BrainIAC Activities – April & May 2009

Petition Update

The Public Petitions Committee (PPC) met again on Tuesday 19^th May 2009 (postponed from 31^st March) in Parliament to consider responses expected from two organisations invited to submit comments. In the event the Committee only took a few minutes to note that no comments had been received; so the Committee agreed to again write to the Scottish Government and the Association of Directors of Social Work seeking responses to specific points. Both these bodies have been asked to respond by 21^st August – so clearly the next PPC meeting will not be until September or October 2009 – painfully slow progress!

In the meantime BrainIAC had already responded to the Scottish Government’s previous letter:

(PE1179/H Scottish Government letter of 5 February 2009 (364KB pdf))

in our letter (PE1179/I: Petitioner letter of 14 M

arch 2009 (25KB pdf) )

Link to index of all Comments & Letters submitted: – (http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/petitionsubmissions/sub-08/08-subIndexForPE1179.htm)

WATCH THIS SPACE for date of the next PPC Meeting .

Other events -

Forth Rail Bridge Abseil No.2

On 19^th April HelenM , this time accompanied by Ross and Michael (both staff in the Griffin Bar, corner of Bath and Elmbank Streets, Glasgow – opposite the King’s Theatre), completed another sponsored abseil 165ft down from the Forth Rail Bridge onto the shore at South Queensferry to support BrainIAC’s and Momentum’s funds – mind you, after last year’s abseil Helen said she "would NEVER EVER DO anything like that again" !

So well done Michael, Ross & Helen (again).

Sponsorship monies for the event are still coming in.

Brain Injury Awareness Week

11 –17^th May 2009

(Evening Times Story during Action for Brain Injury Week)

A Glasgow mum spent a whole week dressed in pyjamas and a crash helmet. Campaigner Helen Moran performed the stunt to raise cash and awareness of brain injury. Helen was the victim of a brain injury herself when she sleep-walked out of her bedroom window and fell 30ft.

Helen said: "People come up to you and say 'you're in pyjamas, what's going on?' I tell them it's for brain injury awareness week. You do get some funny looks, but I don't care.”

Helen added: "You can, at the moment, legally get on a bike without wearing a crash helmet. I don't agree with that. So many brain injuries are caused in bicycle accidents. There should be a change in the law to make it illegal."

MSP Paul Martin, who is a member of the committee, told the Evening Times: "Helen has done an excellent job raising awareness of her organisation. It's extremely important that we recognise the real challenges that people who suffer brain injuries face."

By Ewan Fergus, Evening Times (ewan.fergus@eveningtimes.co.uk)

All the week our Helen wore the helmet and pyjamas

to raise funds for

BrainIAC,

Headway Glasgow,

& Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT)

Yet again we say:

" Well done Helen ! "

Again, monies for Helen’s dressing-up activities are still coming in.

And, . . . . . . . in connection with child cycle safety,

Headway UK have launched a petition on the subject of cycle helmets –

asking the UK Government to introduce

compulsory cycle helmets for under-16s.

In the last 3 years, Department of Transport fi

gures say that the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on UK roads has increased by 11%.

Children make up a disproportionate number of the victims.

If you want to find out more and sign up, then go to:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/helmets-cycling

Exhibition Stall at Scottish Parliament

19 – 21^st May 2009

BrainIAC had the opportunity to operate a stall exhibiting a variety of information about our organisation and more generally about Acquired Brain Injury and its Awareness within the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood. Positioned up on the same level as the debating chamber, we had quite some number of ‘passing traffic’ (especially MSPs on the final day) who were interested enough to stop and enquire about us and the general subject.

We had a variety of helpers on a day-to-day basis, who included Neill_S, LorraineK (see inset image above), MarkZ, AlanA, and, of course, the ubiquitous HelenM.

After dismantling the stall, MarkZ about to ‘take off’ through the Edinburgh streets with (or was it without?) HelenM’s ‘Pink-a-Dink’ suitcase containing all our pin-up exhibits.

Overall, this event was well worth doing,
and allowed us to make some useful contacts.

