ICNC Minutes 29 January 2014
In attendence:
Ruth Hayes Advice Network (Chair)
Mike Sherriff Voluntary Action Islington (Chair)
Chris Taylor Voluntary Action Islington
Mark Brennan Homelessness Network
Rahel Geffen Islington Disability Network
Colin Adams Octopus Community Centres
Aisha Forbes Islington BME Forum
Abigail Kienbaum Islington Community Network / Islington BME Forum
Teresa Esan City & Islington College
Apologies:
Rob Hamilton Older People’s Network
Anita Grant Islington Play Forum
John MacKinnon Sport Islington
Ros Miller Faiths Forum
Rachel Toogood Creative Islington
Eyasu Buba Islington Refugee Forum
Phil Watson Voluntary Sector Health Network
1. Previous minutes and matters arising
It was confirmed that MS had written to Richard Watts and Janet Burgess regarding voluntary and community sector (VCS) representation on the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). The reply stated that there will not be a representative from the sector on the board. However, HWB meetings are public and there will be events held to consult stakeholders.
Action: MS / CT to circulate letter and reply.
Action: CT to circulate details of HWB meetings.
Action: CT to circulate 2014 dates for the Saturday Night Project.
It was clarified that the Community Chest feedback in the last minutes was a personal view and not representative of all VCS sector panel members.
Action: CT to ask relevant networks to share Community Chest information advertising to ensure groups under-represented on the programme are reached.
2. Presentation from City & Islington College on Traineeships
Teresa Esan, of City and Islington College, delivered a presentation on the government’s Traineeship scheme, which aims to improve the employability of young people.
Teresa responded to questions, advising that: there is provision to ensure access to the programme for people with disabilities, referrals are not made through JCP so failing to complete the programme would not incur benefit sanctions, and, so long as there is a routine for trainees, there is flexibility around their working hours and patterns.
Action: VAI / ICN to hold a briefing event on traineeships in February.
3. ICN Update
AK introduced herself, gave a brief description of the welfare reform research project, underway in partnership with the Islington BME Forum, and invited members to take part. CT, AF and RH will meet to discuss the involvement of Advising Islington Together in the project.
Action: CT to ask ICNC members if they would like to join an ethics committee to oversee work on the welfare reform research project.
It was agreed that the ICN Annual Meeting should be held following local elections, in June or July, so that, if the council appoint a new lead for communities, they can be invited.
Action: CT to suggest a date for the annual meeting.
4. Draft voluntary sector election manifesto
Members commented on the draft manifesto. It was thought that particular reference should be made to poverty and inequality.
Action: a final draft to be circulated by MS for feedback.
5. VCS Election hustings
It was decided that the election hustings event will take place on the morning of the 15 May. Suggestions were made for a chairperson.
6. Voluntary Sector Conference follow up
It was confirmed that the 2013 voluntary sector conference had excellent feedback. A report is being written up which will include recommendations based on discussions at the conference. Progress on those recommendations will be shared at the 2014 conference. Tackling poverty was suggested as a theme for the 2014 conference.
Action: CT to invite people to join the working group for the 2014 conference.
Action: CT to re-circulate progress on recommendations from the 2012 conference.
7. Islington Employment Commission
A VCS representation to the Employment Commission was thought desirable. The sector is relevant to the commission in three ways: as employers, as providers of employability support, and through volunteering as a route towards work. It was proposed that an ICNC member take the lead for each of these three themes in preparation for engaging with the commission.
Action: MS to invite the Chair of the commission, Robert Khan, to meet ICNC.
8. Forums Feedback
CA – The Executive Member for Tenants, Residents and Communities has informally advised that organisations should start collecting evidence to demonstrate impact in order to secure continued council funding. It is expected that the council grant fund will be retained, but what size it will be is unknown. The council wants to involve the sector in deciding what themes to focus grant spending on.
Members considered arranging for the new councillors to visit local services run by voluntary organisations.
RH – The Advising Islington Together Conference will be held on 11 February and a website will be launched. Islington Law Centre’s social enterprise, Green Shoots, will open on 17 February.
RG - DAII will be drawing up a manifesto and holding a hustings event for the elections.
9. Community Chest update
The Community Chest panel members agreed that the last panel meeting had been an improvement. They individually reported that; equalities monitoring is still an issue, BME communities are well represented and that good support is offered to organisations that are not hitting targets.
Action: CT to circulate details of the information sessions that prepare groups to apply to the Community Chest.
Action: CT to circulate details of VAI capacity building support sessions.
10. ICN suggestions for themes of VCS Committee meetings
Members put forward food poverty and the campaign for 'common rights' for homeless people as possible themes for VCS Committee meetings.
Action: CT to request further suggestions from ICNC by email.
11. AOB; venue of next meeting
Action: CT to email ICNC with suggested dates for 2014/15 meetings.
Action: CT to liaise with CA on holding the next meeting at one of the Community Hubs.
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