Date: Monday 4th September 2023
Location: Belle Vue Mills Skipton & online
Present: HF (Chair), EJ, ILB, SS (Beamsley Project), Kate Senior (North Yorkshire Council), Helen Williams (North Yorkshire Council),
Apologies: Sharon Fox (Highways)
CDF – Craven Disability Forum
NYC – North Yorkshire Council
NYDF – North Yorkshire Disability Forum
1. Welcome and Introductions
HF welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.
2. Actions from last meeting
HF to send letter to MP on behalf of the forum – H has sent the letter and is awaiting a response
Helen W to share Craven Arts House images with minutes – completed
HF to post the opportunity for forum members to visit the Craven Arts House in September and provide accessibility advice on Craven Disability Forum Facebook page. – Awaiting update from Arts House
Kate to follow up with HF about Craven Communities Together Partnership meeting and putting report on the agenda. – Kate has asked for report to be on the next meeting agenda. She is happy to provide an overview at the meeting.
Kate and HF to write and press release for distribution – Completed and sent to Craven Herald.
Helen W to share survey links with forum – completed
Kate to research Sight Airedale – Completed. Kate confirmed they are still known by the same name. The forum discussed sharing the report with them, Helen W said that NYC Business Support could create an audio version, but this may take some time. Kate S said that Sight Support could probably alter the format themselves and everyone agreed it could be shared as a text copy.
3. Craven Dilatability Forum Report
HF explained the report is being distributed via the following methods
- In libraries as printed copies (full and easy read report)
- On CDF page on NY Partnerships website
- On CDF Facebook page – link through to website
- Easy read report on North Yorkshire Learning Disability Partnership Board e-bulletin
- Kate S has distributed to her mailing list comprising of people within council, NHS and voluntary sector organisations.
Kate went through the distribution list and identified the following remaining organisations
- Parish Councils
- Hospitals
- NHS
- G.P Surgery
HF said she would look at the board of governors for the hospital and identify if anyone has an area of interest which aligns with the survey.
Kate S suggested it would be good to link with the two Healthwatch organisations to see if they can share through their networks.
The forum discussed how specific actions would be followed up and decided to have a rail focus at the next meeting.
Action: Helen W to invite Network Rail representative and Catherine H to November meeting and send them the list of specific issues
HF has raised the issue with access at local stations (where people are advised to travel to Hellifield Station for onward journeys arranged by Network Rain) in her letter to the M.P.
The forum said that at a future meeting they would discuss the bus and highways issues raised in the survey.
HF said she would share the report with the Councillor responsible for equalities and the local Councillors.
4. Forum Timings
The forum agreed that the next meeting would run from 11:15am – 1:15pm. This start time offers more flexible transport options for forum members to attend.
5. NY Updates
Kate discussed Craven Communities Together Partnership and her role. They meet once a month, currently online only, however looking at hybrid options. They will be looking at winter planning and pressures at upcoming meetings. Kate explained there is a small group who are responsible for planning, however the meetings are open to all and suggested that someone from the forum might like to attend.
As part of the winter planning/pressure topic they are looking at several possible discussion points;
- Yorkshire Energy Doctor
- Warm and Well
- Flu vaccinations in community venues
Action: Kate S to share information on Craven Communities Together Partnership
Kate also shared details of an upcoming workshop looking at non-surgical cancer services which has involved the Partnership. It will take place at Belle Vue Mills on 27th September.
Action: Kate S to shared flyer for cancer services event
Helen W said that she would be attending a community health and wellbeing event on 20th September in Skipton and would promote the forum and report.
HF said it would be good to have a flyer which could be shared promoting the forum. Kate S said she could help with this but the forum would need to decide themselves what information they would like to include.
Action: HF & Kate S to create flyer for upcoming event.
Helen W shared information about a Government Rail Accessibility Consultation running until 1st December. The forum agreed this could be looked at as part of the next forums focus on rail.
Action: Helen W to share rail consultation with forum
HF asked SS what transportation was like to the Beamsley Centre. SS said there was no access by bus and arriving at the nearest railway stations would then involve a taxi ride. She said most people travel by car/minibus and some people hire a car to make the journey. She said the Beamsley Centre can sleep 24 people and the holiday cottage an additional 6.
6. NYDF Development Day
Helen W updated the forum on the recent Development Day held for NYDF Members. She explained the purpose is to look at how all the forums can become more sustainable with increasing independence moving forward. There was an agreement from NYDF members that a piece of consultancy work could be carried out to look at NYDF and the local forums, and to review the options moving forward. A member of the Stronger Communities team will be writing a specification for this piece of work based on feedback from forum members during the development day.
7. AOB
The forum discussed the option of holding coffee mornings to promote the forum and survey report. Kate S suggested Morrisons Café could be a venue to hold this in as they have previously offered space to groups.
Action: Kate S to speak to Claire at Morrisons regarding CDF using café space
The forum also identified the following possible venues/options
- The Institute, Hellfield
- The Place Settle
- Skipton Step into Action
- Ingleborough Community Centre
- Linking with Pioneer Projects Community Wellbeing Hubs
Kate asked whether there was an update on the accessibility audits discussed at a previous meeting. SS shared that JM had completed an audit at Sandylands. Kate S said she would speak to the Sports Officer at Craven Leisure to see if one had taken place.
HF closed the meeting.
Next Meeting – Monday 27th November 11:15am – 1:15pm
