2004 is our year of forums! High Peak CVS are continuing to develop three new forums in the borough, to enable members of the community with a common interest to meet, share ideas and create change. Read on to find out more.

Action Forum for Children, Young People and Families in the High Peak
(Previously known as the Children, Young People and Families Forum)

The social-services-run Children’s Operational Meeting and the Children, Young People and Families Forum have merged. Both groups were set up in the last 6 months and were doing very similar things so have joined together.

The purpose of the Action Forum is for those delivering services to children, young people and their families in the High Peak and those supporting service deliverers to collectively address issues such as networking, sharing information, funding, training, working in partnership, co-ordinating services, mapping services, lobbying, creating change and being a model of good practice in the High Peak.

What the Action Forum wants to achieve is:
• Services which reflect need, identified through consultation and evidence
• Resources which are sustainable and used efficiently
• Non duplicative, mutually supportive overall plan/vision
• Children, young people and families’ involvement and routes for feedback

Over the next few months the Action Forum wants to look at
• Providing services for children, young people during school holidays
• Lobbying the Local Implementation Group (LIG) on what it should include in its strategy
• Rural issues impacting on services (safety and territory)
• Mapping services and identifying need

If you would like to know more or would just like to receive minutes please contact Di McIntyre – 01663 735 350 or email Di. There is an article on the Action Forum in our July 2005 Newsletter.

High Peak and North Dales Local Implementation Group
At the last meeting, two further meeting dates were agreed:
Thursday 14 April, 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm at Buxton Connexions Centre, 9 The Quadrant, Buxton. (Please note that the meeting room is on the 3rd Floor and does not have disabled access).
Monday 27 June, 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm at High Peak Borough Council Offices, Chinley.

Glossop and District Older Peoples Forum
A group of local older people and local workers have met over the last few months to organise the Speaking Up For Our Age event which happened on Tuesday 18th May in Bradbury Community House. More than 60 older people gathered together with others to consider if they wanted an older people’s forum in the Glossop area and if they did what it should tackle.

There were speakers from Help the Aged, Tameside and Glossop PCT and Social Services who gave food for thought on what other forums have done across the country and county and the different issues facing older people and the services provided for older people.

A delicious buffet lunch was enjoyed by everyone thanks to The Jericho Project.

In the afternoon those attending the event broke into discussion groups. Local older people chaired the discussions which raised a variety of the issues and concerns which face older people in the Glossop area.

Many of those present completed involvement forms. Twelve wanted to just receive information, 31 wanted to become forum members and 8 will work together as a steering group to take the forum forward.

The steering group will plan an annual general meeting for later in the year where a constitution can be formally adopted and a management committee will be elected. The steering group will continue to receive support from Social Services and High Peak CVS. While that is being planned relationships will be started with those providing services or who have some authority over the issues and concerns raised on the day.

The forum will also have future open events where older people from the Glossop area can meet and raise their issues, concerns and ideas on different themes.

The day was paid for by Tameside and Glossop PCT and Social Services. It was organised by a partnership of local older people from the Pensioners Association, U3A and WI, Age Concern Glossop and Tameside, Social Services, High Peak CVS and Gamesley on the Go.
If you would like to become a member of the forum or would like more information about it please contact Di McIntyre at High Peak CVS.

There are already three older people’s forums in Derbyshire, but this will be the first in the High Peak. Older people’s forums are led by older people, for older people and seek to work together with service providers to improve older people’s lives. Di is the contact here at the CVS.

High Peak Carers Network
High Peak Carers Network first met on 30th January 2004. Like the Action Forum for Children, Young People and Families, its aim is to bring together representatives from organisations providing services and support to carers and ‘carees’ of all ages, and hopes to include carers’ representatives too.

Much like the Action Forum, the purpose of this group is to:
• network
• share information, good practice and experience
• Increase knowledge of services and activities across the area to enhance signposting to services
• Identify gaps and unmet needs
• Develop communication channels
• Share resources where possible, including venues and transport.

Members of the group share the common aims: they want the best for carers, to form links both countywide and local, and to focus on operational aspects.

In their work together, the group wishes to
• take a holistic view of the needs of carers and those cared for
• encourage partnerships whilst respecting that different organisations have different aims and objectives and roles
• complement but not duplicate the work of others.

A priority action has already emerged from this group to develop a Carers Directory for the High Peak. The CVS is taking the lead in initiating this project.

If you would like further information or to receive minutes, please contact Esther Jones, development worker on 01663 735350 or email Esther.

If you would like to see any other forums develop across the High Peak, such as an inter faith forum or an equalities forum (outlined in the Local Strategic Partnership community strategy) please let us know.