Agenda and minutes

Northampton Borough Council – Disabled Peoples Forum

Friday, 27 November 2015at 10:00am until not later than 12:00 pm

The Holding Room, The Guildhall, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE.

Welcomes, introductions and apologies 

Present: Martin De Rosario (Co Chair MR), J Forrest Smith (JFS), Dawn Panter –(Northamptonshire Carers, DP), Anne Frost (Northamptonshire Carers, AF), Beverley Mennell (NBC Tenant, BM), Matthew Toresen (Voluntary Impact Northampton, MT), Jane Carr (Voluntary Impact Northampton, JC) Jessica Maryan (Deaf Hub, JM), Eira Bassett (Independent, EB), Simon Burgess (Independent, SB), Barbara Barber (Independent, BB), Larry Barber (Independent, LB), Jacky Moore (ADHD Matters, JackyM), Emma Sibbald (Autism Concern, ES), Graeme Wilson (Northamptonshire Sport, GW), Carl Wieninger (Northants Polio Fellowship, CW), Alice Morgan – (NBC, AM), Nisha Mejer – (NBC, NM)*

*Took minutes.

Apologies: Cllr Larratt, Elnora Latchman,

Minutes and matters arising

Amendment 5^th paragraph on page 3 – JC  “supports” the volunteer sector.

Planning sub committee

AM updated the Forum about item 4. AM liaised with the planning department. It was felt that an additional meeting was not required. Instead a sub committee will be set up to discuss accessibility of new buildings with public access. AM has asked the planning dept to notify the Forum of relevant planning applications.

The dept is aware that the forum is keen to give input and will let the forum know at the pre planning stage. In some circumstances will still accept comments after the statutory period.

Door to Door

JFS raised concerns for the Door 2 Door services. JC stated that she is member of the CEFAP Panel and explained that the number of organisations applying for funding is getting bigger.  It is a difficult decision making process.

BM commented that organisations need to talk to others groups and be smarter with other transport organisations and not solely depend on funding. LB asked whether it was illegal for Door to Door to ask for a booking fee.BM suggested that the concept of having a booking fee should be part of the business plan to instruct customers of the fee. JC added that organisations do charge a membership fee and people can earn an income form this. BB stated she was a regular user of Door to Door and people put donations in the box at the bus. BB would not like to see any further funding to be cut for this group.

Disabled Facilities Grants

BM suggested that staff from Northampton Partnership homes to be invited to explain why money is not paid out. Government allocate subsidies for disabled people’s facilities grants. There needs to be a fine check on expenditure.

AM will look into this for next year but have to limit items on the agenda.

JC gave an overview of VIN and explained that she sits on CEFAP Panel.

VIN was set up to encourage volunteering and to recruit volunteers. There is a need to support volunteers so that this can be a thriving sector. VIN is contracted by County Council and NBC and is free to use. Voluntary Sector Groups can contact VIN for support. JC also represents Health and Wellbeing Board and sits on scrutiny committee. JC is Chair of Health and Wellbeing Forum.

CEFAP is a panel with representatives from the volunteer sector and councillors. Funding is given is very competitively and grants are not given automatically. A lot of time is spent making the difficult decisions as to who receives funding. It is important for groups not to become reliant on this funding.

RS raised the concern that larger organisations have a bigger influence. JC stated that there is mixture of both large and smaller organisations that receive funding. It is more important to look at the impact of the organisation. There are also small grants available for these particular groups. The key is to join with other organisations in partnership. Training is also provided and MT can help with this. There is a bid checking service too.

BM explained that organisations can access local councillors to ask for Councillor Community Funding.

CW commented that there seems to be distinction between large and small organisations, and questioned whether it is more sensible to talk about local and national groups instead.

JC advised that the CEFAP panel support local organisations and local organisations with national affiliation. For instance, the panel have helped Age UK Northampton as their work, and head office, is local to Northampton. Door 2 door still receives a large amount of funding compared to others. But all organisations have to be more innovative.

RS disagreed that there is a balance, and felt that national organisations still have an influence from central organisations. JC stated that this is a difficult as there are no big pots of national funds and this effects local people. However, small grants are available for specifically for small organisations. There is a misconception about this.

BM commented that NBC employed somebody to create a funding formula. This formula is invaluable, and NBC should support organisations trying to access funding.

JC advised that the amount the NBC gives to organisations is still a lot compared to others. BM added that we should be proud of NBC as funding is passed on. Organisations need to be smarter and need to work properly as a partnership to be more efficient.

MT will attend forums except Youth and Women’s Forums, JC attends the Women’s Forum. On the Partnership grant, MT advised that VIN can look at forms and act as a critical friend. Organisations need to work in partnership with other groups hence the name “Partnership Fund.” This is the foundation of this process. MT suggested that for instance Door to Door could work in partnership with other transport  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

AF and DP gave a presentation about the group Northamptonshire Carers. The

Organisation supports carers, and in particular people who care for Dementia

sufferers. There are approx. 8000 people who suffer Dementia and unpaid carers

save the government £11 billion per year.

