Agenda item

AFRICAN CARIBBEAN SENIORS & CARERS LUNCHEON CLUB

Dorothy Atkins, Vice-President of the African Caribbean Seniors & Carers Luncheon Club introduced herself and thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee regarding their grant application.

FEED-UP/WARM-UP GROUP        

Shane Cole Local Feed-up/Warm-up Groupand thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee regarding their grant application.  

Audio Recording of Meeting – Start time of Item – 2 minutes 29 seconds          

MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN CARIBBEAN SENIORS & CARERS LUNCHEON CLUB

Dorothy Atkins, Vice-President of the African Caribbean Seniors & Carers Luncheon Club introduced herself and thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee regarding their grant application.  She advised that she was there in support of Thelma Levy, Coordinator who did the presentation:

·                     The Club catered for a group of seniors and carers aged 60+ in the Afro-Caribbean community in Hitchin;

·                     There were approximately 60 members, 40 carers;

·                     Funding was to be reduced and the Club was seeking assistance with payment of the hall rental at Westmill Community Centre;

·                     The current rate was £88 per week, totalling £4900 approximately per year;

·                     The Club provided a comprehensive, holistic service for the local people which was not exclusive to the Afro-Caribbean community;

·                     In addition to lunch, the Club also provided seated exercise to allow people to remain active and mobile which enabled them to remain in their homes longer than they would do if they were not having these exercises;

·                     This would also reduce the burden on Social Services as many people would have to go into residential care if they were unable to remain in their own homes;

·                     A £12 annual membership fee was payable for expenses;

In response to a question from Counsellor Judi Billing, Thelma Levy replied:

·                     They did not receive assistance from the Forum.  They do obtain office space from the Forum for which they paid rent however received no help from them.  Councillor Judi Billing advised there might be available funding from their locality budget and advised  there were three Councillors who covered Hitchin and might offer help and support but they would need to ask them for specific funding towards the project.  Councillor Judi Billing offered to provide assistance as to how to contact the County Councillors concerned. 

In response to a question from Councillor Clare Billing, Dorothy Atkins replied:

·                     To bridge the funding gap every two years, they were always looking at ways of fundraising.  They were planning an open day.  They had previously had a market stall from which they sold arts and crafts made by the group;

In response to a question from Councillor Mike Hughson, Thelma Levy replied:

·                     Annual budget £18000 per year.  Saved £5000 last year;

Audio Recording of Meeting – Start time of Item – 13 minutes 45 seconds

FEED-UP/WARM-UP GROUP        

Shane Cole Local Feed-up/Warm-up Groupand thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee regarding their grant application. 

·                    Homeless at 17 when he came out of foster care he was saved by a charity called Freedom Project which was a soup kitchen which offered counselling available for mental health, drugs/alcohol.  This charity went viral on Facebook and was contacted by numerous outside agencies/councils who offered their assistance;

·                    He ran a catering company – CCG and was in a financial position to open his trailer to members of the public who were struggling to eat;

·                    Once a week, every week for three months initially but would like this to run all year and spread into Old Town Stevenage and Letchworth.  It ran every Wednesday night from 6pm – 9:30pm;

·                    Social Services were in attendance, trained Counsellors, the mental health team, probation services, drugs/alcohol work, security,

·                    Volunteer open evening last week – the venue could not fit all the volunteers in the hall! 

·                    Raised £2,300 in two weeks;

·                    Go Fund Me page set up and many donations received;

·                    Businesses in Hitchin and Letchworth had contributed;

In response to questions from Councillors:

·        Shane Cole responded to the question raised by Councillor Lovewell as to how the homeless could get back on their feet and into accommodation; that when he visited the drop-in centre, he learned how to write a CV and developed interview techniques, he was provided with interview clothes and money to get public transport to attend interviews. 

·        Councillor Judi Billing advised that a Stevenage paper was working with Café’s in Bancroft to put on an event on Christmas Day.  Shane Cole had received 125+ Christmas boxes from an appeal so that he could hand them out to the elderly/homeless on Christmas Day.  Shane was open on Boxing Day doing the same thing.

·        Councillor Clare Billing advised that Shane had a lot of support from businesses and the local community.  She knew a volunteer who was good at organising who would source more volunteers for Wednesdays.  They had contacted the scout hut and church halls to discuss these events.  As there was no bank account, once the pilot period was over and things were formalised, then they could speak to Shane again in March to see whether financial help was needed. 

·        Shane stated that eventually he would need to come away from his work trailer because if it were to go wrong at one of his pop-up food kitchens, then he would have nowhere to work.  Eventually he would like to buy his own feed up/warm up trailer which would cater for 5-6 towns throughout the week and this was why the funding was required. 

·        Shane suggested councilors attended live Wednesday opening where they would see everything in action.