the aims of the group and extend invites to anyone including families who would benefit from attending the group has taken place.

It has been suggested that in the long term topics will be identified and invites will be sent out for people to come and talk to the group – suggested activities for the group were music sessions, jewellery/craft making or sport.

Flyers have been distributed advertising the group in different areas. There is also a link to the group on the South Forum Facebook page.

4. Community Engagement Officer Update

KF gave a brief update

Working groups are all doing well.

The Practical Support Group met yesterday – next meeting is 17 August 2015 – 2.30 p.m. Stonehaven Community Centre – lunch will be provided at 1.00 p.m. if you wish.

Promotions Group are moving meetings to Banchory to try and encourage people in Marr/Banchory to engage with the forum. Next meeting in Banchory is on 1 September 2015 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. PC has agreed to drive a minibus to transport community members to Banchory – Hill of Banchory Family Centre.

Stonehaven Folk Festival - An alcohol free session will take place in Stonehaven during the folk festival – “Tea and Scones, Tunes and Songs” In partnership with Forest View Café and the event will hopefully get some media coverage – 11 July 2015 4 – 7 p.m. - Forest View Café. Kirsty asked for volunteers to help at the event as she will be unable to attend – Joan and Chrissie will be attending representing ShARE group. Mary Annal and Paul Chisholm also agreed to attend. Information will be available about the group stating that the event was funded/supported by the South Forum.

Business Breakfast

A business breakfast is planned for 1 September 2015 at the Station Hotel Stonehaven 7.30 a.m.– 9.30 a.m. with a welcome desk - KF looking for volunteers to help with this event. A suggestion was put forward that perhaps someone in recovery who is working could possibly deliver a talk on “the road to recovery and getting back into work.”

2 Campaigns & Support Group

Kirsty suggested that there was perhaps a need for a daytime SMART group in Stonehaven for people in early recovery and asked forum members to support the group to identify the when, where and who of such an initiative.

Bus Passes

CG stated that she had saved £200 per month by using her bus pass going to recovery meetings etc. Please could other community members write down how they had benefitted from having a bus pass so information can be fed back to Transport Scotland.

Bike Scheme

Discussion about potentially offering a bike to people to attend recovery activities from rural areas. PC said he had bikes donated by the police which he could pass on to support. The scheme is aimed at supporting community members re travel/transport. Discussion followed.

Re-imbursement of Mileage

It was agreed that mileage forms would be available at forum meetings and community members would be re-imbursed – 41p per mile.

Awareness afternoon

BF to set up an awareness afternoon at Forest View Centre re getting people in recovery back to work. Similar awareness afternoons can be set up in other offices in other areas if required.

Facebook Page

KF stated that a new South Forum Facebook page has been set up and asked members to like and share posts to “make recovery visible”. It was noted that there have been difficulties in accessing the page but Kirsty is going to resolve this problem.

5. Service User Involvement Officer Update

JT gave a brief update.

Recovery Week 15 – 19 June 2015 was very successful and had a huge amount of support.

Four events were held in Central and two in Stonehaven.

It was agreed that Stonehaven was a popular venue and it is hoped that this could be an annual event which can hopefully be led and run by people in recovery supported by professionals in the first instance. ShARE group would be pivitol to this event.

Service user questionnaires have now been completed. It is hoped to plan one for mutual aid groups. Two more conversation café events are being planned and JT is looking at providing transport to locations.

Outreach Service

JT was asked if consideration could be given to an outreach aftercare service in the South to help sustain people’s recovery – possibly the Alexander Clinic. JT has spoken to a member of staff at the clinic re this and it certainly would be something that could be considered although perhaps not on a weekly basis but possibly monthly. JT will keep the South Forum informed and updated on progress re this. 3 Availability of white goods

JT has discussed this with WG.

BK stated that Magpie operates a recycling of furniture/white goods which can be a cash deal or via Social Work. Goods can be delivered to Braemar/Aberdeen/Banchory/Brechin within a week. All furniture must have fire labels and bedding has to be clean and not stained. Magpie has a Facebook page.

Local organisations are presently trying to establish a furniture lodge in Stonehaven and we are presently trying to secure premises but still in very early stages.

Addiction Worker Training Presentation

JT stated that this was very good training/presentation and it was going to be rolled out at the end of the autumn. It was noted that six people are available to train in Aberdeenshire – JT to e-mail this information to KF and BF and also to Care Managers.

6. Funding Update/Funding Applications

Recovery Week Expenses - £100

JT stated that she and FO have never received their expenses for the above. Agreed that JT and FO would fill out an application to recover their expenses and BK would progress this. It was noted that there seems to be an issue around BK e-mail address. BK to try and resolve this.

