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VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM
20 June 2012 6.30 – 8.30pm
Council Chambers, Walthamstow Town Hall
PRESENT
Chair: Councillor L. Ali Vice Chair: Sarah Humphrey - ELOP
Councillors: Councillor M Rusling Officers: Claire Witney – Community Engagement Manager
Jerry Hill – Senior Voluntary Sector Officer
Joanna Edler – Voluntary Sector Officer
Voluntary Sector:
Dr Najeeb Ahmad – Health and Happiness Feroz Khan - CLaSS
for All Sarah Kinson – VAWF
Tim Bennett-Goodman – VAWF A Nazir – Health and Happiness for All
Barbara Bishop – VAWF Jeilani Mis Ba-Alawi – Waltham Forest
Rosa Delgado – Freelance / Latin Somali Bravanese Action Group
American Organisation Jonathan O’Dea – Waltham Forest Dyslexia
Kay Eilbert – NHS NELC – Public Health Association / cultural sector
Lucy Geldard – Groundwork Enrique Saenz – VAWF
Jo Grant - Apex Arts Steve Williams – ReUse East London
Stella Gordon – Freelance / BHF Shop Safuriat Yesufu – Summit 12 Enterprises
Mohammed J Hagi-Munye – Waltham CIC
Forest Somali Bravanese Action Group
1. Apologies and introductions Actions
Apologies were received from Mr Qureshi, Waltham Forest Asian Seniors and Bob
Wheatley, Race Equality Council
2. Minutes of 14 March 2012
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record.
3. Matters Arising
Page 1, Item 3, Commissioned arts activities – It is not known who had been
successful in the recent arts commissioning round – ACTION: the Community
LBWF
Engagement team will find this out
Page3, Item 7 Olympics and local organisations – Jerry Hill has been in contact
with the organisations commissioned by the Community Engagement team to ask
what the impact of the Olympics will be on their services. It was acknowledged
that there is a need for flexibility around this issue as the real impact is not yet
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VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM
20 June 2012 6.30 – 8.30pm
Council Chambers, Walthamstow Town Hall
known.
There are no plans for the controlled parking zones that have been put in place for
the Olympics to remain afterwards.
Page 3, Item 9 Town Hall parking restrictions – Tim Bennett-Goodman thanked
Councillor Ali for his part in the recent changes to the Town Hall parking
restrictions. Cllr Ali congratulated the VSF on raising the issue.
4. Young People and Unemployment – Councillor Mark Rusling
Councillor Mark Rusling provided an update on his work with unemployment after
speaking at the December meeting.
Key Points:
Councillor Rusling is the new Cabinet member for economic development and
resources
Work around unemployment in Waltham Forest is not limited to the Council.
An unskilled population is the key issue – and there is likely to be a rise in
unskilled workers and a fall in unskilled jobs. The key is to up-skill residents to
get jobs in and outside the borough
An Employment Unit is being set up in the Council, so far the intention is that it
will address careers, apprentices, schools and businesses’ roles developing a
one-stop shop and a partnership network. Councillor Rusling asked the VSF to
contact him with any ideas for the Employment Unit and what it should do.
Other ideas – A “Waltham Forest loan” for studies above the basic level which
is paid back/attached to earnings/council tax and is delivered through
Cooperative Bank/Credit Union
More work experience opportunities delivered through the Council
Discussion
Social enterprises should be included in the Employment Unit, Cllr Rusling
suggested a brainstorming session on how to do this.
Olympic Legacy – how to ensure those Waltham Forest residents who gained
temporary jobs from the Olympics are moved through into finding permanent
jobs.
Apprenticeships - Artists and small businesses and charities could be support
to have apprenticeships with young people.
CLaSS will be sitting in the Employment Unit and will focus on getting under
25s into work who have been hardest hit by recession. Ofsted recently visited
CLaSS and gave positive feedback on their apprenticeship scheme but there
is more work to do around accessing hard to reach groups
Childcare is a crucial aspect of unemployment and people being able to
access jobs.
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VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM
20 June 2012 6.30 – 8.30pm
Council Chambers, Walthamstow Town Hall
5. Public Health – Dr Kay Eilbert, Acting Joint Director of Public Health, NHS
North East London and the City
Dr Kay Eilbert provided a verbal update; she had sent an update at the last meeting
as she was unable to attend.
Key points:
Public health works with policies and laws to enable people to be healthy and
make healthy choices, and looks at the regulatory system and individual’s own
responsibility for their behaviour.
The Public Health team work on three main areas; health improvement, health
protection e.g. environmental health policies and service improvement. They
are a team of 12 people and have moved into the Adult Social Services team
(sitting in Silver Birch House)
Issues –
Waltham Forest is the sixth most deprived borough in London but received the
same allocation for public health as Richmond the least deprived borough.
The team have worked on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Joint Children’s
strategy with LBWF.
They are looking to reduce health inequalities – within and between boroughs.
Discussion
Health prevention and STIs – there is an issue around late diagnosis among
gay men and Black African women. Kay confirmed there is no money to
gather evidence on this but is happy to discuss how this can be addressed.
The team are working on this issue in terms of the planning for the health
impacts of the Olympic.
Spatial planning and healthy living – Health is now mentioned in the spatial
planning strategy, and a health impact assessment is required in cabinet
reports. The public health team work closely with the sports and leisure team
e.g. a project with Leyton Orient and 50+men
Kay confirmed there is a link between health and deprivation.
It was suggested that Councillor Khan the portfolio lead for health and
wellbeing which now includes arts and culture be invited to the next meeting.
ACTION: VSF to invite Councillor Khan to a future meeting to discuss
this LBWF/VAWF
6. Olympics legacy – Tim Bennett-Goodman
The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is recruiting to its new
Quality Review Panel. Tim Bennett Goodman, chair of Voluntary Action
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VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM
20 June 2012 6.30 – 8.30pm
Council Chambers, Walthamstow Town Hall
Waltham Forest, is applying to be on this panel to advocate for Waltham
Forest and has had a tour of the Park recently. (LLDC Paper attached)
The panel will look at every element of the legacy including buildings and
environment. The aspect most relevant to Waltham Forest is the North Park
area which is scheduled to reopen in 2013. Tim asked for the VSF for ideas.
Brian Kapp is on the Legacy Consultative Group and advised that there is
some unallocated money. He also highlighted that Waltham Forest won many
medals in swimming in the host- borough competition.
One suggestion was that the area could be used to grow food on a
cooperative basis and use area for educational purposes.
Lee Valley Park – Jonathan O’Dea explained he has been working on a
project there with sculptures made from building materials and found objects.
There is concern that the Olympics will have a negative impact on Lee Valley
Park due to the regeneration that is due to take place.
Lea Bridge Station is reopening and this will bring opportunities but also
threats. ACTION: Councillor Sullivan, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats
in Waltham Forest sits on the Lee Valley Park authority and it was VAWF
agreed that he would be invited to a future VSF.
7. A.O.B.
There was no other business raised.
8. Future meetings:
The next meeting date is 5th September.
Councillor Khan and Councillor Sullivan will be invited.
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