Notes from HULON meeting of 31st May 2016
at SPECTRUM Centre for Independent Living CIC, Unity 12,
9-19 Rose Road,
Southampton SO14 6TE
Present:
David Cherborne (Victory Hants), Pam Cull (SPECTRUM), Brian Cummings (Victory Hants), Dianne (Chrysalis), Abdi Elmi (SPECTRUM), Chris Hall (Parability), Rachel Harrison (Disabled People’s Voice),Keith Hatter (Winchester Area Access for All), Tina Jacobs (Victory Hants), Ian Loynes (SPECTRUM), Lise Marron (Capable Creatures), Jennie Musson (SPECTRUM), Peter (Capable Creatures – Lise’s PA), Maurice Sweeney (Test Valley Disability Forum),Radhia Tarafder (Hampshire Independent Equalities Forum), Gerry Zarb (SPECTRUM).
Apologies:
Janet Chierchia (GO LD), John Evans, Jim Morey (Gosport Access Group & Disability Forum), Rich le Peuple (Greenbuttercup CIC), Iain Speed (All Inclusive), Ed Walton (Hampshire County Council).
Matters Arising:
Action/Rich to revise Constitution and send final version to HULON – OUTSTANDING.
ACTION/Tina to send information about Mental Wellbeing Tournament in Lewes to Gerry – ACTIONED.
ACTION/Rachel to send Abdi details for Kenyans in Hampshire – Rachel will send them HULON launch event info.
The Minutes were agreed as a correct record.
1) Updates from Members
Parability – Chris Hall
- Parability Fest was very successful and another is being planned for 5th May 2017.
- Parability’s bank account has been moved.
- the email address has now been discontinued and any new emails should go to: .
- 3 students are working with Parability
-Parability are now signed on to Googlemaps.
Hampshire Independent Equalities Forum (HIEF) – Radhia
- HIEF’s aims overlap HULON’s. There was a meeting with Gerry and Abdi re merging HULON with HIEF. This is something which would have to be discussed with the rest of HULON.
ACTION/JULY AGENDA
- HIEF are doing a consultation with the ambulance service which went well. It is foreseen more of this work will be done in the future.
Disabled People’s Voice – Rachel
- Disabled People’s Voice is now a co-op.
- Promotional literature and membership is now being sorted out
- 22nd Sept – Middlebrook Centre – Transport Conference – involving Disabled People, local and district councils, local transport providers – event will cover what problems exist and how they can be solved.
- PA recruitment website – the pilot should be up and running in September.
Chrysalis – Dianne
- Chrysalis is looking at social media training for their staff
- Projects underway include a project on the Isle of Wight for young people and their parents; the intention being to provide a “cradle to grave” support system for people who are transitioning. Several sources of funding have been lined up for this.
- The Trustees hope to arrange a ball for the beneficiaries in either September or October.
Winchester Area Access for All – Keith
- Ongoing access problems with busses as well as the bus stops in Hanover Buildings as all stops are request stops.
- Driver awareness training is needed re visually impaired people and people with hidden impairments.
- WAAFA is in contact with Winchester City Council tourist offices and have contributed to feedback on Winchester tours.
- WAAFA is in contact with Hampshire Ramblers re giving feedback on making routes accessible.
Test Valley Disability Services - Maurice
- The group has been running for 6 months and the Mayor of Test Valley is championing the group.
- They are engaging with the Police and making the group more sustainable.
Capable Creatures – Lise
- Monthly dog walks are successful.
- A “Let’s Bark” fundraiser challenge is being organised for 23rd July at the 3rd Age Centre.
Victory Hants – Tina
- The Open Minds National Football League is being held on June 27th and is open to all inclusive teams
- Hampshire’s Got Talent is being hosted in Portsmouth on 12th November and is inviting acts.
- Transport remains a big issue for clients – limited accessibility.
SPECTRUM – Gerry
- Gerry has submitted a funding application to Hampshire County Council for 12 months for HULON to cover the costs of keeping the group going and to fund mentoring resources and events. Nothing has yet been heard from Hampshire County Council as to whether the bid has been shortlisted. The shortlisted entries will do a presentation on 10th June. If this funding bid is unsuccessful, another will be made for Lottery funding under Reaching Communities.
- July’s launch event – Gerry has asked a couple of speakers from funding organisations if they would speak at the event – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Fund and Awards for All.
- SPECTRUM has been doing access audit work for an NHS trust in London.
David Cherbourne
- His group runs music workshops for blind people,
- Brian Cummings is a MIDAS instructor for Victory Hants and can help the group in this way if needed.
2)Possible HULON & HIEF Merger
- As these two organisations carry out very similar work, it was suggested that the 2 organisations merge. There was a discussion of the potential impact of this, including widening HULON’s remit and reaching out to the wider community, like HIEF.
- The response to a possible merger was generally positive.
ACTION/Gerry to produce short note on both organisations so that people can make an informed choice.
- It was suggested that “user-led” was kept in the name of the group to try and get this term generally accepted and recognised.
- Funding issues were discussed – ie if funding for HULON was obtained from Hampshire County Council, this would be awkward, but not insurmountable. If HULON merged with HIEF, it would be more sustainable and also HIEF’s networks are already recognised by HCC.
- The idea of a merger will be put to the wider HULON group to get everyone’s feedback and a note will be sent to the members before the next meeting.
3) July Launch Event Planning
- The event will be held on Monday 4th July 2016 in the Discovery Centre, Winchester.
- It was suggested that this day be as flexible as possible, to enable time for both speakers and networking.
- It was decided to have stalls set up round the outside of the room with space in the middle for people to have demonstrations of what their group does (ie, Chrysalis does art therapy). They can also speak about their group if they wish.
- Ed wanted people from the Transition Teams to come and meet ULOs as this will be useful for the council’s co-production agenda and get others involved.
- It was suggested that the morning should be turned over to networking and stalls with an hour for the speakers at lunchtime.
- Need a 10 minute intro to HULON – what it is, why it was formed, hopes for the future.
- Lise and Dianne may not be able to attend the event.
Transport: -
- The ULO team will arrange for a courier to collect items for the event and bring them back. Parability is affliated to Basingstoke Community Transport and could use their minibus.
Suggested Agenda for the Day:-
- Intro to HULON, then 40 mins for workshops, Hampshire County Council and Funding bodies talk for half an hour and then more networking and demonstrations.
4)Roles of Treasurer, Chair & Secretary
- This will depend upon whether HULON and HIEF amalgamate.
- It was suggested that Radhia takes one of the lead roles.
- It was agreed that no Treasurer is needed yet and a floating chair was suggested. It was thought, however, that this worked well for chairing meetings but not so well when it came to running an organisation.
- There was a general feeling that a Secretary and Treasurer were not needed right away.
- An acting Chair was suggested and they should be mutual to both HIEF and HULON.
5)Next Meeting Date
- Mid July
- Venues: Andover and Fareham were suggested.
- ACTION/ULO team to send email to HULON asking who would like to be Chair.
- Action/Maurice to contact Abdi re venues for next meeting after the launch event.
6)Any Other Business
- None arising.
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