VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM

4 March 2014 – 7 – 9 p.m.

Room 3, Walthamstow Town Hall

Present

Chair: Cllr Liaquat Ali MBE, JP

Officers:Angela Hall – Voluntary Sector Officer

Claire Witney – Culture and Community Manager

Julie Simmons - Community Development Manager

Voluntary Sector Groups

Contact / Organisation / Email/tel
Abdus Choudhury / Victim Support / .
Steve Williams / Voluntary Action WF /
M.Y. Qureshi / The Seniors
Mrs Khudeja Razi / Waltham Forest Asian Seniors Club /
Zulfigor Khan / Harmony Interfaith /
Sarah Kinson / Voluntary Action Waltham Forest /
Rosalind Zalicks / Apex Arts/Carefree Kids /
Farooq Mir / F.E.I. / 07958218859
Shabana Shaukat / Barefoot Institute /
Grace McCauley / W.F. Camesddrian & Friends Assoc
Marjorie James / Forest YMCA /
Brian Kapp / Voluntary Action Waltham Forest /
Sabina Kosek / Sun Shiners Group /
Hazzena Szymczyk / Sun Shiners Group /
M A Zahid / Omeed-Bridge the Gap
M. Afzal / Omeed- Bridge the Gap
Dr Najeeb Ahmad / Health & Happiness for All /
1 / Apologies and introductions
Tim Bennett-Goodman and Barbara Bishop – Voluntary Action Waltham Forest; Sarah Humphreys (Vice Chair); Sub Sahir-Manager Asian Seniors Club; Saira Mier / ACTION
2 / Minutes of 10 September 2013
These were accepted as drafted
3 / Matters Arising
A request was made to schedule future meetings in advance to avoid a clash of meetings for other services. Claire Witney advised that people need to cross check when setting/agreeing meeting dates as the VSF dates are set a year in advance
4 / Waltham Forest Compact
Voluntary Action WF stressed the need to encourage VCS groups to sign upto the Compact as it’s of benefit to this group. A copy of the Compact is on VAWF website for easy access. VAWF would like to encourage more people to sign up to it as it provides the tools for better relationships between the voluntary and statutory organisations – especially regarding the commissioning processes. This Compact was launched in June 2013 and encourages partnerships between voluntary and statutory organisations. Some VCS groups felt the information is vague and therefore did not fully understand how it benefits them – it was acknowledged further information is needed to be distributed to the VCS. Signing up to the Compact is via VAWF website – link will be sent out to all groups to encourage them to access further information as well as signing up to the Compact. Angela to also include link with these minutes. / VAWF
Angela
5 / Grants Update
Claire Witney presented this information and advised that despite WF Council facing a number of pressures the grants processes will continue as normal. The match funding and volunteering support funding round ending 3 February has been assessed and is awaiting approval before being announced. The Arts Development grant round closed 18 February 2014 and decisions will be made by end March 2014. There is also Community Cohesion grant available. Contact .k for further information regarding these grants.
6
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4 / Any Other Business
Crefree Kids: Blackhorse Road Station - a new student accommodation is being built in this area which will increase the numbers of residents. It was queried whether the Council have considered how to manage this increase in residential households within this area. A new school is being built and within all new development, there is a Section 106 clause which addresses infrastructure needed within new residential developments. Claire replied that these issues would have been considered by the regeneration team responsibility for this development. Claire asked VCS to submit any ideas they have regarding the Blackhorse Lane leisure facility which include art/community spaces; café and performance space.
Omeed Bridge the Gap:
International Women’s day event taking place on 8 March which will involve road closures due to a planned big march ending at the Town Hall. Claire advised the Police are informed and have worked up a plan to deal with this event. Further eventsscheduled inside the Town Hall will continue after the march.
Barefoot Institute: this organisation is running a pilot project for Muslim couples who are divorcing and are experiencing difficulties communicating with each other. They are asking that VCS groups refer known people to them. VAWF is supporting them by recruiting volunteers to their service. Victim Support will also refer people to this service as they deal with a variety of issues including domestic violence.
VAWF announced and invited VCS to attend their Emergency General Meeting taking place on Thursday 27 March 2014 at their offices from 5 pm. to discuss VAWF’s future.
7 / Future Meetings 2014
It was suggested to hold the next meeting during Small Charity Week in June. The following dates are proposed:
18 June 2014: 7 – 9p.m. Room 3, Waltham Forest Town Hall
9 September : 7 – 9 p.m. (room tbc)
11 December: 7 – 9 p.m. (room tbc)