Minutes: West Somerset Voluntary Sector Forum

Subject Notes Present Fiona Stevens (Living Better/Age UK Somerset), Maureen Smith (Transition Minehead & Alcombe), Lorna ScottMINUTES: (Forum 21), WEST Maria SOMERSET Knight (Compass VOLUNTARY Disability Services), SECTOR Vidette FORUM Quinnell (Compass Disability Services),th Michael Freeman (WHEELS), Angie Keirle (Somerset Care & Repair), Alison Clark (Somerset Tuesday,Community 18 OctoberCare Matters), 2016, Clare 10.30 Pound am, (Home-Start West Somerset West Somerset), Council Peter Offices, Wood Williton (Somerset You can Do), Jane Lillis (St Margaret’s Hospice), Vicky Smith (Re-think Mental Illness), Keith Richards (Williton ParishPage 1 of 1 Council), Helen Phillips (West Somerset Council/Taunton Deane Borough Council), Beth Prince (Somerset Waste Partnership), Izzy Sylvester (Village Agent), Jan Ross (Engage/various groups), Rob Culligan (Engage, Volunteer). Apologies Elaine Ross (MATA), Doreen Smith (Somerset Mental Health Hub), Chris Phillips (Somerset County Council), Susan Clowes (West Somerset Advice Bureau), Nik Harwood (Somerset Rural Youth Project/CLOWNS), Christine Payne (West Somerset Food Cupboard), Ian McLaren (The Hope Centre Minehead), Angela Summers (West Somerset Council/Taunton Deane Borough Council), Jon Carrington (Christians Against Poverty), Roger Hall (Porlock Parish Council), Richard Younger-Ross (Groundwork Trust), Sufil Ullah (Stand Against Racism & Inequality), Robert McDonald (Williton Parish Council), Lewis Lintern (MATA), Margaret Tatham (Watchet Dementia Action Alliance), Debbie Dennis (Village Agent), Katrina Midgley (Engage, Chief Officer). Minutes of meeting The draft minutes were agreed as an accurate record and were signed-off by Jan Ross. There were no 14th July 2016 matters arising that were not covered by agenda items.

‘Bags of Help’ Unfortunately Richard Younger-Ross had been unable to attend the meeting. grants: Minehead Action: Rob Culligan would contact Richard to invite him to the January Forum and/or receive an earlier Tesco – Richard update for circulation to members. Younger-Ross Somerset You can Peter explained that Somerset You can Do (SYcD)’s primary role was to provide volunteers under three Do – Peter Wood, main contracts with Somerset County Council (SCC). Somerset You can Do Somerset Volunteer Service: Hundreds of volunteers supplied across a wide range of SCC social care services (including ‘Transporting Somerset’, ‘Leaving Care’, ‘Short Breaks’, “Getset” Services, ‘Learning Disability Service’, ‘Adult Social Care’ and the ‘Active Living Network’); as well as SYcD’s own community support service, with 100 volunteers who provided short to medium term support linking lonely and isolated people back in to their communities through 1:1 support, telephone/e-mail befriending and IT support.

Somerset Partnership: Supporting mental health services by the provision of volunteers for services such as acute wards, ‘self management’ and talking therapies. Supporting community health services by the provision of volunteers for community hospitals, cardiac recovery teams, speech & language therapy and breast feeding support.

Digilink Sedgemoor and Mendip: Volunteer led sessions for people who needed support around using IT, with a main focus on Universal Job Match and Universal Credit. The sessions were currently run in Sedgemoor and Mendip. Further information on: http://www.digilinksomerset.com .