Notes from the Strategic Group meeting held on Tuesday 21st June 2005 at BAYC, 25 Spring Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HJ
Dave Boucker, Barry Lockwood, Peter Miller, Rob Sabin, Alison Straker
Marcia Blissett, Simon Cottingham, Bruce Kirk
Marcia and Bruce have both been in contact and are meeting with Alison independently in July. Both hope to be able to attend the July strategic group meeting.
In terms of widening the membership, Peter reported an interest from BRAP which he will follow up. Likewise Barry will approach his contact at EMBRACE, and Alison is to follow up a contact with BTEG.
A workshop was held with a group at WMVYSF on 9th June – see attached report – and positive feedback was received. In particular people felt they were able to recognise the significance of regional policy and its relevance to their work.
It was agreed to use the framework developed at this event and two case studies as a means of making an initial case to regional players (in particular RegenWM and AWM). Possible case studies: WYCA and Worcestershire CVYS (also covers children). Alison is to prepare case studies and report, and to seek initial contact with strategic players. Initial contact may need to be coordinated through RAWM as part of their wider regeneration programme. We need to consult with regional players over how they perceive the links between the sector and key policy and strategy, and to explore how we can work together towards an event on 16th September.
Consultation with children and young people through video is due to take place throughout the summer. Mudassar Noor (a Coventry based youth and media studies student) is being employed by NCVYS to carry out this work.
Alison to arrange employment and related paperwork and to brief Mudassar and support his work in general
Rob to support Mudassar in finding Coventry and Warwickshire Groups
Dave to support Mudassar in finding Worcestershire Groups
Peter to follow up contact with Sparkhill group
Further opportunities will be sought by members of the group.
The material will be used for the website and for other publicity and promotional purposes.
Alison will prepare appropriate briefing and consent forms for participants
Two key areas of consultation were agreed, in line with our regeneration focus:
A proposal has been made (and approved in principle) to RAWM for funding for the regeneration event on 16th September (£3k available). A venue has been booked for 50 people. The nature of the event will be determined to some extent by the contact with key regional players. Further work needs to be done on this.
Plans over the development of more comprehensive and coherent regional infrastructure have accelerated more quickly than anticipated and we have been overwhelmed with interest for the meeting to be held on 8th July. This is seen as an important opportunity as many of the sector’s key players in the region will be present. Different members of the Growing Up group are to take a lead on different parts of the meeting as set out in the final agenda agreed at this meeting and to be written up and circulated by Alison. Peter, Dave and Alison will discuss this further.
There is a need to achieve a better representation of children’s organisations. Dave and Alison will follow this up.
Chris Eade’s presentation at WMVYSF gave a strong impression that Change Up funding could be available for a regional thematic consortium around children and young people. It was agreed that this should be given serious consideration but that the agenda of joint working extends beyond seeking funding and should not be subsumed by it at the meeting.
The website in a basic form exists and is already proving a useful place for the exchange of information. Further discussion and some training on the use of the site will take place on 18th July. All members of the Strategic Group are to look at the site and think about their vision for it in advance of that meeting.
An email group now exists for the Strategic Group. As members of the group we can all email the whole group through the address growingupstrategic@allplugin.net .
Monday 18th July 11.30 – 3pm, Birmingham Chinese Youth Centre, Q-Lorc Resource Centre, 99 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0NS
11.30 – 12.30 understanding the Growing Up website with Gerbrand Oudenaarden; 12.30 – 1.00 lunch; 1.00 – 3.00 strategic meeting. (NB previously advertised at an incorrect address!)
Tuesday 6th September 2-4 pm strategic meeting, venue TBC
Wednesday 9th November 2-4pm strategic meeting, venue TBC
Friday 8th July 10am – 1pm: Children and Young People’s Consortium, Birmingham Chinese Youth Centre
Friday 16th September (all day, exact times to be confirmed): Growing Up Regeneration Event/ Conference. The Priory Rooms Meeting & Conference Centre