SUPPORT (LICHFIELD) VCSE FORUM Wednesday 12th June 2019, 13.00 – 15.00 Open House,

PRESENT:

Caroline Roberts Burntwood Live at Home Scheme Rev Steve Speight Life Church Lichfield Marisha Place Staffordshire Police Lichfield and District Partnership Manager Tahir Ahmed Balfour Beatty Vinci Helen Titterton Places of Welcome Ali Betteridge University Hospitals Burton and Derby NHS Foundation Trust Pauline Walker Burntwood Breast Care Beryl Phillips Burntwood Breast Care Jane Reynolds SCYVS Liz Bacon Fun Club Hub Kerry McCabe-Crowley Fun Club Hub Sue Jupp T.L.C Club Maggi Huckfield Liberty Staffordshire Jill Hart-Sanderson Blast Loz Cadman COGS Tracy Blakey COGS Geoff Goodyear Phoenix Counselling Sarah McCormick SPARKS / Little Owls Matt Price HS2 Chris Humphreys HS2 Lynne Vickers University Hospitals Burton and Derby NHS Foundation Trust Jo Brain BLAST Caroline Partridge Friends of Chase Terrace Park Brian Harman Burntwood Memorial Institute Heather Brooks WS7 Community Trips Ruth Beard STP Together Kerry Heath Children’s Centre Jenny Simkins Lichfield District Children’s Centre Simon Astbury Steps to Work Vicky Rowley Staffordshire County Council Public Health & Prevention Commissioning Manager Debbie Nash Staffordshire County Council District Children’s Commissioning Officer Jan Matthews The Voluntary Car Scheme – Lichfield and Cannock Chase areas Graham Hunt Burntwood Town Council – Town Clark Gifford Foote Meeting Point Handsacre J Westwood T.L.C Club Charlotte Slater Liberty Staffordshire Gemma Cooper Liberty Staffordshire

Mark Lawton Brighter Futures Roger Hartley Dr Milleys Tracey Matthews WS7 Community Trips Tracey Hackett Citizens Advice South East Staffs Keith Willis-Croft Burntwood Town Councillor Eric Harding Diocesan Digest Sound Magazine Margaret Harding Diocesan Digest Sound Magazine Jan Webster DWP – Employment Advisor Claire Ferris Support Staffordshire Louise Campbell Support Staffordshire Leanne Bishop Support Staffordshire APOLOGIES

Lynn Laughton Pathway Project Maria Pavey Life Church Thomas Loughbrough Burntwood Town Councillor

1. Welcome and introductions

Claire Ferris opened the forum and welcomed everyone to Open House. She then gave a brief on the format for the forum and the housekeeping rules.

2. Presentation – Together We’re Better – Ruth Beard

Together we’re better is the local partnership bringing together local NHS, councils independent and voluntary organisation. Since 2016 we have been working to improve the health and care for 1.1 million people who live in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.

They are currently holding a consultation period until midnight on the 25th August wanting to know your views on :- What works well? What do you think should be improved? What is important to you?

If you would like to complete a questionnaire then please go to the following website www.twbstaffsandstoke.org.uk

3. Spotlight on Burntwood based groups

Burntwood Memorial Community Association - Burntwood Memorial Institute and Community Association was built as a memorial to those who gave their lives in the 1914-1918 War. It began with funds raised by the people of Burntwood Parish to obtain the land and wooden tin huts to start the community centre which opened on 6th January 1922.It was completely re-built in December 1971 – again by extensive fund raising and a grant from the Ministry for education and Science. This community centre is extensively used for a wide range of activities which can be obtained from the booking secretary. The Institute is run by a group of volunteers as a non-profit charitable organisation. It is available for hire and provides an ideal venue for weddings, dances, parties and conferences. We have a fully licensed bar and caterers. For more information go to www.burntwoodinstitute.org

Fun Club Hub – Based in Open House Kerry and Liz started the group after the county council cut the service. They’re currently running 2 groups for children aged 8-13 and 13-16. Take a look at their face book page they’re always having fun.

Liberty-Staffordshire – Maggie set this club up in a similar manner as the Fun Club Hub. We work with young people and young adults who live with physical or learning disabilities offering social and emotional development opportunities. Take a look at their face book page for more information.

