MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING – FRIDAY 14th OCTOBER2016
PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT– LINDSEY
I have recently returned from a week’s annual leave.
Clients/Befrienders
I visited 2 clientswhile they were in hospital last month, they are both now recovering at home. Our client who fell and broke her arm is now recuperating at home. I visited her a couple of weeks ago. She is glad to be home and seems to be progressing well. We still have one client in hospital. She has been in hospital for quite some time and was discharged recently but unfortunately it didn’t work out. Her family are looking at alternative accommodation for her and hope it won’t be too long until she is discharged again.
I matched one of our newly trained befrienders with a client about 4 weeks ago. Everything seems to be going well and they are enjoying outings together. I have arranged to match one of our unmatched volunteers with a client early next month. We still have one newly trained unmatched male befriender and whilst he doesn’t mind visiting a lady, all the ladies on our waiting list would prefer a female befriender. We are therefore, need a male client and lots of female befrienders!
Our supply befriender is visiting a client while her befriender is recovering from an operation and will visit another client for 2 weeks while her befriender is on holiday later this month.
I have visited 3 ladies who would like a befriender; they are now on our waiting list and I have a new referral to visit next week.
Integration Care Fund Report
I have now received the templates for our funding report which is due to be sent to Gary Malone at Voluntary Action Angus by 10th November.
Voluntary Action Angus AGM
I plan to attend the AGM on 21st October.
Networking
Pauline and I met with Fiona Bridges the new Advocacy Worker at Angus Independent Advocacy.
Sylvia Breen, Communities Officer with Angus Council came to see our new office and to have a chat. Sylvia was very supportive in our quest to find new premises and put us in contact with relevant people.
We also discussed the Communities Team and Voluntary Action Angus new venture. They are working together to develop a project with people in the local community. The purpose of the project is to find out 'what does your local community mean to you? They are currently looking to attract people in the Carnoustie and Monifieth area who would like to and would benefit from getting involved. Participants would help to plan and deliver the project, which will involve looking at ways to make connections with the wider community and seeking people's thoughts. I e-mailed thisinformation onto our volunteers.
Donations
We are grateful to recently receive £42 from Monifieth and District Rotary Club and they have once again kindly agreed to contribute £250 towards Christmas gifts for our clients. We also received £50 from a donation via Graeme Dey MSP.
Book token
Jane Andrews PhD student from Edinburgh University sent us a £20 book token as a thank you for helping her with her research project into befriending people with dementia. She also gave a gift to the client who helped her. Any suggestions on how to spend it?
CURRENT FIGURES – 14th October2016
CLIENTS
Total number of clients partnered / Older clients partnered / Bereaved clients partnered / Care home clients(partnered with 6th pupils)47 / 31 / 6 / 10
DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICE
Total number of people waiting for our service / Older people / Bereaved people10 / 9 / 1
VOLUNTEERS
Total number of Befrienders partnered / Befrienders partnered with older clients / Befrienders partnered with bereaved clients / 6th year pupils partnered within care homes43 / 27 / 6 / 10
Befrienders partnered with more than 1 client / Supply Befrienders / Trained unmatched Befrienders
able to befriend / Befrienders temporarily unable to befriend
6 / 1 / 2 / 1
Management
Committee
7
*Beforemaking a match we always take into consideration our clients and volunteers’ needs/availability/preferences and more importantly, compatibility, therefore it is not always possible to matchclients on our waiting list with available unmatched volunteer.
Development coordinator’s report September 2016
Monifieth High School
I have had a lot of contact this month with our young high school volunteers. Because of restrictions in timetables and availability of staff in the care homes introductory visits have been spread over the last few weeks.
Four of the young volunteers were given very difficult or inappropriate clients for whom, as it transpired the service was not beneficial. I monitored this very closely and it became apparent that, despite the young people’s commitment and perseverance, these were not matches which would provide neither the young people nor the clients with a positive experience, so I have arranged that on their return to school next week they will meet with four other ladies.
At our first support lunch in school we had very positive feedback from everyone else, with their experience being just as I had hoped.
I met with our “calendar boy” to discuss the first draft and to supply more photos. We agreed that we would sell them as we did last year with a pre order system at the afternoon tea and the High School Christmas Fare. Again the pupils have agreed to help out with this.
Book Group
This month we discussed Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas, at Shiela’s and as usual a lively entertaining discussion ensued.
In the winter moths two of our members have other commitments on a Tuesday so we are looking to move this to a Thursday night instead. At present there are a seven members, including our newest recruit who joined us for the first time this month.
Bodies Alive
This is due to start on Thursday 13th October, in the MAD theatre. Several of our regulars will not be returning as their health has deteriorated, but we have two new recruits who will be attending.
TSSF
This month Gary was keen to take stock of what the forum was about, it’s aims and objectives and how VAA could input. I feel that it is taking a different direction and that the time and cost involved in my attendance, could be better used elsewhere, so I am suggesting that I no longer attend these meetings.
A spin off to these meetings is the Older Peoples’ forum, but as yet it is unclear as to whether or not these will continue.
Action Plan
I had a look at the Strategic plan that Jane had drawn up a couple years ago and decided that our priorities are slightly changed so I have drawn up an action plan as a starting point for discussion.
New Volunteers
I spoke to a lady at Dundee and Angus college with a view to recruiting volunteers from the social care section. She was very keen I speak to the students and assured me that volunteering is something that is encouraged and our scheme would be perfect. I emailed her a flier to be displayed in the college and am still waiting for the promised invitation to talk to the students in person. Hopefully when she returns from her holidays, I’ll be first on her to do list!!!
Social Committee
The social committee organised a lunch in the Broughty Ferry Hotel and is in the process of organising a trip to Mama Mia in Edinburgh on 4th January.
Pauline