Meeting: Moseley Together.
Date: 8th April 2020, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM, Online, Zoom.
Chair: Cllr Kerry Jenkins
Minutes: Fai Kun
Attendees: Fiona Adams (FA), Lorna Brewster (LB), Ian Cuthbert (IC), Simon Foster (SF), Kerry Jenkins (KJ), Bharat Karavadra (BK), Izzy Knowles (IK), Fai Kun (FK), Sean Write (SW)
Apologies: Emily Jewett (EJ), Rhiannon Simpson (RS)
Agenda Items
- Apologies.
- Recording
- Support & Funding – LB not massive amount to say, already sent info on whatsapp, 2k from ST and 1k from (?), sent 2 funding applications and also just some funding for charities through lottery fund has been announced.
Trying to keep track of what we’re getting and once we know a bit better where we are then we can think about allocation – take stock in a few weeks.
KJ to continue sending LB funding info and opportunities
SW asked LB and KJ to forward funding opportunities for Balsall Heath – LB happy to help with applications.
Person Responsible: LB - Daily Newsletter Progress –
FA not much to add as all is visible on website
BK has revamped website and organised it more – it is more accessible
IK and LB says how great website looks
KJ thanks BK and FA for newsletter and website
BK asks LB if she would still like to specify what type of support community has been offered which may be something to look at in a couple of weeks’ time
KJ asks if IC can do another graphic to display this
IC happy to do this
KJ also wants IC to do more SM graphics
BK wants to add list of resources on website
FA has collated a list
SW would like to collate a list and share with Balsall Heath
RS has been working on this
LB says Angie might help with this as she has close links with community – might be good for Angie to join these meetings and all in agreement with this
Person Responsible: N/A - Nursing Homes – PPE
IK – someone who volunteers at a nursing home contacted IK that nursing home struggling with PPE
BK and FK put it out on website and SM and had lots of responses
IK phoned all nursing homes in area and found ones that need PPE
IK asked if FK can sew some – FK and KJ happy to sew and Moseley Mutual Aid whatsapp members have prev offered to sew too
KJ and IK to discuss the funding issue and initiatives they can support
SW asks are handmade ones okay and IK specifies that one care home have asked for 5 handmade ones specifically
SW to put message out on Whatsapp
FK to send KJ sewing pattern
Person Responsible: IK - BH Project & Community Involvement
SW asked about list of signposting things and make a shared drive with Balsall Heath
LB can create folder and give access to everyone
SW asks about ID discussion – resolved?
IC has done research and wants to offer it as option to volunteers and if we don’t offer it we are discriminating – it doesn’t need to be mandatory
IC suggests councillors number to be the contact number for police if volunteer stopped
KJ happy with this
BK under impression ID not needed
IK spoke with police and they can’t cope with the different ways of volunteers doing IDs though happy with letters
Volunteer has been stopped by guard as did shopping for 2
IK happy with IC’s idea of optional volunteer ID/letter
KJ also stresses the idea of the option being available
IC happy to create a letterhead to offer it to volunteers and make it clear it is available as it’s not just the police but as FK’s experience suggested from last week it’s the general public too
SF agrees that if someone feels reassured by having the letter then important to provide – we don’t want situations where volunteers feel awkward when challenged
LB – how do we make the letter as simple and as legitimate as possible and we don’t know volunteers that well – possible to date this ID with an app?
Person Responsible: SW - IK concerned if we advertise on website that we will provide IDs people may sign up just for the ID
BK responds to LB’s query of dated ID by creating unique ID
KJ specifies the difference between issuing and offering IDs
IC says that if anyone wants to abuse the ID they would have done it with all the information we have already put out
SW says we can add an expiry date to letters
Action to be taken – Ian to create letter
IK happy with current safeguards in place to “vet” volunteers
SW asked how do they verify volunteers as Balsall Heath are starting that process now – IK says the info they put in when they register to volunteer is easy for them to go back and check. We haven’t been going and asking for ID though some volunteers have emailed their DBS. Before they give volunteers tasks they speak to them on phone and always do a follow up with volunteers and people who have been helped.
LB – if we recognise a particularly vulnerable person asking for support we make sure we link that person with a volunteer who has given a dbs or is known to us. Volunteers are reimbursed for their shopping and don’t take cash from person they’re supporting beforehand.
SW asks what we have done to increase community involvement
FK – hasn’t yet set up any coffee mornings, to coordinate with IK, KJ and SF to create this
BK asked if businesses need support
SW happy that the WhatsApp group was added on letter as more people have joined since
SW asked if we are going to create street WhatsApp groups – IK happy to liaise with SW on this
LB knows someone who has set one up on their road but important we collect ideas but take care of ourselves at the same time – pace ourselves
KJ has said we are all volunteers, no hierarchy and we are human and have our own commitments
IC says FB group is quite underused and would be good to create
FK says yes, need to focus on creating that as a space for open discussion with volunteers and wider community
FA was added to a whatsapp group and received a lot messages and left shortly after and feels we’re doing fine and anything more will complicate it too much.
Person Responsible: N/A - Any other Business
LB – FA has put LB in touch with palliative care unit and will be powerful stuff for the group to draw upon so this is something LB can report on in a few weeks
IC – well done everyone, agreed with LBs point earlier about pacing ourselves
IK – B13 mag wants to do a write up about us, photo about us
BK – write about more outstanding experiences
FA – Mos Society creating an obituary page on website of people who have died not only because of virus but died of causes that couldn’t be treated because of virus
SF – well done to everyone
KJ – actions, IC letter, mask call out, involvement on FB group, signposting google drive for Balsall Heath – Moseley resources
Person Responsible: All
Action Items
1. Angie to join Moseley Together Meetings
2. SW to put call out for facemasks on Whatsapp
3. FK to send KJ sewing patterns
4. IC to write volunteer ID letter
5. FK to liaise with SW, IK, KJ and SF regarding online community café sessions
6. All to increase involvement on FB group
7. LB and SW to create shared drive for Moseley Together and Balsall Heath to share resources
Next Meeting: TBC on Whatsapp
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