Network Information Sharing Meeting
Held Wednesday, 18th September, 2013
Present:
 Hilary Goldstein
 Chesing Lee
 Elli Galvani
 Andrea Wershof
 Paulette Kelly
 Ann Garrard
 Vanessa Smith
 Kate Harvey
 Keith Smith
 Rani Raju
 Nandhini Krishnamurthy
 Karen Douglas
 Evelyn Reid
 Glenda Yearwood
 Femida Dadabhai
 Ummay Kulsoom
 Saffina Masood
Pre-school Learning Alliance
Redbridge Chinese Development Project
Eden’s Trust
The Parent Voice
Children’s Centre
RCYPN/Newbridge
Barnardo’s
RCYPN Volunteer (Minutes)
Parents of Autistic Children Together (PACT)
Redbridge carers
Redbridge Forum
Redbridge Forum
RCYPN Volunteer (Minutes)
Eden’s Trust
Redbridge Vision
RCYPN Volunteer
RCYPN
Apologies:
 Ravi Walters
 Keith White
 Sonia Anderson-Cunningham
 Sue Reeve
 Lesley Perry
 Deborah Wiltshire
 Lynne Wooley
Norwood/RCYPN
Mill Grove
Home-start
Redbridge Connexions
LBR
DABD
Girl Guiding
Welcome and Introductions
Welcome and introductions were made. Participants were asked if they were happy for photographs
of the meeting to be taken by a volunteer for the RCYPN publicity and website which is being
developed. There were no objections.
Minutes of Last Meeting
Page 2 – ‘Speakers booked to Feb 2013’ should read ‘.... to Feb 2014’
Matters arising
 Consultation on School Nursing Service – this has not yet started. Healthwatch Redbridge is
advertising for someone to do this.
 Newbridge Ofsted Report was Outstanding in all categories. The Head Teacher is retiring on
a very positive note.
 PACT – work experience trainee Ben attended many meetings, and enjoyed the RCYPN
meeting the most. He felt very welcome and sends his thanks.
Chair’s Report
 Ann thanked all the volunteers for keeping things going during the holidays.
 The audit report has been received and now goes to the Trustees for approval.
Coordinator’s Report:
Website: Naz (volunteer) has had a baby and so could not complete the website before leaving.
Saffina is meeting a possible replacement on Friday;
Film: Thanks to Sy who has completed film for AGM and website;
Fundraising Consultant: Draft Business Plan produced. Meeting again in October to finalise and
then will start applying for funding;
Funding:
 Independent examination of accounts complete
 SP monitoring return - September deadline met
Training courses organised:
 Safeguarding Level 1 & 2 – 10th and 24th October – 9 bookings so far. Reminder sent as places
available.
 Safeguarding Children with Disabilities training 28th November – bookings being taken
 Paediatric First Aid - 23rd and 30th January and 6th February 2014 – bookings being taken
LSCB: RCYPN undertaking ‘Child Sexual Exploitation’ training with LSCB – possibly march 2014
Policies and Procedures: Revised Health & Safety and Child Protection Policies for funders as well as
Volunteer Handbook and Volunteers Policy
Work Plan for 2013-14:
 AGM – new date of Wednesday 20th November, 2013
 Annual Report – will be produced ‘in house’ this year as there is no funding for a printed
version.
 RCT – Workshops Thursday 12th September in Barkingside unable to attend due to SP
Monitoring Return deadline
Volunteers:
 RCYPN volunteers were nominated for the Volunteers’ Compact Award. All received
certificates and rosettes
 Certificates given to those who have completed 50 hours
 More have been recruited. Now have a team of 10. Naz has left and Saffina is meeting
someone re website this Friday
 All volunteers being taken to lunch on 20th September courtesy of Nando’s.
 Ann added her thanks to the volunteers and to Saffina for managing them so well.
Guest Speaker – Eden’s Trust
Elli Galvani and Andrea Wershof from Eden’s Trust gave a presentation about their work.
Elli is the founder of Eden’s Trust, She explained that she was reluctant to share details of the sad
loss of her 6 year old daughter three years earlier, but it was this tragedy that motivated her to set
up the Trust. When Elli’s daughter Eden died while on holiday, Elli found that there was very little
support available to her so decided to set up the Trust.
Elli set up the Trust which was launched at the Houses of Parliament on their 19th July i2007, on the
day that Eden would have celebrated her 7th birthday. The charity’s aims include, campaigning for
safer holiday and creating a network of support for families.
Elli has since worked with Andrea, a Psycho Therapist working in bereavement, to support user led
meetings and workshops. The aim is to provide a network of free support and workshops for
bereaved parents. This was set up in 2007 and became a registered charity in 2010There is a 10
week programme called ‘Begin to Heal’, led by 2 Psychotherapists with over 15 years experience in
the field of bereavement. They also run a new monthly drop-in support group called ‘The Healing
Place’. They are based in Wanstead House, but are available to parents who have been bereaved,
and contact can be made directly.
Everything has so far been achieved through donations and fund-raising activities, but they will soon
be looking for funding. They also seek volunteers and Trustees.
