Sheffield Equality Hub Network
Disability Hub
20 May 2015
Actions and notes
Attendees
2
· Anastasia Kelly (AK), Disability Sheffield – Chair
· Andrew Crooks (AC), Disability Sheffield
· Alan C Kewley (ACK), Sheffield for Democracy
· Blake Williamson (BW), IE
· Cate Jockel (CJ), Sheffield City Council (SCC), Transport Vision and Strategy Team
· Craig Williams, Service Improvement Forum (SIF)
· Darren Lee, Free Voice People's Parliament
· Dave Cooper (DC), Community Transport - South Yorkshire
· Diana Stimely, Sheffield 50+
· Emma Cawley (EC), SCC, Joint Learning Disabilities
· Fiona Harrison, Partners for Inclusion
· Jacquie Stubbs, Partners for Inclusion
· Joy Marshall, Sheffield 50+
· Julie Smethurst (JS), Access Liaison Group
· Kathryn Littlewood, Disability Sheffield
· Manal Al-Wadhan
· Marie Knott, SCC, Communities, Joint Learning Disabilities
· Martin Brighton, Housing Equalities Group
· Michelle Turner (MT), Shopmobility
· Rachel Sanchez, SCC, Equalities and Involvement
· Stacey Anderson, Transport 4 All
· Stacey Heritage, Cloverleaf Advocacy
· Steven Storey
· Toby Morgan, Sheffield Health and Social Care
· Wilma Smith, Royal Voluntary Service (RVS)
2
Apologies
2
· Emma Slater-Clayton, SCC, Activity Sheffield
· Euin Hill, Access Liaison Group
· Faraz Choudhry, Heeley City Farm
· Ian Wright
· John Kirkman, FLASh ASIG
· Kath Housley, LGBT Sheffield
· Patricia Western
· Paula Turner, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE)
· Sarah, RVS
· Susan Kirkman, FLASh ASIG
2
Actions
· Share list of names and email addresses of attendees with attendees – RS
· Circulate presentations to Disability Hub – RS
· Circulate the Praise and Grumble form – EC/RS
· Contact SCC Equalities and Involvement Team (, 0114 273 5861) if interested in being on the Disability Hub’s advocacy working group – All
Transport – presentations, Q&A and feedback from measure board/display
· AK explained that the Disability Hub Committee decided to first have a presentation from the Disability Hub. AC, CW and BW presented on disabled people and transport, with statistics and information about the law, as well as some case studies.
· There was a presentation about Transport 4 All from MT, JS, CJ and EC. The presentation included information about who the group is and what it does.
· There was a presentation about Sheffield Community Transport (SCT) from DC.
o Social inclusion is top priority for SCT.
o They have a good, accessible fleet and drivers are fully trained.
o Feedback from a survey of service users in Stocksbridge is that their service has completely changed lives.
o They are working with Alzheimer’s Society towards being a dementia friendly organisation.
· South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and First South Yorkshire were invited but were unable to attend.
· Attendees had an opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions and share their thoughts about transport through a Q&A session and through the measure board/display.
o It was suggested that the Praise and Grumble form, developed by SCC Travel Solutions Team and used by Travel Trainers, should be the responsibility of transport providers and should be made available on all buses, trams, trains.
o It was suggested to make an easy read version of the Praise and Grumble form.
o It was suggested that feedback should be given to people who submit feedback/‘praise and grumble’ form, to close the loop.
o “Better DET training for all transport staff”
o “Disability Sheffield volunteer embarrassed by Tram conductor challenging her over her over use of having her pass. Volunteer has cerebral palsy but impairment not visible.”
o “More opportunity for feedback on buses, trains, taxis, etc.”
o “The best bus drivers are ones that will help you if they see you are struggling with scanners and help you scan your bus pass or give you a ticket. The worst drivers are the ones that swear at you and make you take everything out of your purse.”