The remit of Northamptonshire Carers is to support the needs of the carers after

diagnosis of the sufferer and to help the families affected. Many services are offered. This includes sit in services, taking patients to hospital appointments. There is also a choir, ukulele groups, gym membership and holistic therapies as part of the services.

Northampton Carers concentrate on the Dementia Care Advice Service and receive

Many referrals from this.

Northamptonshire Carers have made links with BME groups and people can self-refer.

CW whether it is known if there are on average more male or female carers?

DP advised that reports suggest that women have dementia more than men. But this could be because women visit the doctors more than men. Tend to come across more male carers who need the support.

CW asked whether the organisation work on preventative measures. DP advised that the organisation are fairly involved with Dendron at Berrywood Hospital and try to work with their research programmes, but are not directly involved in preventative work. The strategy is to keep people in their own homes. Health and wellbeing and exercise has a beneficial impact on the patients. 

GW added he would like to involve people with dementia in sport.

 JackyM asked whether there is support for young carers.

AF advised that the organisation work with the family and the main carers. Can offer direct payments and there is a small budget for this. Young carers not a specialist area for AF or DP. However young carers are offered support in and out of school.

DF explained that Northamptonshire Carers is one organisation and work under one umbrella. There are different specific contacts to meet the needs of people.

RS asked many people are supported in the BME groups.

AF advised that their contract states that the target is for 6% and this has been met, although they would like to increase this in future. Carer assessments are carried out and specific needs are addressed.

AM - Organisations have been invited to attend the International Day for People with Disability. The Guildhall Great Hall was unavailable due to Christmas parties being held. The only venue which was available was the One Stop Shop.

The event has been publicised and forums have been invited.

There was only limited space and apologies were made to people who couldn’t have a stall this time. There has been a huge interest in this event and will look into this for future.

NM read out list of organisations attending and work which has already been done for the event. Organisations attending:

Autism Concern

ADHD Matters

Northamptonshire Rights & Equality Council

Deaf Hub

Northamptonshire Police

Dementia Action Alliance

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Northamptonshire Association for the Blind

Call Care

Healthwatch

Northamptonshire Carers

British Polio Fellowship

Shared Voice Network

Local Offer

AM also reminded the group that a planning sub group will be formed to look at planning applications. Please contact AM to be part of this.

BM - would like to invite somebody from NBC to try and find out about the formula which is used for fundraising. ACTION: VIN to do a joint talk with AM to talk about funding advice for organisations.

Next meeting

-           Update on disabled facilities grants.

-          Presentation by Deafhub

AM advised that meetings have been changed to 10.30am -12:30pm, in order to allow time for attendees to get to meetings, who use a bus pass after 9:30am

RS raised that he felt there is an issue with transport expenses. He shared that he is facing difficulties due to having a dog that won’t go in taxis and therefore may no longer be able to come. AM advised the issue of expenses is being dealt with directly by management and can be taken up outside the meeting as there is already an existing dialogue with RS on the matter. BM commented that the way NBC pays expenses is very important, and have to be careful that expenses paid are not duplicated. In the case of RS this appears to be an individual issue. LB suggested that the mobility allowance should help cover costs.

CW raised concerns for the Northampton Polio Group as it is relatively small, and asked if there is an opportunity to come together with other groups. CW also questioned which organisations can come to the Forum meetings. Organisations which represent and help the people of Northampton are welcome to attend the Forum.

AM shared that the World Aids Day ceremony will be taking place on 1^st Dec at 12pm in the Guildhall Courtyard.

GW gave an update on the work that Northamptonshire Sport has done:

-          Eleanor Robinson (13 year old Para – Swimmer with Dwarfism) from Northampton recently won the Disabled Sports Achiever & Young Sports Woman of the year awards at the Northampton Leisure Trust awards. This then qualified her for the Northamptonshire Sports Awards at which she won both categories again. This year she has made her debut for Great Britain at which she broke the world record in the 50M Butterfly for her S6 classification.

-          Northamptonshire Sport are currently developing a Special Olympics group in the county which will provide more training & competitive opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

-          Northamptonshire Sport are also working in partnership with Age UK to run  a project called ‘Inspire & include’ which aims to get more older people (55+) with Dementia participating in sport on a regular basis. First years delivery is focussing on Bowls, Boccia & New Age Kurling.

-          Northamptonshire Sport recently ran 2 ‘Autism Awareness In Sport’ courses that were attended by a total of 28 sports coaches. We are now looking to grow links with ‘Autism Concern’ to offer additional support to sports coaches in the county as well as promoting sports opportunities to Autistic people.

-          The first ever visually impaired person participated in Northampton parkrun in October & has continued to do so regularly since. This came about as a result of a ‘Sight Loss & Guide Running’ course ran by Northamptonshire Sport. Hoping for more visually impaired people to participate in the event in the future as well as others with any disability, or sensory impairment.

-          Wheelchair Rugby taster sessions have gone well at Northampton University with 6 new players  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Friday 22^nd January 2016 10.30am -12.30pm, Holding Room, The Guildhall

January 22^nd 2016. 10.30am – 12:30pm