MINUTES OF THE BRANCH MEETING HELD ON 6th APRIL 2017 AT THE BRANCH HEAD QUARTERS SWINDON.

The meeting was opened by the Vice Chairman at 1935hrs

Dedication and silent tribute read by VT

IN ATTENDANCE

Hugh Thompson (HT) / Vice Chairman / Welfare Lead / Caseworker
Ian Hone (IH) / Secretary / Caseworker
Graham Turner (GT) / Treasurer / Caseworker
Vince Taylor (VT) / RAFALO

1 APOLOGIES

Stu Patton / President
Roy Lobley BEM / Chairman
Sandie Rule / Assistant Secretary

2 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

2.1 The minutes of the last meeting held on 2 March 2017 were accepted as a true record. Proposed by GT seconded by VT

3 MATTERS ARISING

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4TREASURERS REPORT

4.1 The Treasurers report was written and presented by GT

"Good evening Mr. Chairman and fellow committee members. As of today (Thursday 06 April 2017) the Branch Treasurer account stands at the constantly healthy total of £31,747.38. Since the last committee meeting the following transactions have taken place;

Paid out of the account

R. Lobley – National conference fuel receipts and accommodation - £178.10

Dorothy Rule – Cleaning - £60.00

RAFA Club 1st Qtr invoice - £1,118.60

Paid into the account

Stein financial - £100.00 (Car park donation)

C. Cross - £50.00 (Car park donation)

RAFA Club - £260

Berrystone Office rent - £300.00

Mr. Leon Malherbe - £50.00 (Car park donation)

Barbara McNie - £50.00 (Car park donation)

Richard James - £350.00 (Car park donation)

Berrystone Electricity Bill - £134.10

The last transaction date was for the 06 April 2017.

This Mr. Chairman concludes the Treasurer's report."

5 WELFARE REPORT

5.1 The welfare report was written and presented by HT

Mr Chairman, fellow members, the Branch Welfare Account as of today, stands at £2607.13. This stated balance includes £1295.56 which is monies I am holding on behalf of the RAF Ben Fund against successful grant applications, therefore our working Welfare capital to-day stands at £1311.57. Plus, we are soon due back £260.00 from the RAF Ben Fund against a pending RFA renewal which would then bring our working capital back to £1571.57.

As regards casework, and as previously reported, I’m still involved with our long running client out at Stratton who I’m still guiding through the DFG process for a stair lift and a wet room shower.

Last month I reported that I was involved with a veteran who needed a stair lift. I attended a meeting at his home on Thursday the 2nd March, (day of our last branch meeting), along with a council O/T and a council engineer as a potential DFG was involved. As it turned out the engineer advised that a stair lift would not fit the client’s property staircase and further advised that the client’s needs would best be served with a through the floor lift involving major structural work. Such an option was much more expensive and the local authority, in these austere times, may not fund such work. So, the O/T and her engineer colleague, left the meeting with a promise to keep me “in the loop”, to consult with their local authority financial masters.

However on-going events took over, the meeting was on the Thursday of that week, on the Sunday of the same week, and the client’s wife rang me to say that her husband had passed away on the Saturday evening as the probable result of a heart attack.

So that was a sad one, I subsequently represented the branch at the old chap’s funeral a week or so later.

Again, on the subject of funerals, along with Vince and a uniformed party from both JDA Shrivenham and RAF Brize Norton, I represented the branch at the Highworth funeral of a Bomber Command veteran with an impressive, if not scary, wartime record. Roy was unable to attend due to medical appointments.

Another case referral we had from Area involved an ex-WRAF supplier and a working single mum living out at Compton Bassett. She has an eight-year-old daughter with severe sight problems and had approached RAFA for financial assistance in obtaining some essential household items. I visited the client and carried out a “needs assessment” which included looking at her financial status and on balance I decided to meet this client’s needs on this occasion from our own local funds rather than going to the RAF Ben Fund. She was delighted.

Roy has had a successful case in within the last month obtaining funeral bill and general needs financial assistance for an ex-Rock-Ape” client in the Salisbury area.

Our work with RFA’s for appropriate needy clients goes on, I’ve recently paid out on behalf of the RAF Ben Fund on two cases, one of which relates to the £260.00 I’m awaiting back from them referred to earlier.

Our weekly RAFA “Welfare Surgery” at the RBL “Pop-In” centre continues we are well integrated with our RBL colleagues and help share the overall casework

Regarding the rest of the Welfare Team, Roy is as you know getting over his “op”. Graham, Ian have you anything to add to the Welfare report.

Mr. Chairman, fellow members, that concludes my April 2017 report.

6 OTHER REPORTS

·  WINGS RL presented the report on behalf of RL.

RL has received a reply from Morrison’s stating that the Company did not have any available slots at the moment. RL was requested to make a further application in 6 Months time.

·  RL has completed the proforma for TESCO collections during September/October and returned to CHQ.

·  THE Wings account stands at £145.53

RAFALO

·  The RAFALO report was written and presented by VT

·  Past Events

·  16 Mar 17 The Shrivenham Stn Cdr + 3 others (accompanied by 6 RAF Brize Norton

·  Personnel) attended the funeral of WW2 veteran Charles Cawthorne (Lancaster bomber squadron member) at St Michael’s Anglican Church in Highworth.

·  17-19 Mar 17 WO Taylor represented Shrivenham at the Area Conference that took

·  Place at the Derwent Hotel, Torquay.

FUTURE EVENTS

·  12-14 May 17 – WO Taylor will be representing Shrivenham at Annual Conference in Stone, Staffordshire.

·  Tue 16 May 17 – Shrivenham Health & Wellbeing Day

·  Fri 19 Mar 17 – Collection at Dobbies in Cirencester.

·  Fri 28 Jul 17 – Collection at Morrison’s, Haydon Wick Swindon.

OTHER MATTERS

·  Next meeting is on Tue 11 Apr 17

7 OTHER NOTIFIED REPORTS

7.1 The Delegates report was written and presented by HT and has been sent out by HT under separate cover.

8 AOB

8.1 HT advised the meeting that RL was the appointed Data Protection Officer and has advised Area.

8.2 The Branch has received an invitation from the President to visit RAF Brize Norton. It was agreed that HT will liaise with the President to establish a suitable date. The Branch would then establish the number of members who wished to attend and make suitable travel arrangements.

8.3 The Annual Conference will take place between the 12-14 May 2017. HT will be the Branch Delegate and will vote on the Motions as appropriate.

9 DATE OF THE LAST MEETING

9.1 The date of the next meeting will be held on 10 MAY 2017 commencing at 1930hrs.

There being no further business the meeting was close by the Vice Chairman at 2015hrs

PER ADURA AD ASTRA

H Thompson

Vice Chairman

!0 May 2017