Agenda and minutes

ATTENDANCE: Pauline Woodhouse (PW, Co-Chair), Debbie MacColl (DM, NBC), Natasha Tyrell (NT, Genii Group), Kate Holt (KH, Healthwatch), Sheila Baker (SB, Townswomens Guild), Irene Bianchi (IB, Aquarius), Morcea Walker (MW, Individual), April Ventour-G (AV, Eve), Pindy Chahal (PC, SCCYC), Kate Scott (KS, NABPFA), Michael Macleod (MM, NBC).

APOLOGIES: Ann Bodsworth, Louise Musson, Neelam Aggarwal-Singh.

Previous minutes were accepted.

MM talked through AB e-mail - “Currently there has been no funding allocated from the local borough’s/district councils, a proposal put forward by Phil Harris NBC, hasn’t been taken forward by the county Chief Housing Officers Group? NDAS/EVE hoping that the MHCLG funding is released soon, to enable refuge sustainability.”

NT talked through presentation and explained how she started Genii Home Care and the services that they offer such as:

Genii Homecare and Lifestyle Services, Genii Retail Therapy, Genii Educational Services, Genii Technologies, Genii Environmental Services and Genii Wellness and Wellbeing Centres (Social Enterprise).

https://www.geniigroup.co.uk/

Q: Could you tell us more about the centres?

A: Looking to buy and renovate a building in Northampton, still a growing company so the centre this idea is still in the developing stage.

Q: Would you be open to coming out to other communities?

A: Yes, that would be a good idea.

KH talked through the Healthwatch presentation.

Sole purpose of Healthwatch is to make sure people are heard – it is a champion for health and social care.

ACTION: MM to send presentation/information out to forum members.

Has statutory right to be on the Health and Wellbeing board of Northamptonshire.

Another statutory role is information and signposting.

Healthwatch can escalate things to the highest level if necessary.

All reports can be found on the Healthwatch website - http://www.healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co.uk/.

Q: What are some of the key challenges right now?

A: Healthwatch is small but has to know every detail about health and social care. The less funding there is available, the harder it is to keep on all of this information. So now Healthwatch has to prioritise certain issues.

PW: The Young Peoples conference is well worth going to.

PW: We are looking at making International Womens Day better and how we can make the day better, especially for speakers.

SB: It could be better to have a speaker on the balcony so the sound surrounds the room.

DM: There is a St James WoA coming up in the first week of June. There is also another WoA at St Davids in late July/early August.

ACTION: DM to send NT WoA dates.

KS: The Big Ride for Palestine – cycling from Coventry to London. Cyclists can still sign up now – ride is in August. All proceeds will go to a Middle East children’s charity which supports children in need.

The visit from Palestinian women was a success and very informative.

PC: There is a ladies event – stalls are welcome too. Sunday 8^th July 1pm-4pm at Camp Hill Community Centre.

ACTION: MM to send further information out to forums once received.

Healthwatch also have a newsletter – send info to healthwatch@northamptonshire.co.uk

ACTION: MM to send out information about Eve and the new forum focusing on issues faced by black women once recieved.

IB: Aquarius have moved to St Giles street unfortunately that means no training room, training will still be on but not at the old address – 6^th June training course in Rushden. Still offering gambling advice and help to people effected by gambling.

SB: There is an event to celebrate inspirational women who have changed society with multiple speakers – 7^th July 10am-4pm. Trying to open new Guilds in the Northampton area. Also looking to try and combat loneliness. Mandates include asbestos in schools and making marriage under 18 illegal.

Meeting finished at 12:30pm