Next BrainIAC Meeting:

Thurs 25th June 2009 12noon – 2pm

at Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland Hub (LTCAS) 349 Bath Street, G24AA
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As we have recently joined the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) , we are having our 2nd meeting in their Hub at the Venlaw Building, 349 Bath Street, G24AA , Tel 404 0231, (beside the KING’S THEATRE)

Please come along and hear what’s been going on. HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT.

Details of LTCAS Offices are given below and on the attached map:
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The LTCAS Hub is situated on the lower ground floor of the Venlaw Building, 349 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4AA.

As shown on the attached map, The Hub is close to Headway Glasgow, but if you are coming by train to Charing Cross, then when you come out from the station onto Bath Street then turn the other direction (LEFT) and the Venlaw Building is immediately on your LEFT.

The following bus routes stop very close to the Venlaw Building on Bath Street:

23, 42, 42A, 44, 44A, 47, 57, 59, and the 62 and 11 travel along St Vincent Street and West George Street (depending on one way system) - take the same bus(es) as you would for Headway in the Renfield St Stephens Centre
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BrainIAC Activities - January & February 2009

Petition Update
The Public Petitions Committee met again on Tuesday 13th January 2009 in the Parliament Building to consider the responses they had received from organisations they had invited to submit comments, and also the BrainIAC response to these. Two Constituency MSPs of two of our members, Paul Martin and David Whitton, had agreed to appear before the Committee to support the BrainIAC Petition.
There was much discussion which centred around the strong written support given to the Petition by non-statutory/voluntary organisations (Headway, Scottish Head Injury Forum, Princess Trust for Carers) in comparison with the statutory bodies (Scottish Government, NHS-Quality Improvement Scotland) who do not support the introduction of a separate and distinct health and community care client group category of ABI , as proposed in our Petition, and have no plans to introduce it.
One member of the Committee noted that “if this is the position [of the Government] at the moment, collectively we are challenging the Government to say why such a group is not needed. The evidence appears to point in another direction. We should ask the Government to explain its position in the context of the large number of pieces of paper that we have received [supporting the petition].”
So the Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing asking her to say why such a new health and care grouping is not needed while the evidence appears to point in another direction. When the Government was asked to explain its position in the context of the large number of pieces of paper that they have received – this resulted in the reply letter of 5th February from the Minister (PE1179/H Scottish Government letter of 5 February 2009 (364KB pdf)

BrainIAC has the opportunity to respond to this letter, and a draft has been developed by several members – this is to be discussed at the next BrainIAC Meeting on:

Friday 13th March 2009
1.30pm Glasgow Headway (Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow)

Hopefully as many members as possible will attend.

Our response has to be submitted to the Committee by 16th March.
Then the Public Petitions Committee will meet again on Tues 31st March to discuss both these letters and our Petition further.

Alan Agar (Secretary) 6th March 2009

BrainIAC Activities October, November & December 2008

Somewhat belatedly . . . . . .

On 5th October HelenM completed a sponsored abseil down 165ft from the Forth Rail Bridge onto the shoreline at South Queensferry to support BrainIAC’s and Momentum’s funds – it was a superb autumn morning when Helen got kitted up, ready for the walk up the embankment where the end support of the approach viaduct section is located; then it was onto the very airy open-mesh walkway that runs below the full length of the bridge to the North Queensferry end – just a few meters under the trains which were still running as normal that day – and what a dreadfully loud thunderous clatter they make when you are just below!

CLICK HERE to see a slideshow of images that give a good idea of what HelenM had to do. (Thanks to RodD and AlanA for use of their pics)

Overall,

HelenM’s Abseil raised £565

- £100 for Momentum & £465 for BrainIAC

- Well Done Helen ! ! ! and All who supported her

Petition Update

Around the middle of November a few of the Committee (and some help from KatherineD {Headway}) spent quite a few hours emailing every MSP – making him/her aware of our group, our campaign, and asking for their support if/when our proposal for the introduction of a separate health and community care category of ABI comes in front of the Scottish Parliament.

