Positive Contribution Theme Group

Minutes

Time:  9.00-11.30 am
Date:  29th January 2008
Venue: Duke St Young Peoples Centre, Duke St, Denton

Present:

Claire Bibby (Chair)- Inclusive Services
Julie Lord (Theme Coordinator)- Area Coordinator Dukinfield, Stalybridge, Mossley
Maurice Smith- School Improvement Service
Chris Thean - Hattersley Neighbourhood Partnership
Tina Lavender - NCH Participation Project
Lee Gaunt - Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service
Lee Underwood - Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service
Janet Blakely - Children’s Locality Coordinator

Note taker: Julie Lord

Item 1: Welcome

Claire welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves for the purpose of new members.

Item 2: Apologies:

Paula Field - Community Safety
Liz Hughes - Play Strategy Manager
Shaun Walton - GMC Fire & Rescue Service
John Whittle - YOT Manager
Lisa Hoyland - Economic Development
Sue Nathen -Youth Services
Caroline Gregory - Regeneration

Item 3: Minutes from the last meeting

The request for report cards was sent out with a deadline of 25th January, 60% has been returned and Julie has communicated with the remainder to have them completed by 8th February. Claire requested that we asked the people who completed them to pass their judgement on them.

Item 4: Key changes in the lives of C&YP- overview PASS presentation

Claire was unable to present the PASS (Pupil Assessment Self & School) presentation due to technical problems but some members viewed it on the laptop. This has been piloted in 25 schools with another 8 schools signed up. It is aimed at 8-16 years of age and asks a series of questions about the child/young person relating to their attitude, aspirations, confidence. Nick Cawes is the link person. The results from this work could be used to measure self –esteem.
Claire also requested that the Participation Network ask members to work with C&YP to do some focus group work on key changes and feed back to the theme group.
Claire will present the PASS presentation at the next meeting.

Action: Participation Network to agenda item on focus group work around key changes in the lives of C&YP.
Action: Claire to present the PASS presentation at the next meeting.

Item 5: Report Card Key Judgement JAR ref 4.3 - judgement

The report card was completed to demonstrate how the area for development has been addressed from the APA 2006.The group felt the evidence on the report card gave a good representation of how BME C&YP take part in voluntary activities and gave examples of young people initiating voluntary activities. The report card was judged as heartening but there are some areas for action. It was noted that there are no areas for development relating to positive contributions from the APA 2007. 

• Improvements in the collection of data related to BME C&YP engaging and initiating voluntary activities.
• Define common language around the meaning of “voluntary engagement “with C&YP.
• Promotion of the Young Carers project within BME communities.

Action: Claire to talk to Carolynn Brierley from Young Carers concerning the above action.
Action: Julie to develop an action plan to address the actions from the report card.

Item 6: Case Studies

As part of the JAR evidence case studies will be required to develop story boards with photos. Evidence can be collated by the Participation Network. A standardised template will need to be distributed and contributors will need to ensure all photos have the relevant permission.

Item 7: Methods of consulting C&YP on the review of the current CYPP

There is a group of young people who are working with the Participation Project to develop a C&YP’s version of the C&YPP and there is a group of young people who sit on the District Assemblies, it was suggested that these groups could be involved in the consultation of the current plan. Tina also suggested that there needs to be a timetable for consultations so that they can be planned and organised in good time.
Julie informed the group about the plans to involve School Councils, Eco-Committees and Healthy School councils in a wider consultative way by bringing them together at neighbourhood level to meet termly and to develop an annual conference. There are plans to develop the existing CF web-site to become a consultation web-site where school councils reps can feedback via the web-site. There will also be a message board facility where any C&YP can feedback and provision for video clips to be posted of C&YP being consulted.

Acton: The focus groups & DA reps will be involved in the consultation of the review of the C&YP plan.
Action: Tina & Maurice to meet to discuss involving DA reps.
Action: Participation Network to develop a consultation timetable

Item 8: CSIP conference

The event is on the 5th March 08 @ the Reebok Stadium in Bolton. If anyone is interested in attending please contact Julie and she will forward the booking form.

Item 9: Results of the Tell Us Survey

This was completed in May 07 and will be repeated in May 08. There were concerns at some of the results as they were not as good as some of the national averages and members of the group knew that a lot of work was going on in schools that addressed many of the questions.
Action: Julie to send out the complete Tell us Survey document to the group.

Item 10: AOB

Julie will send out copies of completed report cards before the next meeting

Item 11: Date / Time/ Venue of the next meeting

20th March 2008 9.30a.m. @ Duke St, Young People’s Centre, Denton- please note later start.