Wigtownshire Forum

Friday 20th February 2015, Burns House, Stranraer

Attendees:

Clare Stroyan / Alzheimer Scotland
Mhairi Ross / Apex Scotland
Gary Small / Apex Scotland
Neil Irving / Capability Scotland
Kenneth McKeand / Dumfries and Galloway Carers Centre
Elizabeth Sykes / Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service
Jim McColm / Enable
Fleur Roddy / Loreburn Housing Support Service
Sylvia Young / Loreburn Housing Support Service
Gillian Templeton / Stranraer Skills Station
Nadia Naggar-Smith / Support in Mind Scotland
Angela Coid / Turning Point Scotland

In attendance:

Events Lead, TS D&G / Eppie Sprung
Health & Social Care Integration Project Officer / Ewan Marshall
Operations Manager, TS D&G / Heather Marshall
Policy, Research & Community Planning Officer, TS D&G / Hayley McGowan
Wigtownshire Area Lead Officer, TS D&G / Viv Smith
Wigtownshire Convener, TS D&G / Peter Ross

Presentation by the Health and Social Care Alliance on Health and Social Care Integration and the third sector’s role within this.

Main issues:

-Representation for region wide organisations within localities

-Third sector organisations losing time spent on service users to attend meetings – issue of ‘talking shops’ with no actions

Community Learning & Development – presentation by Iain Guthrie

Discussion around importance of ‘intelligent conversations’

Main issues:

-Challenges around the term ‘3rd sector’ – feelings that it is divisive when all partners are sharing the responsibilities. Need to be clearer on our own agenda as a sector, risk of 3rd sector voice getting lost in decision-making processes

-Lack of parity of esteem – e.g. resources, would be useful to ask “How can we make this fair?”, challenge of large, diverse sector

- Finding common ground – the need to unite as a sector vs. competition within the sector

-Forum to be used a space for respect and trust – better engagement in the forum = better advocacy for the sector at meetings

-Importance of representing the greater good rather than own organisation

Social Return On Investment (SROI) – presentation by Eppie Sprung

Discussion around how SROI can benefit organisations

Eppie to follow up with organisations

Actions

Identify key players in the community who are not involved with the Wigtownshire Forum – Peter & Viv

Possible ‘speed dating’ event with public sector partners – Hayley, Peter & Viv

Creation of online networks – feed relevant information to forum members via email & possibilities of community site/social media e.g. Facebook & Twitter groups to be explored – Hayley