How to influence decisions in Tameside

As well as formal decision-making structures, there are a number of ways you can get involved in influencing decisions. 

• Better Government for older people
• User Forums
• Mental Health Forum
• Learning Disability Advocacy Service
• Childrens Services
• NHS Patient Participation

Elections Voting in local, national and European elections will influence who will stand as Local Councillors, MPs and MEPs.

District Assemblies - Local people are invited to attend District Assemblies which meet every seven weeks to discuss local issues. To have a look when the next District Assembly meeting is view their calendar.

Tameside Citizens’ Panel - 2,000 local residents take part in the Citizens's Panel they fill in three questionnaires a year on Council services and life in the Borough.

Tameside Residents’ Opinion Survey 1- 000 residents are interviewed every three years for the Opinion Survey.  They are asked about satisfaction with the Council and Tameside as a place to live.

Regeneration Forums - Tameside has four regeneration neighbourhoods (Ashton, Hattersley, Denton South, Droylsden East and Smallshaw). Each area has a regeneration partnership made up local organisations and residents.

Better Government for older people

(BGOP)  is a national network to engage older people at all levels of public policy decision-making. For details of BGOP in the Northwest please contact Stuart Eyres telephone 0161 371 5481.

Tameside Voice has representatives from all the thematic networks developed and supported over the past five years by Tameside Third Sector Coalition (T3SC) .  These networks are the Black & Minority Ethnic Network (BME), Women’s BME Network, Interfaith Network, Children and Young peoples Network, TOPAG and the Crime and Disorder network. Tameside Voice elects representatives form within to sit on the Tameside Strategy Partnership (TSP) which is a key decision making group for Tameside Council. Contact T3SC .

Tameside Older People’s Advisory Group is made up of local people with an interest in older people’s issues meet at least four times per year at T3SC offices. The group elects representatives to the Older Peoples Partnership which links into the local decision making process of the Council.

TOPAG also has representatives that meet national government through the Home Office via the Better Government for Older People  (BGOP) programme. Contact T3SC  . 

The Health Network

Brings together groups and organisations in the Voluntary and Community Sector whose work has a health and wellbeing focus. The network provides an opportunity for groups to share information about services, receive briefings and shared training and also develops a collective voice to influence statutory sector developments/service and strategy.

All the networks are open for anyone to join and if you require any further information on any of these groups contact Colin Kirby at T3SC.

User Forums

Forums bring together Service Users, Carers and managers to look at major policy issues about how services are organised and how services should develop.

Listen Here! Network and conference is for disabled people and people who have an interest in Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Visual Impairment or Physical Disability issues.to have their say. 

The Really Important Questions Group (RIQ) is for people over the age of 50 who are interested in social care and health issues. The Network meets four times a year and runs an annual conference in October.

Carers Forums

The Carers Forum is for people looking after a friend or relative who is ill or disabled.  Having your say is important for Carers or anyone receiving services from Adult Services or Health.

Tameside Senior Forum is committed to promoting the interests of older people and their carers in Tameisde.  The forum recognises the fact that many times the needs and wishes of older people are over looked.  Tameside Senior Forum assures that the voices of all older people are heard.
 0161 308 5000 (Age Concern)

Young Carers is people under 18 looking after a family member or friend.  If you are a young carer contact the Young Carers Development Worker.

Mental Health Forum

Tameside Advocacy Project (TAP) and The Mental Health Forum
Advocacy and user involvement support for users of Mental Health Services in Tameside to have a voice in the Monitor and Planning of Mental Health Services
 Tameside Advocacy Project, 68a Welbeck Street South, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7TD
  0161 331 9053 Fax: 0161 308 3633

Learning Disability Advocacy Service

People First supports adults with learning disabilities to get their views across to managers of services. It is a self organised group of adults with learning disabilities.
 People First, St Michael's Court, Ashton-under-Lyne.
  0161 308 3699

Childrens Services

For information on social care services for children if you would like to take part in consultation exercises then contact:

User Involvement Coordinator, Children and Families Service, Union Street, Hyde, SK14 1ND
 0161 342 4325 Fax: 0161 368 8642

NHS Patient Participation

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)  - can give you information about how you can get more involved in your own healthcare, help you clarify problems and look at options or negotiate with health professionals on your behalf.

Tameside and Glossop Acute Services Trust and Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust, Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), covers community health services such as GP’s, health clinics, dentists etc, as well as services offered by Tameside General Hospital.

Pennine Care Trust, Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) covers all mental health services.