AGM - 2006

Minutes of the Older People’s Forum Annual General Meeting

held on the 6^th November 2006

at 2pm in the Windsor Suite at King George’s Hall, Blackburn 

There were 158 members present and 9 visitors.

1. Welcome

The Mayor of Blackburn, Cllr Dorothy Walsh opened the meeting with a warm welcome to all.

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from 87 members.

3. Minutes of the 2005 AGM, 7.11.05

Copies were available at the meeting. Mr Piracha proposed that the minutes be accepted as a true record. Mrs Stockdale seconded them and, with all in favour, the minutes were accepted.

4. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

5. Appointment of the Officers of the Management Committee and the result of the ballot for elected members.

Nominations and elections were conducted by post prior to the meeting. The following were appointed to the management committee of the Older People’s Forum:

Chair – Mr Frank Hookham; Vice chair - Mr Abdul Piracha; Honorary Secretary – Mr Brian Todd; Honorary Treasurer – Mrs Pauline Walsh

Elected members are: Mrs Jean Bogg, Mrs Dorothy Crompton, Miss Florence Eccles,

Mrs Sandra Grogan, Mrs Marian Hargreaves, Ms Imelda Heald, Mrs Joan Lowe,

Mrs Doreen Stockdale, Mrs Irene Thornley, and Mrs Jenny Watson 

6. Presentation of the Annual Report

This was circulated prior to the meeting and further copies were made available. Mr Hookham noted that the report was self explanatory. Mr Todd updated members that the Euro taxi was not working as Community Wheels had not received enough money. Membership has risen to over 1300.

7. Presentation of the Annual Accounts

Mrs Walsh thanked members for putting her back in post as treasurer. She explained that the left side of the figures were a summary of the previous three years funding which our funders were happy with and had continued to give money to the Forum. Our appreciation goes to the BwD council and the neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The surplus from last year of £820 was predominantly from the Awards for All grant and was spent, in line with the conditions for the grant, by June 2006.

The Forum now has a business plan with targets and copies of this are available from Yvonne at the office. Thank you to all for putting up with her pernickety ways.

Also a thank you to Yvonne for the work done on the Forum’s behalf and for taking over from Maureen who chose not return to work after her maternity leave.

Mr Piracha proposed that the annual accounts as presented be accepted as a true record. This was seconded by Mr J Gannon. The proposal was carried without objection.

8. Fund Raising

Mrs Lowe told members about a proposed fund raising gala that is planned for August 2007. She wants to recruit a fund raising committee from the floor. The committee also needs men to be involved and to bring ideas. She is also asking for people to volunteer to help on the day. It will involve a monthly meeting that will last about one hour. The money raised is to go towards outings. It will enable a greater range of venues, some of which might involve an admission charge. She also asked that people donate unwanted gifts etc for the tombolas.

Mrs Lowe mentioned the rise in membership – now over 1300. She announced that there is to be a charge of £2 for the outings from April 2007. the organisation of the trips would follow the same pattern and the £2 would be collected on the bus. There was spontaneous applause from the floor.

Mr Hookham thanked Mrs Lowe for the very good job she does organising the outings.

Mr Hookham gave notice that there is to be a survey of members about the times of future meetings.

9. Guest Speakers

Lynn Bentley – Promoting Medicine Management Week

Lynn reminded us that it was medicine management week when members of the public could access the team who were out and about in Blackburn and Darwen. She encouraged members to come and ask questions about any medication they might be on. It is important because older people take more medicines than other age groups and 50% of those are not taking the medication correctly.

Gordon Handford – Shield Project

The services provided by Shield [Home safety for older people] have been extended. Many people still don’t know about it. The service identifies accident black spots in the home and someone will fix them but only with the householders permission. All workers have ID and you must ask to see it. If you would like a safety check come and see Gordon after the meeting. He will explain further and make one to one appointments. The scheme is confidential.

David Pritchard – Hammers Project

This is a new scheme and aims to help older people to live independently. House holders are offered a free home survey of repairs and maintenance including electrics, window painting, gutters unblocking etc. a written report is produced. It offers peace of mind and will point people in the right direction for services. Members were encouraged to take advantage of this free service.

John Almond and Lynne Peake – Care Network

John explained that the care network is a partnership of different groups that allows vulnerable people access to affordable, quality domestic support services. It assists individuals to retain maximum independence, dignity and quality of life.

Their customers include people who are at risk of being socially excluded. It exists to take the worry away when trying to get affordable help that gives value for money.

The care network is to the customer. There are two levels of service – telephone and home visits. Currently they have 3500 customers who have asked for 5400 services. Customer referrals come from a wide source including self referral, age concern, the social services, health professionals, relatives and carers and other council services.

Services currently available include home maintenance, gardening, luncheon clubs and a befriending service.

Bernard Styan – Heyday

Bernard thanked the Forum for the invitation to speak. We have been hearing about some very important services in BwD. The Forum is another important and powerful group of people. Heyday is another organisation that takes similar issues on to the national scale. It is a national, not for profit, membership organisation.

By 2020 half of the UK population will be over 50. This will affect much and this is to become an ever increasingly influential age group. 40% of people over 50 are not planning for retirement. In 2005, the over 50s counted for 41% of the vote. We have power! The generation coming up to retirement now have been responsible for many changes since the war. They will continue to change requirements for retirement. This is where Heyday comes in.

We have a voice – 65% expect to work beyond the retirement age; 80% believe there should not be a mandatory retirement age. Age discrimination law affects the recruitment, promotion and training & education in employment not the provision of goods and services. It does introduce a new default retirement age at 65 years for all and therefore at that age can still be forced to retire without reason. Heyday maintains that this is not fair and is using the courts to challenge the future of mandatory retirement ages. Please note that retirement age is not the same as pension age.

Heyday seeks to provide impartial and reliable information, giving access to dozens of information leaflets and booklets free of charge. It gives opportunity for social contact. Already there is a west Blackburn friendship group that meets at Lammack Methodist Church every second Tuesday at 2pm. Heyday offers promotions and offers; giving discounts at several high street stores.

Heyday produces a magazine six times a year. It is full of up to date offers, articles and features.

The website is updated daily. It provides some social contact, having interactive pages. There are high quality writers and competitions.

Heyday is a not for profit organisation. Any profits go to help the work of Age Concern. There is an annual membership fee of £20 per household and part of this goes to Age Concern.

It provides a powerful voice to those going into retirement and those already retired. The membership is growing and is very popular in the BwD area.

There was an opportunity for questions and answers but there was none.

10. Vote of Thanks

Mr Piracha gave a vote of thanks to the mayor and each of the speakers.

The meeting closed at 3.30pm and was followed by refreshments.