Agenda item

To receive verbal reports from representatives of the community forum’s involved in the Group’s work.

Sue Lister, one of the Older People’s Assembly representatives, reported on their Photograph/Information Fair held in the Guildhall with 30 stands and attended by the Lord Mayor. She circulated copies of the programme booklet for the York 50+ Festival to be held from Saturday 27 September to Sunday 5 October 2008, which contained details of around 70 events to be held during the week. She also reported that Ingram’s Solicitors had chosen the Older People’s Assembly as their Charity of the Month for September/October.

George Wood, of the Valuing People Partnership, reported that the partnership board had been restructured and that it was now in a position to support and bring together disabled people and develop a single strong voice for them. He confirmed that their first meeting was to be held shortly and that it was hoped to make some strong connections.

At the invitation of Lynn Jeffries Evie Chandler spoke on  issues regarding the development of the Disabled Peoples Forum. She reminded the Group that last year student volunteers had assisted in developing a voice for disabled people but that they were still to report back on their findings. She confirmed that a number of the students involved in this work had now withdrawn from the project either due to study pressures or because they graduated leaving only two students. Higher York had indicated that they could possible support the project. Lynn Jeffries and Nicola Bedford from Higher York would meet to discuss.

Nicola Bedford, representing Higher York, confirmed that their group was a partnership with University of York students to support voluntary groups and that they were discussing joint collaborative voluntary projects.

Steve Rouse, representing Young People, reported that students from Applefield’s School had recently undertaken their first expedition in connection with the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. He confirmed that they had overcome a number of difficulties to successfully arrange for the expedition to take place. He also confirmed that funding had been made available to hold a young people’s disabled trampolining group, which would be held on Monday evenings for 12 weeks.

Daryoush Mazloum, told the Group that the BME Citizen’s Open Forum had been involved in the Early Music Festival on 22 July 2008. The BME Elders Group were examining advocacy and accessing advice together with networking with different ethnic backgrounds. He confirmed that they were encouraging the elderly to participate in new ventures and he referred to the International Shared Meal event to be held on Saturday 25 October 2008 at the Central Methodist Hall in St Saviourgate, which they were helping to organise.

Tricia Castle, representing York Interfaith Group, confirmed that their Group was also involved in the organisation of the Shared Meal. She went on to state that the information received from the questionnaires sent out requesting details of the current work and concerns of faith and belief groups in York were now being input into their database. She confirmed that part of their SIWG budget money had enabled them to arrange additional meetings of their Group in Priory Street, which allowed better access for all. She also confirmed that their calendar on the York Interfaith webpage had now been updated. Their next meeting coincided with the 50+ Festival and was to be held at Priory Street on 1 October.

Sandra Gilpin, reported that York First were involved in “The Dream Snatcher” a project in the Studio at York Theatre Royal, on 29 November 2008. She explained that the author and performers would be in attendance to answer questions after the performance. She reported that their group had been involved in a hate crime drama and had attended Police and Safer York meetings. The previous day they had been involved in a very enjoyable visit to the Call Centre at Fulford Police Station. She confirmed that the Safer York Partnership had paid for the production of a leaflet on hate crimes. Finally the group had started an Archaeology Club to introduce its members to history and archaeology.

Becca Cooper, also from York People First, circulated copies of their newly published Autumn 2008 newsletter and told the Group of work they had undertaken. She also told the Group about a meeting they had had with the Healthcare Commission about how services were commissioned.