Agenda item

Luisa Jepson – Hate Crime Co-ordinator, Northamptonshire Police

LJepson spoke to the forum about the changes in Northamptonshire Police around hate crime, outlining the closing of the Hate Crime Unit back in April. LJespon is now the Hate Crime Coordinator for the Force, and hate crime is now dealt with by local police teams and CID. LJepson is visiting a number of the NBC forums and other community groups to gage peoples’ experiences of hate crime at the moment, and their experiences with the Police.

LJepson was invited to attend the next forum meeting in January to discuss this further. 

Community News:

BB was concerned that Door to Door buses are now forbidden to pull into the layby by the market square, since the new bus station was built. BB and LB questioned why other cars are able to pull into the bay, but not a bus for disabled people. This has made it very difficult to disabled people to get around town. BB shared a photograph of other cars and vans using the bay. Action: AM to discuss this with the Town Centre Manager.

GW updated the forum with the following disability sporting news

1.    Eleanor Robinson (Winner of the 2014 Northampton Sports Awards Disabled Sports Person) success at the British Para–Swimming Short Course Championships: http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/news/2014/12/northants-para-swimming-pair-win-at-national-championships

2. Northampton Rowing Club now offering sessions for disabled people & those with Sensory Impairments:

http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/news/2014/09/northampton-rowing-club-offers-sessions-for-disabled-people

3. Wheelchair Dance taster session being planned for Saturday 28^th February 12 – 3pm at Duston Sports Centre. More details to follow in the New Year.

4. Northamptonshire selected as ‘Hot Spot’ area for Bowls so will be opportunities & efforts to get more people especially those with a disability/impairment participating in the sport:

http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/news/2014/12/northamptonshire-announced-as-bowls-hot-spot

5. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) are targeting Northampton to get more disabled people playing the sport in the Borough whether that’s at clubs, parks, schools, day care centres, or any other amenable facility. Anyone interested in getting involved as either a player, or an activator (basic coaching & organise sessions)  should contact Nina Bridge at  the LTA either via email Nina.Bridge@lta.org.uk or phone 07971 141173.

6. Golf also targeting Northamptonshire as a county to get more disabled people and those with a sensory impairment playing the sport. New project starting in March will see Professionals from clubs around the county offering sessions for disabled people & those with impairments at their clubs & other settings where disabled people reside. For more details should you be interested please contact David Davis from the Northants Golf Foundation on  daviddavisgolfpro@yahoo.co.uk 07846 142297.

7. Northants Recreational Cricket are carrying out some research to find out the thoughts & experiences of disabled people & their Parents/carers regarding Cricket that will help to shape future developments in the sport for disabled people & those with a sensory impairment. They’d really like to get as many people completing the surveys as possible of which more details & the links to the surveys can be found in the news item below:

http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/news/2014/12/disability-cricket-research

8. Northamptonshire Federation of Disability Sport (NFDS) recently concluded their ‘Inclusive Coaching Month’ project which was funded by Northants Community Foundation. The project was designed to up-skill sports coaches & other people involved in the delivery of sport in the county to make them more aware of how to include disabled people & those with an impairment in sport/physical activity. More details about the project can be found in the 2 links below:

http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/news/2014/12/inclusive-coaching-and-activity-forum

http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/news/2014/10/inclusive-coaching-month---complete

DS asked GW whether walking football is available in the town. ACTION: GW agreed to get the details of this is DW after the meeting.

SW from NAB has been working closely with NBC and the contractor on the opening up of Abington Street, which is due to be opened shortly. SW has requested the introduction of contrasting artificial curbs, appropriate signage and other safety features in order to ensure the safety of visually impaired people using Abington Street. NBC would not include these features in the original design. SW has concerns about the safety of the road, being 30mph without a controlled crossing point, and will be pushing for a safety audit to be done once the road has been opened. Cllr Larratt asked whether safety features have been included in Guildhall Road also. This will be discussed again at the next meeting.