Agenda and minutes

Jane Carr welcomed everyone to the meeting and said that unfortunately Cllr Anna King had sent her apologies for the meeting.

Introductions were made by everyone in the room.

Apologies are listed above.

It was noted that Cllr Geraldine Davies and Morcea Walker were omitted from the apologies of the previous minutes.

Matters arising

The action points relating to Anna King could not be discussed.

Alice Morgan said that she had contacted Avon. They were unable to be involved this year as they were busy with a number of their own programmes. Alice has asked to be kept aware of future programmes.

Morcea Walker to circulate the dates of the workshops for the Carnival.

The minutes were agreed.

(Note: A representative from NCCG was unable to attend the meeting).

NHFT work at a strategic level but are also involved at grassroots level and in Northampton as a town.

NHFT provide over 140 service lines including all of the community services, some dental, health visiting services, district nurses services, local community mental health and health service for some prisons.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s) determines how they deliver services. They try to ensure that every community is represented.

NHFT are also looking to work outside of the county.

Question and Answers

Q. Women’s health and women suffer in times of austerity such as with domestic violence, podiatry etc. Is there a NHFT Community Forum?

A. They did try to develop a community forum but this did not take off so instead they try to feed in to groups. The CCG’s have forums that are of a particular focus however NHFT are keen to get involved with the Women’s Forum. It could be beneficial for groups to link in with the community forums to influence and develop relationships.

Jane Carr said that NVC are speaking to groups such as CCG, Nene etc. at a strategic level.

Q. Instead of creating a different forum could they use the Northampton Women’s Forum as a platform?

A. They are looking to work at a countywide level.

Q. Do you link in with children’s centres and Age UK Northamptonshire?

A. They work with the children’s centres but haven’t done so much with

Age UK. They are keen to involve the sector however this is harder in terms of commissioning.

Q. Jane Carr commented that there is a cost to involve the voluntary and community sector and that it is not free. She also said that the members of the women’s forum also represented their own organisations/groups so there is a lot of potential there.

A. NHFT is a provider and not a funder however there is some scope for the sector to deliver services. There is some engagement already with the vcs as some of the services are being delivered by some groups. However they are keen to continue to develop a formal relationship with the vcs and stakeholders through sponsorships and service level agreements. The

CCG’s have money so it is worthwhile letting them know what organisations do.

Other discussions included:

·        how NHFT assess outcomes and outputs

·        engagement at strategic level and engaging with vcs in delivering some of the services

·        the different issues that impact families ie mental issues, an increase in rickets in the county and for communities to let NHFT know what their health priorities are

·        the need to challenge commissioners and becoming more involved

·        working with BME communities

·        developing a well-being strategy that is holistic and providing a wellness service

·        different needs for women’s services and cuts to services.

TendaiNdongwe to email Equality Assessment Impact.

Further amendments were made to the Terms of Reference (amended paper attached).

ACTIONS:

·        Khatija Barday-Wood to contact business groups, women’s institutes and the University.

·        Alice Morgan to contact the children’s centres

·

Alice Morgan said that NBC has pages on its website which basically outlines each forum. There is one email address for all the forums, and Alice has access to this mailbox. The email address via the forum is not frequently used.

Alice also said that she has now been trained to be a web author and is able to update the website pages of the Forums.

The group discussed the type of information required which included:

- Who is on it

- How to get involved

- Dates/times of meetings

- Minutes of meetings

- Consultations through website

- International Women’s Day

Alice to find out if it is possible for a separate page and/or email for the women’s forum.

Anna King and Liz Carroll-Wheat are leading on this. Alice Morgan said that they are looking to use the Museum as the main space with the possibility of satellite events.

Anna to send email to groups for interest.

Alice Morgan to circulate email about what the current plans are.

There were discussions on how well the previous events were with lots of good stalls and networking but not much footfall.

NBC to look at publicity.

All suggestions for activities and ideas to draw people in to be fed back to

Alice.

There were discussions on what the aims of the group were.

·        The forum to be strategic to input and impact. Northampton was the only borough in the county to have a women’s forum.

·        Collectively: to plan work

·        Have the mechanics to track what is going on for women in Northampton and to capture the information.

·        Impact decisions around health

·        Themes – which deserve bigger issues including input from women affected

Suggestions for planning the work of the Forum included:

·        Influencing, getting out to women who are not supported

·        Bringing in people from health, police – get feedback for groups

·        PCC – funds

·        Health – ie sexual violence

·        Delivering partnership activities collectively – adding value

·        Developing a work plan for next 12 months

·        Communicating together better

·        Influence policy and be a catalyst of change

·        Involve some events

·        Highlight the work of the forum

·        Being creative. To be a mixture of a sounding board and be able to inform strategically

Geraldine Davies asked how we can influence themes like crime and how to raise the profile. Jane Carr said that NVC and NBC will know what is happening and that they will try to keep everyone updated.

Sumriya Women’s Group: Copies of their latest newsletters were available at the meeting.

EIMAN: They are going to send a survey out about violence against women and children. This is aimed at Muslim women and women of different faiths.

Khatija Barday-Wood will send out the link to this. They will also be sending out a survey based around education.

NBC: Alice Morgan said that in January 2014 the NBC budget is coming up for consultation. They would like to consult with the Women’s Forum, and Cllr. Bottwood will be attending the next forum meeting on Thursday 28^th January to do this. Attendees were also invited to the Budget Public Meeting on 30^th January if they are not able to make the date of the next Women’s Forum meeting.

NHFT: Tendai spoke about their cost improvement programme.

NABPFA: Julia said that they were making very good progress. 3^rd March was their partnership day. Since the last forum meeting, four women had responded. They are also looking to hold satellite events internationally.

NRICC: They were conducting research through secondary schools and are keen to get more schools involved. Their aim is to get 10,000 responses of which they currently have 3,500.

Dawn to contact Alice Morgan, Morcea Walker and Tendai Ndongwe for further contacts.

Danielle Stone said that there is a Poverty Watch at Open Door in Kettering Road tomorrow at 1.30pm

Morcea Walker

On Friday, NBHA will be holding a black cake competition for Caribbean

cakes. This is a social evening and everyone is welcome to drop in. This

is starting at 6.30pm and will be held in the Doddridge Centre.

Holocaust Memorial: This will take place on 27th January at 6.00pm. There will be a lunchtime ceremony. For details contact Morcea Walker or Alice Morgan.

Geraldine Davis: The Far Cotton Residents Association is making hampers for people in the community such as Age UK, Cynthia Spencer and the children’s centres. If anyone would like to donate tins then to leave them in the Labour office in the Guildhall, Sandy’s florist or the post office in Towcester Road.

NVC: Jane Carr reminded everyone that NVC has an events calendar on their website and to let us know if they have any events that they would like promoted.

- Consultations: Influencing budgets and NHFT

- One billion and rising – feedback

- Top 3 priorities: planning list from Terms of Reference

- International Women’s Day

- Additional items of interest (Vicki /Alice to check)

Tuesday 28^th January, 11am-1pm, The Jeffrey Room, Guildhall

28^th January 2014, 11.00am – 1.00pm. Venue: Guildhall, Jeffrey Room