Also, from late November, we received (from the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee (PPC) ) the comments/responses of 6 organisations the PPC had invited to comment on our Petition. In terms of PPC procedure, it was explained that HelenM (as Petitioner) could make a final written BrainIAC response to the 6 above submissions received; this to be submitted to the PPC just before the Christmas holidays. The PPC would then subsequently consider all 7 submissions (ie the above 6 organisations’ plus our final BrainIAC responses) at a meeting of the Committee starting at 1.30ish? (time to be confirmed) Tuesday 13th January 2009 in the Parliament Building.

Between 21st Nov – 21st Dec several BrainIAC members met variously at HelenM’s and Momentum’s offices several times , and, towards the end, ‘virtually’ by email to discuss the other organisations’ comments, and also to develop the final BrainIAC response to these. Many individuals contributed to our final 3-page A4 submission. These meetings proved very fruitful due to positive input from everyone; many thanks are due to everybody who helped by being involved in any way – we are sure we have ended up with a very strong BrainIAC submission - submitted to the PCC on 21st December.

CLICK HERE to link to all 7 submissions (our BrainIAC response is the last of these, viz. PE1179/G )

It is understood that, in considering what to do with our Petition, the PPC will only take account of these written submissions, and that, in particular, we do not have any entitlement to be heard further.

However, we believe we have made a very strong case for the introduction of a separate health & community care category of ‘Acquired Brain Injury’ – this has been strongly supported by the voluntary/non-statutory organisations’ responses (who are directly exposed to the problems of those with ABI and their carers).

A group of us have arranged to attend the PPC Meeting on Tues 13th Jan 2009 – any members, please join us to observe what happens (25 Observer Tickets available). If you cannot make the trip, then you can watch the PPC Meeting streamed live over the internet (http://www.holyrood.tv/ ) or download it later.

Travel Arrangements for PCC Meeting in Parliament Building

-Tues 13th January 2009 at 1.30ish (time to be confirmed)
Meet on the Queen Street Station concourse at 10.45am for 11am to Edin(Waverley) – arrives 11.50am; allowing 20mins to get to Holyrood; pick up Observer tickets (for the PPC Meeting at 1.30ish(?) in a Committee Room) at Reception by 12.45ish; allows 30-40mins to have a look around, etc before meeting starts.

Cheap day Return Fare: £10.40#
# Must travel out after 9:00 and return leaving Waverly not later than 16:30
-it is possible to get reductions on this with RailCard, Disability Concession Card, Group Travel Discount, etc.

As on our previous visit, some members can arrange to travel by Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Waverley – free with a Disability Concession Card.

Date of Next Meeting: to be arranged – Watch this space!

Alan Agar (Secretary) 6th January 2009

BrainIAC visit to Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee (PPC) – 9th September 2008

16 members of BrainIAC (including 2 of our witnesses) and a few other friends took the train or bus across to Edinburgh Waverley where most of us had arranged to meet – we made our way to the Parliament Building at the east end of Canongate, had something from the café for lunch, collected our passes/tickets for the hearing, and were in good time for the PPC session that started in Committee Room 2 at 2pm. There were 2 petitions the PPC had to deal with before evidence was heard on our BrainIAC petition – but this gave us the chance to see how the Committee operates.

HelenM, the petitioner, and as someone who has an ABI, started off our BrainIAC evidence very well with her brief (3min) statement, summarising our petition and our case; then MSP Paul Martin, who has previously lent his support to BrainIAC, gave his perspective, and thereafter there was a Question & Answer session that involved both our other witnesses:

• Christine Flannery (not a BrainIAC member) – but as she is involved with the MCN in recording provision of brain injury services in the 14 Scottish Health Board areas, she was well able to provide facts and figures, and respond to queries the PPC asked;


• Mark Ziervogel – one of our BrainIAC Carers who also expertly explained his perspective of problems with services including the postcode lottery and age-related issues.
  

You can watch the Committee proceedings on 9th September on Video by CLICKING HERE (The BrainIAC section starts about 1hr 13mins into, and lasts for about 25mins of, the 3-hr session!)

Summary of Committee’s Opinion and Proposed Actions:

• The PPC seemed impressed by the fact that there is a need for action on this issue, and they felt they could do something about it;


• They would write to the Health Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and ask her to respond;


• They would seek more info from Directors of Social Work, Headway, Momentum, Health Boards, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Scottish Acquired Brain Injury Managed Clinical Network, Scottish Head Injury Forum, and other interested parties.

