Over 50’s Forum
Notes of Steering Committee meeting held on
Monday 10th April 2006 at TamewayTower
Present
Alison Beardwood
Patricia Cox
Peter Dutton
Paramjit Kaur
Emma Palmer
Tracey Pedley
Kenneth Percox
Elizabeth Vodden
Gwendolyn Beaumont
Noreen Shaw
Julie Walters
-
Network Development Officer – Older People Services
User Involvement Manager – Social Care & Inclusion
Age Concern Representative
-
Manager - Afro Caribbean Community Association
Apologies: Debbie Shaw
Brian Sheasby
Raj Chouhan
1.0
Welcome
EP welcomed everyone to the Steering Committee.
2.0
Introductions
Everyone introduced themselves. There was a mix of individual members and those who
were representing organisations.
3.0
Purpose of the Group
EP explained briefly the purpose of the group and how it was envisaged it would work in
partnership with organisations within Walsall who provide services to older people, the
voluntary sector as well as statutory departments.
It was made clear that the forum would be very independent of the authority which meant
that it could form its own constitution and decide its way forward.
EP explained that the forum could meet as often as it requires or as little as it may decide.
The Steering Committee needs to have a look at ways to take itself forward and whether
it should have a management committee.
4.0
What is an Over 50s Forum?
EP gave a detailed outline on what the Over 50s Forum is and gave examples of good
practices in place in other towns and cities.
PK went over the draft structure chart which gives detail of the organisations and
departments who are very keen to work with the forum in order to make its purpose
effective.
Members were encouraged to give their suggestions/comments.
Certain examples from the Wolverhampton Forum were given and some of the projects
which have been set up which have proved to be very successful.
There was a type of workshop discussion and everyone joined in to share their concerns
of the services currently provided to the public. Some of the points raised are listed
below:
Transport
Ring & Ride – notice period required is excessive
Buses – not sufficient buses running in certain areas, children intimidate older
people
Bus Station – not an ideal location
Car parking – lack of or in inappropriate areas
Hospital Buses – these should be running more often (there is no service after
6.30 pm)
Shop Mobility
Fear of Crime
Older people are afraid of youths in the streets
Perceptions
Police presence – this is very lacking or non existent
Police Station opening hours
Policing System – Local Neighbourhood Police
Community Wardens – there needs to be an increased number of wardens
Health
Inequalities across the Borough
Getting a GP appointment – there were mixed views where some surgeries were
able to give appointments at very short notice and others where appointments
were not available for several weeks at a time
48 Hours for a prescription
Chiropody – lack of this service
Rehabilitation
Hydrotherapy Poole – this is no longer in use
Promotion of good health in older age – this needs to be more widespread
Awareness of services –
2
Communicataion
Entitlements
Services available
Internet access not the only option
Directory – Walsall has a very limited distribution
Civic Centre – OK
Literature – this should be in plain English, no small print and the colour is
important
There should be a glossary of abbreviations
Housing
Heating costs are rising
No service available for owner occupiers
Age Concern – a word of mouth system
Insurance
Services not known about
Roads and Pavements
Upkeep of roads
Good at dealing with problems
Parking on pavements causes access problems, there is lack of off road parking
Grass verge parking
Publicity
Leaflet – it was felt that these should be distributed within the following areas:
Post offices
Surgeries
Libraries
Bingo Clubs
College
A batch of leaflets need to be sent to all members for distribution.
ACTION - PK
Launch Event
This should be a public invitation and advertised in:
Free newspapers – Observer, Chronicle, Advertiser
Express & Star
Local Radio
Television – local community channel
Supermarkets
A council trailor/town crier
It should take place in a central location and should be a drop in and out session. There
were suggestions of holding it at The Crossing or having a community event there.
3
5.0
Publicity Update
There was discussion around the leaflet. It was agreed that the content of the leaflet in
general was fine, however the font and the colour would need to be changed.
ACTION - PK to contact print and design.
6.0
Launch of the Forum
Members felt that it was too early to hold a launch event and decided to cancel it for now.
It was agreed that the structure of the forum as well as a constitution needs to be in place
before it can be launched. (PLEASE SEE LETTER FOR AN UPDATE)
7.0
Terms of Reference
The draft Terms of Reference were looked at and it was felt that a separate session would
be needed to discuss this in further detail.
8.0
Any Other Business
1. Agenda Item for next meeting – Definition of 50+?
2. Alison Beardwood stated that she is not in a position to commit herself to
becoming a Steering Committee member but would be more than happy to
coordinate meetings within the Aldridge area.
3. Julie Walters from the African Caribbean Community Association volunteered to
be speaker on radio or television as required.
4. All members agreed that they were happy to share each other’s contact details.
5. ACTION – PK to send contact details list with notes of meeting.
9.0
Date of Next Meeting
Monday 15th May 2006 at 1.30 pm, 10th Floor, Tameway Tower.
4