Activities Contact detail can be found on the in the presentation attached to the minutes.
The following suggestions were given for Eden’s Trust to contact referrals:
 Newbridge School Barnardos – Lila play service (for children with terminal conditions)
 Police and Victim Support
 RCVS Community fundraiser Ola Kanu
Reports from RCYPN Representatives on Boards
Children’s Trust Partnership Board Meeting (23rd July 2013)
 A number of reports were presented , and are available on Redbridgei
 Performance Indicators (PIs) for schools show that most criteria are being met (green), with
a few amber and only 1 or 2 red.
 Annual review of Children and Young People’s Plan – this is on track with set targets. Plan to
be sent to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee.
 In addition to the current practice of self- evaluation, attempts will be made to broaden the
scope and develop a multi- agency approach.
 Health & Wellbeing Board will impact on children and young people.
 Partnership working is becoming more important because of the squeeze on central
government funding.
 We need to look creatively at gaps and our work with partners and determine how to fill
them. To identify who we can work with to fill these gaps cost effectively.
 Early intervention programme – short-term intensive support as early as possible to avoid
long-term intervention later on. Aim to keep children out of care.
 There has been a narrowing in the scope of the services provided by Troubled Families Unit
– there are clear criteria, but these are hard to match when referring, so need to seek
support from other agencies.
 There is a target for the number of families to be reached over a three year period.
 There is a link with Children’s Centres, which support where they can.
 Safeguarding training – research into missing children – schools should be aware of, and flag
up, children who go on holiday and do not return. There were 391 across London and 5 in
Redbridge last year.
 Young people’s representatives – elected for 1 year, but seem to change rapidly. They are
articulate and full of ideas. They are involved in Local Democracy Week (14th – 20th October)
and a “In Youth We Trust Day”. They organise litter picks and mystery shopping to test how
young people are treated in shops. They have fundraising events on 8th November to
support Haven House.
 Ann suggested that we should invite them to a Network Meeting. They have conducted a
survey and the results show that young people feel safe in the borough.
 There are 3 youth clubs in the borough and Street Work.
 Pat Reynolds, (Director of Children’s Services. will return to work gradually in the Autumn.
 Next meeting Of the Children’s Trust Partnership Board is on 12th November
Healthwatch Redbridge
 Consultation Meeting on Advisory Committee they want to set up is next Tuesday. Ann has
had her references taken up, but has not heard more yet.
 Redbridge - It is likely local hospitals will be subject to inspections before Christmas.
Children’s Centres
 There will be an Advisory Meeting on Monday 23rd October at Newbury Hall. , Street parking
is available.
 Pre-School Alliance Toy Library has been disbanded. The toys have been retained and are
available from three Children’s Centres - Thackeray Drive, Aldersbrook and Hainault.
 Three Children’s Centres are offering activities for early years children with additional
needs; outside activities called ‘Nature Explorers’.
 6 week programme which started yesterday, m at Newbury Hall, called ‘Parenting Children
with a Disability’ or ‘Additional Needs’ covering communication and managing child
behaviour. Flyers were circulated. This course will be repeated.
Redbridge Carers
 Rani spoke about a project aimed at members of newly arrived communities. They provide
support for unpaid carer Holistic approach, so support all the family. Aim to build up
confidence, help with conversational English, welfare advice, housing needs enabling them
to access services. Refer by phone or website.
 This provision is for 18+ only. Under 18s should be referred to Barnardo’s Young Carers
Indigo Project.
Redbridge Forum
 There is a special needs youth club called ‘True Colours’ for 14-21 year olds, on Wednesdays
7-9pm at Albert Road, Mildmay Centre.
Barnardo’s
 Run a pop-up café on Friday evenings in Beehive Lane.
PACT
 Redbridge Autism Ambassadors launch on 18th October in Mildmay Centre.
 They are working closely with Redbridge College, Beal School and Children’s Centres (result
of presentation at RCYPN meeting).
 In partnership with New Choices for Youth in Newham. Project called SHINE (Supported Help
into New Employment).
 In partnership with Cranbrook CL’s Centre
 Jobs & Training Fair – tomorrow - Ilford Town Hall 10am to 4pm
 Flyers given out on next Parents Support Meeting on Monday 30th September at Mencap
Hall in Dagenham, and a new 18-25 club launching on 27th September also at Mencap Hall,
Dagenham.
Redbridge Vision
 A number of people attended the Stakeholders Decision Maker’s events on 16th September.
 Two representatives will attend the next health Scrutiny Committee, where Femida will
have two minutes to highlight the needs of Redbridge Vision members.
 There are 2,000 visually-impaired people in Redbridge, but only 1Rehabilitation Officer.
Any Other Business
 Vanessa asked what is happening about the Mental Health Team, which has been moved
from Wanstead. This could have an effect on families. Saffina suggested that Nisema, RCVS
Mental health Worker be contacted about this.
 Newbridge School have their Autumn Fete on 12th October.
 The PreSchool Learning Alliance AGM will take place at the Drive Methodist Church, on 10th
October at 7pm. This is also a fund-raising event, a Ladies Fashion Show and sale.
Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday, 16th October, 2013