Click LINK HERE to see the Committee's Summary of its intended actions.

Conclusion

With our petition having got off to a very encouraging start, you can appreciate that our group (most of whom appear in the pics) were feeling very positive as we made our ways back to the bus and train.

Well done! - specially to Helen, Christine, & Mark,

& also everyone who came along to support them and the cause.

But we can’t afford to relax -

we will have to maintain the pressure that we have built up over the last several months.

Alan Agar (Secretary) 16th September 2008

Meeting of BrainIAC - Fri 29th August 2008 1pm at Headway Glasgow Offices, Renfield Centre, Bath Street, Glasgow

Introduction
The meeting had 8 attending for business dominated by preparations for the visit of our three BrainIAC witnesses before the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee on Tues 9th September , and the return visit of Christine Flannery (Managed Clinical Network for Brain Injury) to report on the progress of her work in getting standards agreed for “Traumatic Brain Injury in Adults”.

Election of Vice-Chairperson
Following on from the July meeting, when DavidT was not present, the meeting moved to the election of a Vice-Chairperson for BrainIAC as specified in the Constitution. Only this position remained to be filled, and individuals proposed(p) and seconded(s) other member(s) of the group as follows:

• Vice-Chairperson: David Thomson with HelenM(p) & AlanA(s)
  

and David Thomson was considered elected.

Funding - bank account
The BrainIAC bank account (with attributes as detailed at the previous meeting) had indeed been applied for and was now set up since that last meeting. Noted that the Treasurer, NeillS, could now progress the paying-in of the sum of £274= (in cash & cheques).
SamC had brought along application forms for small grants – for the Secretary to peruse, with a view to filing an application in the not-too-distant future.

Public Petition to the Scottish Parliament - Update
It was reported that a batch of A4 sheets containing approaching 700 signatures had been despatched to the Scottish Parliament by Recorded Delivery immediately before the closure (on 12th August) of the ‘collecting signatures’ phase of the petition. These were to be added to the 201 signatures collected online – an overall total of 900 signatures is recorded as having been received on the Public Petitions website.
(http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/petitions/docs/PE1179.htm )

With regard to the appearance before the Public Petitions Committee (PPC) of HelenM and two others, as witnesses on Tuesday 9th September -
A list with some 11 names of parties wishing to attend the PPC as observers was raised, to be notified to Parliament for booked seats in the observers’ section of seating by AlanA;
HelenM elaborated on the roles of our three witnesses who would be seen by the PPC:

HelenM – as someone who has an ABI– would be making a brief (3 mins) statement, summarising our petition and our case, to open proceedings;
Christine Flannery – as she is involved in recording provision of brain injury services in the 14 Scottish Health Board areas, she is in a good position to provide facts and figures, and respond to technical/factual queries the PPC may ask;
Mark Ziervogel – a BrainIAC Carer who would be well able to field questions from the perspective of problems with services including council boundary crossing and age-related issues.

HelenM then read out the current draft of her intended statement, after which there was a general discussion on its content; it was agreed that given the very limited time slot given, almost all the points included seemed to merit inclusion. However, there were a few other issues pointed out, including:

• Retired neurosurgeon Sam Galbraith had tried to designate ABI as a separate category for Community Care back around 1997/8 when he was the Minister responsible for Health in the Scottish Office, but nothing had apparently been followed through on this. (see http://www.scotland.gov.uk:80/library/swsg/index-f/c206.htm )
• It was also considered important to finish off her statement with a strong summary of what BrainIAC essentially wants.

HelenM mentioned that there was a possibility of setting up a public stall at the Scottish Parliament Building for a short period in 2009 to highlight ABI (details unknown for the moment).

Managed Clinical Network for Brain Injury - Update
Chris Flannery, the manager of the MCN, spoke on her group’s draft standards that had been published recently. Copies of this draft standards document were passed out. There was considerable discussion among those present. Essentially the document is out for consultation until 31st October; thereafter her group would do any revisions, and intend to publish the Standards in final form around the start of 2009. She encouraged BrainIAC and other interested groups to submit comments on the draft.