It was agreed that KF would support members re funding applications.

Introduction to Fly Fishing Project - £3,000

A vote was taken re this application – 10 members voted in favour of supporting the application others abstained from voting – there was one vote against.

It was agreed that if this funding bid was to be supported by the South Forum a detailed report would require to be submitted to the South Forum evidencing how outcomes were met re drugs and alcohol in schools and what the next steps moving forward would be and how the young person can be supported locally and how this would be sustained.

The funding application was approved on the basis that the criteria above would be met.

MA stated that we need to have clear criteria for funding applications.

Promotions Working Group – Family Friendly Alcohol Free Session - £425

This funding application was discussed and it was agreed to pay for a musician to play at the event, purchase promotional materials, and £75 for Folk Festival – the group agreed to pay up to a maximum of £900. KF agreed to update the funding application. This application was approved.

4 Campaigns & Support Working Group – Business Breakfast - £2,000

This application was discussed and KF stated that the aim of the business breakfast was to try and break down barriers re employing someone who had suffered with drugs/alcohol abuse and to increase community awareness of addiction and the issues around it via positive press coverage. Also to achieve increased employability of community members in recovery and to get employers to sign up and evidence how many people in recovery can be employed. It was noted that BF’s team would take the lead on this. Hopefully there would be an increased engagement between the South Community Forum and local employers and this would make a stronger forum and partners would benefit from working together. KF needs to update the application form re increased agreed funding. This application was approved.

Drug Proof Your Kids - £758

This funding application was discussed – it was noted that this funding was to run 2 DPYK courses – One in Stonehaven and One in Inverbervie over 12 weeks from August and December 2015. Funding would pay for hire of Church Centre for 6 week, 50 course handbooks, tea/coffee/biscuits and photocopying costs. This application was approved.

7. Figure 8 Update

MA stated that the report has now been completed but is not as accurate as it could be. A date in August has been set to discuss the report with Figure 8. It was hoped to steer the work of early intervention to young people.

8. AOCB

False ID’s – KS from Aberdeenshire Council gave an update on this and how it is being managed.

Exploring Opportunities of Self Directed Support

Turning Point Scotland and IRISS (Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services) have been successful in obtaining funding for a 2 year Aberdeenshire based project to explore and develop ideas for the use of Self Directed Support (SDS) for people using substance misuse services across Aberdeenshire, a client group that have not benefitted from SDS to date. The plan is to co-design ways in which SDS could be used by adults in Aberdeenshire to support and enhance their recovery, to develop their capacity to use and benefit from SDS, and to identify the system changes required in order to facilitate a SDS system.

Discussion took place around this to gather the community views about the project and how it should progress.

Co-design – getting people together - work possibly with 16 – 20 people aged 18 plus over a period of 9 months – 8 workshops are planned starting in October with a website showcasing the co-design. Look at people across Aberdeenshire with lived experiences – 3 from North, Central and South

It was noted that Turning Point employ 2 peer support workers who work with others across Aberdeenshire to see how they can be supported.

Aberdeen Foyer

Lorraine Stephen from the Foyer gave an update on what services/programmes are available at the Foyer.

5 Lifeshaper Programme

Aberdeen Foyer’s Lifeshaper programme is a 12 week community based rehabilitation programme in conjunction with Aberdeen College for anyone who has experienced difficulties in relation to substance misuse.

The programme supports people who have experienced substance misuse issues and help to provide structure and routine in their lives while promoting a balanced healthy lifestyle and developing new skills and interests such as IT courses, relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture. Also included in the timetable are arts & crafts, health & wellbeing and regular outings to take part in physical activities such as wall climbing, horse riding, sponsored walks and quad biking.

Impact Programme

This programme is run by Aberdeen Foyer and is especially designed to reach out and bring individuals into a happy, inspirational environment to encourage them to find their strengths, build confidence and time to flourish.

ADP 3 Year Workplan

WG stated that this plan was now in draft and asked for it to be circulated initially for members initial reactions re priorities and feedback to WG

Working Group – Funding Applications

Discussion took place around setting up a Working Group to discuss and make decisions on funding applications outwith the main South Forum Meetings. It was suggested that funding applications would be circulated to members prior to the working group meeting taking place asking for any comments on the funding applications which would then be taken into account at the working group meeting before any decision on the application was made.

It was agreed that a working group to make decisions on funding applications should be set up outwith the main South Forum Meeting.

9. Lunch/Comfort Break

10. Service provision presentation – deferred to next meeting

Date of next meeting – 1 September 2015 – 9.30 – 12.00 Hill of Banchory School Community Rooms