o “We have some lovely friendly drivers on our route who greet passengers in a cheery and welcoming manner – and it is so nice! That’s my praise.”
o “For me, drivers following their training and doing what they are meant to do, such as: Putting the ramp out; Asking pushchair handlers to move; Waiting until I am seated/parked up before moving off. That’s my grumble.”
o “Wish it was easier to amend passenger details when booking assistance on trains, e.g. if one gets a later train need a way to contact assistance while travelling.”
o “Making trains a priority for people in residential care, where funding is tight.”
o “Day of praise for transport – linked to praise or grumble form on bus or tram”
o “First Bus drivers not as helpful to older people and disabled people. To access the buses I was told by Transport Executive that there was wheelchair training but that some leave their engines running whilst at bus stop – emitting obnoxious fumes.”
o “I hope the Hub is not just a talking shop and it campaigns for real change, and not there just to let off steam.”
o “Problem at busy bus stops where buses may not pull up to the stop but stack behind other buses and then drive off. Visually impaired person may not know the bus has arrived/gone.”
Feedback on independent advocacy
· There was another call for volunteers to form a working group on independent advocacy. This group will look at the feedback on independent advocacy in more detail and develop an action plan.
Advancing the Disability Hub’s priority issues
· Priority issues for the Disability Hub are employment, independent advocacy and transport.
· It was agreed that CW would be the link between the Disability Hub and Transport 4 All. He is a member of both groups. He will be supported by the Disability Hub Committee/RS to fulfil this role.
· ACK invited the Disability Hub to work together with the Sheffield 50+ transport focus group.
· It was agreed that employment would be the focus of the next meeting.
· It was agreed that the Disability Hub would have a ‘Member Champion’, a Sheffield councillor who would champion the work of the Disability Hub.
Equality Hub Network events on health and hate crime – planning groups
· Many of the Equality Hubs have identified hate crime and health as priority areas. The interim Equality Hub Network Board decided that 2 joint Equality Hub Network-wide events on hate crime (16 June) and health (21 July) should be organised.
· These events are being organised by planning groups consisting of members from each of the Hubs, SCC and partner organisations such as South Yorkshire Police, Healthwatch Sheffield, NHS trusts and Sheffield CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group).
o Blake Williamson and Jacquie Stubbs are on the hate crime event planning group.
o Steven Storey volunteered to be on the health event planning group.
· The format of both events will be presentations, roundtable discussions and an action planning session in the afternoon to look at feedback from the discussions and feedback forms.
· Disability Hub Members should speak to the members of the planning groups if they have ideas/suggestions for the events.
Evaluation of the meeting
· A total of 6 feedback forms were received but not all questions were answered on every form.
o Question 1: Have you enjoyed the format of the meeting? 6 ‘Yes’ (100%)
o Question 2: How was the length of the event? 4 ‘Just right’ (80%) and 1 ‘Too short’ (20%)
o Question 3: Did you feel able to participate? 6 ‘Yes’ (100%)
o Question 4: How would you rate the way information and talks were presented? 1 ‘Okay’ (17%), 4 ‘Good’ (67%) and 1 ‘Very good’ (17%)
o Question 5: How would you rate the Q&A discussion? 1 ‘Okay’ (20%), 3 ‘Good’ (60%) and 1 ‘Very good’ (20%)
o Question 6: Was the venue accessible? 6 ‘Yes’ (100%)
o Question 7: Was any support you needed provided? 5 ‘Yes’ (100%)
o Question 8: Overall did you find the afternoon to be worthwhile? 6 ‘Yes’ (100%)
o Question 9: Any other comments or anything you would find useful at the Disability Hub meetings?
§ Only the start. What's to follow? Contact with other groups with similar aims?
§ email to be sent
o Question 10: Would you like to receive further information or to find out about other Equality Hub related events? 3 ‘Yes’, 1 ‘Already informed’
Details of next meeting
Thursday 24 September 2015, 1:30pm to 3:45pm, The Circle
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