Other business
SimonG will pass over the names/addresses of individuals who have occasionally attended BrainIAC meetings; AlanA would circulate everyone, asking if they were still interested in continuing contact with BrainIAC.

HelenM intimated that she would be doing a sponsored abseil down the Forth Rail Bridge on Sunday 5th October – in aid of Momentum and BrainIAC funds. HelenM will be doing this challenge down onto the beach at South Queensferry – her start time is 11.15am. BrainIAC members and other friends are encouraged to lend her their support by

• sponsoring her beforehand - email HelenM here,
• and also on the day - please make sure you get there on time.
  

Date of Next Meeting: Agreed as Fri 3rd October at 1pm in Momentum’s offices in the Savoy Tower, Glasgow.

Alan Agar (Secretary) 15th September 2008

Inaugural Meeting of BrainIAC - Fri 25th July 2008 1pm at Momentum’s Offices (Savoy Tower, Glasgow)

Introduction
Although the inaugural meeting, relatively quiet in terms of attendance with only 7 attending, nevertheless very busy agenda-wise.

Constitution
Following on from the June meeting AlanA had updated the constitution document to reflect all the detailed changes that had been agreed at that meeting. SamC confirmed that she had perused the final document as tabled and it was in fact in order with the last meeting’s intentions; the group was happy to accept this. The meeting then proceeded to the formal adoption of the BrainIAC Constitution; this was proposed by NeillS and seconded by HelenM. As there were no objections to this, the Constitution was considered to have been adopted.



Election of Office-bearers
Having just adopted a Constitution, the meeting moved to the election of officers for BrainIAC as specified in the Constitution. Four positions were due to be filled, and individuals proposed(p) and seconded(s) other members of the group as follows:

Chairperson: Helen Moran with SimonG(p) & AlanA(s)
Secretary: Alan Agar with SamC(p) & NeillS(s)
Treasurer: Neill Sloan with HelenM(p) & AlanA(s)

These individuals above were considered appointed. The position of Vice-Chairperson was not dealt with at this meeting as DavidT, who had previously intimated his agreement to serve, could not be at the meeting. His appointment to this position would be dealt with at the next meeting.



Funding - bank account
Having looked into the issue of there being some restriction or other on the sort of items on which subscription fee income may be spent, both SamC and NeillS confirmed that no such restriction applied, so we would be free to use money collected through subscription for anything permitted in the constitution.
It was noted that we had already amassed some £274 in cheques and cash including a contribution from HelenM’s children.
With reference to the bank account to be opened with the RBS (in Sauchiehall Street, but actually the Charing Cross Branch), HelenM had picked up an application form to open a Treasurer’s account. It was agreed that our Account Name should be “Brain Injury Awareness Campaign (BrainIAC)”, also that HelenM (Chair), NeillS (Treasurer) and AlanA (Secretary) should be the three signatories, two of which would be required when writing a cheque. NeillS and AlanA would progress this matter by filling in the application and visiting the branch to see exactly what documentation/personal identity verification was needed.

Petition to the Scottish Parliament - Update
It was reported that there were currently 137 signatures online (151 at the time of compiling these notes), with something over 400 collected on paper. The possibility of running another Street Stall before the petition closes (on 12th August) was aired – after some discussion it was decided to have the Street Stall in the ‘square’ outside the Renfield Centre in Bath Street over lunchtime (nominally 12-2pm) on Wednesday 30th July.
[ P.S.– HelenM, NeillS, DebbieY, LorraineK, & AlanA subsequently had a very productive signature-collecting session on Wed 30th outside the Renfield Centre between 12.15 – 2.00pm; however passers-by became very few and far between immediately afterwards. Having been so successful, it was decided to repeat this Street Stall:
- on Wed 6th August, same time 12 – 2pm outside the Renfield Centre
- we would welcome any helpers who could give us a hand for an hour or so:
contact HelenM or AlanA on our email address: - serviceuserforum@gmail.com ]

With the Petition to be submitted by 12th August, HelenM had received a letter from Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee (PPC) inviting her and two other representatives to appear in front of the Committee on Tuesday 9th September at 2pm in Edinburgh. With this in mind, it was decided that a Sub-group should meet on Wed 20th August 1.15pm in the Headway Offices to explore/compile information that should be available to those appearing before the PPC.