SPARK (Burntwood) CIC - Voluntary group providing pregnancy, baby, pre-school, parenting activities, groups, support and services based at a former children’s centre in Burntwood. Varied timetable of weekly and monthly activities which are free for some to attend who meet qualifying criteria. Groups include grandparents, baby, Dads, breastfeeding, craft, single parents and young parents, postnatal depression, playgroups and after school tea club. Regular outside providers include baby massage, baby sensory, Spanish, music, antenatal, drama classes and adult relaxation and sign language. Various subsidised room hires available for community groups and evening courses and events for all. Vibrant volunteer team which is open to new volunteers. For more information contact the web page www.sparkburntwood.co.uk

Phoenix Counselling Service - Phoenix is a low cost counselling service for adults in Burntwood, Lichfield and the surrounding areas. The first of up to seven session would be free the cost of subsequent session would be £10 but this is open to negotiation.

T.L.C Club (Tender Loving Care) – We are a group of friendly people from all walks of life, age from 21+. We aim to get people involved with activities across the board: Dance; Crafts or just sit and chat. We take day trips out; also holidays away. We aim to stop people being isolated in their homes through whatever reason, to encourage them to make new friends or just sit and have lunch and have a chat. We do charge £2 per person, per session, to help with the lunch. We aim to give people a better life and stop isolation. Check out their face book page for more details.

Cherry Orchard Garden Service (COGS) - COGS focuses on independent living and employability for adults with learning disabilities. COGS creates a work environment, where we focus on employability, community involvement and independent living. They will take part in work in the community, including local contracts and domestic gardening. We want everyone who comes to COGS to be able to live and be employed with minimal support. We operate Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 15:00. COGS only closes for bank holidays and a week over the Christmas period, barring unforeseen circumstances. For more details contact their web page https://www.staffordshireconnects.info/kb5/staffordshire/directory/service.page?id=AS- wzPjNtE4

The Voluntary Car Scheme (Lichfield and Cannock Chase) – This scheme was formally run by Support Staffordshire until funding was cut by the County Council. It was decided that the only way for the scheme to continue was to run the scheme as a charity which Jan is in the process of organising. The charity uses volunteer drivers to take people primarily to doctors or hospital appointments. Although this isn’t a free service, it’s cheaper than getting a taxi and the driver will wait up to two hours for you. For more information contact Jan on 01543 303023 or 01543 303025.

Burntwood Live at Home Scheme - Burntwood Live at Home is part of a national network of schemes supported by MHA. We provide a wide range of services to support older people in the local area. We offer a wide range of services including a variety of

lunch clubs, dance and computer classes, dementia day care, day trips and mini trips and an annual holiday. All of this information is contained in the newsletter they produce. For more information on the scheme see the minutes from the forum in March.

BLAST (Burntwood and Lichfield Autism Support Together) - Awesome Group for Awesome Autistic Kids! We are here to celebrate diversity and share our knowledge about autism. Navigating life in a neurotypical world can be difficult for children with Autism. Learning social rules and understanding expectations without suppressing our wonderful, funny, creative kids is a difficult balancing act. Building confidence and independence in what can seem to be a very confusing and overwhelming world can be hard. But with the right knowledge and support our children can soar and achieve their potential as amazing adults. The group meets at Burntwood Library weekly. There will also be a full program of events run over the summer.

Burntwood Breast Care – This group was set up over 10 years ago to support ladies with breast cancer. At the time there was no support in the area for ladies. The group receives no financial support and is run donations. They meet up every 3rd Wednesday at the Burntwood Memorial Community Institute.

Friends of Chase Terrace Park – After a town meeting in February friends of Chase Terrace Park have taken over the running of the park from the council. They hope to have the lease set up by the end of the year. The group has lots of ideas for activities in the park but need the input of the local community. The group relies on donations to keep the park running. Check out their face book page.

4. Networking / Information Sharing session.

Claire asked if there were any other attendees who wished to stand up and share any news, and the following people took this opportunity:

 Mark Lawton – Brighter Futures (Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline) https://www.brighter-futures.org.uk/  Graham Hunt – introduced himself as the new Town Clerk for Burntwood Town Council  Eric Harding - The Diocesan Digest Sound Magazine of Lichfield Cathedral  Debbie Nash – Lichfield & Children’s Commissioning Officer SCC  Helen Titterton – Places of Welcome  Chris Humphreys – Community Engagement Lead – HS2  Ali Betteridge - Patient and Public Engagement Advisor - University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust  Tracey Hackett – Citizens Advice

Then everyone was given the opportunity to network together and to refresh their drinks.

5. Closing Remarks / Evaluation Forms

Claire closed the forum and thanked everyone for attending the meeting this afternoon. She asked that groups fill out the evaluation forms as this is a good way for Support Staffordshire to obtain feedback.

DATE OF NEXT FORUM: Monday 16th September 2019, 14:00 – 16:00. Location:- Curborough Community Association Contact [email protected] to book your place.