Annandale & Eskdale Forum

Friday 27th March 2015, Annan Town Hall Chambers

Attendees:

Canonbie and District Residents Association / Bill Frew
Canonbie and District Residents Association / David Moore
Canonbie and District Residents Association / Kathleen Moore
Community Sport Development Hub / Sue Brodie
D&G Citizens Advice Annan / Brenda Waugh
D&G Disability Access Panel / Alex Thorburn
D&G HandyVan/SRHSS / Carol Neilson
D&G Leader Programme / Derek Hextall
Dumfries and Galloway Hard of Hearing Group / Dennis Arnold
Ecclefechan Carlyle Society / Mary Hollern
Food Train / Vicky Henshall
K9 Fire Detection / Duncan Carmichael
Langholm Initiative / Margaret Pool
Langholm Initiative / Anne Murray
Langhom Initiative / Judith Johnson
Lochmaben & District Community Initiative / Howard Baisden
Lockerbie and Lochmaben Mens Shed / Colin Howe
Lockerbie Old School Project / Jackie Moffat
Moffat Promotions Group / Sarah Ottewell
Relationships Scotland Dumfries and Galloway / John Dougan
Scottish Health Council / Noreen Caldwell
SHAP / Julie Robertson
SHAP / Elaine Lamont
SHAP / Liz Forsyth
Shelter Scotland / Wendy Hamilton
Sports Driving Unlimited / Rosemary Flexney
The Eskdale Foundation / Ian Macgregor
TS, D&G / Chick McKenna

In attendance:

A&E Area Lead, TS D&G / Abi Roberts
A&E Convener, TS D&G / Eileen Usher
CEO, TS D&G / David Coulter
Dumfries and Galloway Council / Harriet Oxley
Dumfries and Galloway Council / Jamie Ferguson
Dumfries and Galloway Council / Ingrid Gemmel
Events Lead, TS D&G / Eppie Sprung
Facilitator/Speaker / Iain Guthrie
Health & Social Care Alliance / Jacqui Reid
Health & Social Care Alliance / Jeanette Donnelly
Policy, Research & Community Planning Officer, TS D&G / Hayley McGowan

Presentation delivered by the Health and Social Care Alliance on Health and Social Care Integration and the third sector’s role within this.

Main issues in discussion:

-Question of “how is it going to affect me?”- some less interested in the structure, more interested in the result, too jargon-heavy

-How does it impact on the work of third sector organisations?

-Confidence building and financial support needed for representatives – what ‘makes’ a representative? How can they match up to paid reps e.g. councillors and ‘experts’ – what skills are needed? How to avoid always getting the same people and ensure a ‘fair’ balance?

-Need more opportunities to identify common ground and design joined up/partnership projects

-Information dissemination essential – service users know little about integration

Community Learning & Development (CLD) – presentations delivered by Annandale & Eskdale CLD staff and Iain Guthrie

Main issue in discussion

-What CLD are you doing? – sharing of information within communities, developing community development plans, community resources and cafes, provide training and awareness of issues e.g. hard of hearing, volunteer training, deliver youth theatre – confidence building skills, youth awards, signpost adult learners to local opportunities engaging young people with golfing

-How do we work better together – change of mind-set needed, it’s not just CLD workers who deliver CLD

-If we’re all delivering, how do we ensure quality assurance?

-Finance and timescales aren’t equal because the 3rd sector can’t keep up – parity of esteem and resources issues

-Groups thathave no direct contact with CLD – “don’t know about us” – voluntary contribution from groups is not captured by CLD

-What is going to happen in the interim until the strategy is live?

-Heartening to see that CLD is widening and opening up to all voluntary groups

-Feel under-supported unless ‘social care’ group

Next steps for the forum (out of discussions):

-Importance of individuals/groups being heard when giving up the time to attend the forum

-Need to know who does what and share connections – more time for networking and discussions needed

-Encourage participation of the public sector

-Forum agendas and meetings decided by the community

-Venue central to reduce costs

-Technology – Third Sector Interface need to make information more public e.g. ‘talking head’ YouTube videos orpodcasts made available on website