Minutes of volunteer coordinators Breakfast Networking meeting Thursday 24 November 2016

Present: Donna Talbot community CVS, Maggie Leslie RRR, Tracey True, BWDBC Community Locality, Michelle Neale BWD Healthy Living, Clare Hobley BWD Carers Service, Mark Wood Age uk BWD, NanceyKinyanjue Health watch BWD, Phil Galpin RRR, Beverly Marsden Community CVS.

Presentation from Michelle BWD healthy living Bill Buster project;

  • Currently in the 3rd year and is funded by the lottery till the end of March 2018
  • Have been able to give grants through carris for people currently up to £100,00
  • We visit individuals at home
  • They look at switching to other placement providers to be more cost effective.
  • Work with DASH to be more energy efficient
  • We can look to getting old boilers replaced – depends on age of boiler and number of radiators.
  • Signpost individuals to other services, once she has met up with the families they tend to open up about other issues.
  • One case study is that they recently was working with an individual who had experienced many setbacks as a result they ended up with a £9k energy bill which Healthy Living have successfully cleared.
  • I run a weekly drop in at the foodbank – Friday its really good as we can link clients up to a contract with the foodbank so that they do not have to present ID etc every week also there is a clothes bank, most clothes are sold for 30p however if there are clients with nothing the foodbank will give the clothes for free.

Q.What is the referral process?

A.Referral process – website or call office 01254 292650 leave name and contact number a member of staff will contact the individual within 48 hrs.

Q.Do you run workshops educating people on energy efficiency?

A.Yes we do, if you have a group that would like us to run a workshop just contact me

Q.Do you have leaflets and posters?

A.Yes if you would like some just let me know

Q.Do you have set dates for workshops?

A.No we hold them as and when needed.

Presentation from Red rose recovery – Maggie locality support worker;

  • Service is for adults over 18 years old
  • REO recovery infrastructure organisation
  • Not treatment based – Community based
  • Supporting individuals into treatment
  • The main focus is RECOVERY
  • Encourage people to move forward
  • Have volunteering opportunities and training as a coach
  • Have 3 areas;

Hope project – Hals (hospital alcohol liaison service), 6 Week programme early interventions.

Amega – Criminal justice – Focused on tenancy agreements, Ni number, the grass roots stuff – 12 month programme

Community Coaching – 6 day training programme, 121 support for individuals, volunteer have lived experience. Don’t do home visits

  • LUF – Lancashire user forum;

Service led – the volunteers do the agendaand organise the events. It’s about volunteer having a voice and sharing experiences and achievements. It bring awareness to the recovery community.

The next LUF will be in Blackburn – Date T.B.C

  • There are a few referral pathways – community referrals, hospitals (HALS team), criminal justice (Preston Referrals) Local offices in Accrington.

Q. what’s the level of homelessness amongst the people you support?

A. 5-6% based over the last quarter

Q. How do we contact you?

A. leaflets are being sent out and contact details are – Maggie 07718578296.

Presentation from Tracey BWDBC Community locality worker;

  • Work with communities, police and council
  • It’s all about the residents
  • Support volunteers
  • Work with troubled families and transforming loves
  • Set up a neighbourhood course for free
  • Have work clubs
  • Help with funding
  • Also help with community disputes

Q. how do we refer in?

A. call into little Harwood children’s centre, Audley neighbourhood centre or Darwen town hall.

We also have shared neighbourhood meeting and the information is on the council website.

EVENT - Roe lee park on 3rd December are having a ‘winter wonderland’ is anyone would like a stall or table please contact Tracey on 01254 506910

INFO - We could also get Damien Talbot in to chat about what the local MP can actually do within our communities.

Update from Tracy from CAB – Now offering a debt drop in 10.00 to 1.00 Mondays in Kate’s offices on Richmond Terrace.

Update from Age UK Hopwood court – Mark Wood;

  • We now have meeting rooms that people can use
  • We have a calendar of activities – to be sent out
  • The Christmas fayre in Thursday 01 December 12.30 to 14.30

Next Volunteer Coordinators Breakfast Networking Meeting to be held on

Thursday 26th January from 9.00 at the Boulevard Centre, 45 Railway Road,

Blackburn BB1 1EZ, Tel: 01254 583957