A McNiven, Chief Executive, Engage Renfrewshire.

I McLean, Bridgewater Housing Association; A Clark, Create; K Taylor, CAB; A McNiven, Engage Renfrewshire; J Wilby, Paisley West & Central Community Council; and N Hansen, ROAR; L Devine, Save the Children.

R McLean, Acumen; K McIntyre and S Miller (both Engage Renfrewshire); S Graham, and C MacDonald (both Renfrewshire Council); and N Hughes, Save the Children.

The Chair intimated that he proposed to alter the order of business to facilitate the
conduct of the meeting by considering item 5 - Aspiring Communities - Study into Isolation, Loneliness & Social Connections of the agenda before item 4 - Creative Renfrewshire Update.

S McLellan, RAMH; R Robertson, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership.

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities Group held on 25 June 2018.

DECIDED:    That the Minute be approved.

DECIDED:   There were no matters arising from the previous Minute.

The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval.

DECIDED:

(a)  That action RFG.13.12.17(4b) be removed from the Action Log as this action was now complete; 

(b)   That the updates be noted; and

(c)   That the Rolling Action Log be approved.

A Clark gave a brief overview of Creative Renfrewshire and how the Creative Renfrewshire Network was established.  He highlighted the objectives of Creative Renfrewshire Network and outlined the next steps.

DECIDED:   That the verbal presentation be noted.

R McLean, Acumen, gave a presentation relative to the project “Connecting Our Communities – a consortium to promote social connections in Renfrewshire”.

The presentation gave a brief overview of what the project was trying to achieve, the findings of a questionnaire; the organisations involved; the methods used; and highlighted the difficulties, challenges and lessons learned.

After discussion the Chair indicated that the research being developed would be brought back to a future meeting.  R McLean was then thanked for the presentation.

DECIDED:   That the presentation be noted.

The Community & Partnerships Manager gave a verbal update on various health networks.

(a)  Early Actions Systems Change – The Group was advised that during March 2018 Big Lottery Scotland had awarded £1 million to a collaborative bid between Dartington Service Design Lab, Renfrewshire Council, Engage Renfrewshire and third sector partners for a project to improve emotional health and wellbeing and address issues around coercive relationships during adolescence. She advised that this was a three-year project aimed at supporting work which prevented problems from occurring rather than just dealing with the consequences.  It was noted that the probationary period would end at the beginning of October and the funding would be awarded.

(b)  Health Network Breakfast – The Group was advised that a breakfast network session had been held on 21 August 2018.  The workshop session was held for charity/community organisations and HSCP staff who delivered health-based services in Renfrewshire to discuss the strengths and challenges of working in health within Renfrewshire; to develop effective referrals; and to assist signposting clients to other partners.

(c)   More Than Medicine – The Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland delivered its first More Than Medicine event in Renfrewshire in partnership with NHSGGC and Engage Renfrewshire.  The event was a free opportunity for General Practice teams to engage with community services in Renfrewshire and the ‘Lunch and Learn’ session was developed to help organisations find out about the resources in the area and how ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) could be used to refer people to local support.

(d)   Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership Strategic Planning Group – The Group was advised that K McIntyre had been nominated for the position of Co-Chair to the Group.  A McNiven advised that the Forum was delighted at the appointment and intimated that it was an opportunity for the third sector to influence discussion on public health issues.

DECIDED:   That the verbal update be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Partnerships Planning & Development Manager relative to the Autumn Community Planning Partnership conferences and the development of the Local Partnerships to replace and refocus Local Area Committees.

The report advised that plans for the Local Partnerships were being finalised and the report would be submitted to Council on 27 September 2018.  Once approved, the arrangements would take immediate effect and would disband the Local Area Committees.  A series of community events would be held throughout October, where information could be shared with communities about the new Local Partnerships and how they would work. These events would also help identify community priorities for the new Local Partnerships to consider in preparation for their first meetings in November and December 2018.    

It was noted that the support of community and voluntary sector organisation would be essential in organising and delivering the conference events, particularly in encouraging people to attend.  Members of the Forum for Empowering Communities Group were asked to support wherever possible the delivery of the Autumn conferences.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be noted that the series of dates for conference events and the first meetings of Local Partnerships were being arranged to take place before the end of calendar year 2018;

(b)   That it be agreed that members of the Forum support as appropriate the organisation and delivery; and

(c)   That it be agreed that, in particular, members communicate information about the conference events to service users and contacts to encourage wide community representation at conferences during Autumn 2018.