It was noted that we would like to see as many as possible followers of BrainIAC come along to Edinburgh on 9th September to show their support for the Petition -

PLEASE COME ALONG !

Further details will appear on this website closer to the time.

Managed Clinical Network for Brain Injury - Update

The meeting was pleased to hear that HelenM had been asked to join the committee involved as a Patients’ Representative, and that she had agreed to this.

Chris Flannery, the chair of the MCN, would be attending our next meeting to explain and gather comment on her Committee’s draft standards that have been produced recently.



There being no other business, the meeting closed at approximately 2.15pm.


Date of Next Meeting: Agreed as Fri 29th August at 1pm in the Headway offices in the Renfield Centre.


Alan Agar (Secretary, BrainIAC) 3rd August 2008

Meeting on Fri 27th June 2008 1pm at the Renfield Centre

Introductions

The total of 12 attending (mostly brain injured and/or carer) individuals including 3 ‘professional’ attendees introduced themselves ‘round the table. The main item for discussion at the meeting was the Constitution, to be followed by a range of items each requiring much less time.

Constitution

After very brief introductions Helen, as Chairperson, handed over to Alan to deal with the Constitution, the May Draft of which members had taken away last time to read/study in their our time, to return to comment on it at this meeting. Alan led the discussion on the draft where the document was read through slowly paragraph-by-paragraph, and everyone had the opportunity to raise any points about which they were unhappy. There was quite some discussion that arose on a number of points – particularly those clauses that appeared under the sections headings: AIMS , OBJECTIVES, and MEMBERSHIP. As it was envisaged that our Constitution was effectively being finalised at this meeting, it was important that individuals were entirely happy with the details being decided on there and then.

Throughout the discussion which lasted for approximately an hour, agreement was reached for each point by talking the matter through without the need to take a vote of members to decide on issues that were raised. Practically all the modifications that were agreed involved changes to the detailed wording rather than the inclusion of extra, or the deletion of existing, clause provision.

Following this detailed consideration of the previously tabled Draft, it was decided that Alan would be left to update the document to its final form; then, at the start of the next group meeting (what will be the Inaugural Meeting of BrainIAC) the Constitution document will be formally adopted without further discussion.

Funding - level of subscription

There was some discussion on an appropriate level of subscription for members; it was suggested that something like £5 per annum could well be suitable. An alternative approach to funding was also suggested – that of asking for donations instead of having a specific subscription fee; it was also suggested that our group may attract more financial income from the former. This would be the case especially if there was some restriction on the sort of items subscription fee income can be spent. Sam Coyne is to clarify the situation concerning restrictions or otherwise for the next meeting.

Funding - bank account

While a group bank account could not be opened without the group’s Constitution being formally adopted and signed off, it seemed sensible to get organised for opening a suitable account so that it may be opened asap after Constitution adoption and the election of Office-bearer at our next meeting. It was agreed appropriate to open an account with the Royal Bank of Scotland (Sauchiehall Street Branch); Helen agreed to pick up a set of application forms for same in the near future.

Other business

Update on Petition to the Scottish Parliament

Helen reported that the group had collected approximately 500 signatures (something just over 100 on the Parliament website, with approximately 400 signatures collected on paper). She again noted that arrangements were in hand to submit the petition to the Public Petitions Committee at the Parliament, and Paul Martin MSP would be lending his support.

DVD of “BrainIAC – The Movie”

Helen had brought along lots of copies of “BrainIAC – The Movie” on DVD; members were very welcome to help themselves to a copy of this excellent animated slideshow of our recent street stall petition activities in Buchanan Street and Byres Road, Glasgow; David Thomson had used his multi-media talents to put this presentation together.

NHS Diamond Anniversary Celebration Show

Helen also had a supply of invitations for the Anniversary Event taking place at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Sat. 5^th July; again, everyone attending the meeting was welcome to help his/her-self to the number of tickets they thought they could use.

Managed Clinical Network for Acquired Brain Injury - Chris Flannery
Helen announced that she intended inviting Chris Flannery to our next meeting, so that she could update us on the progress of her work to put in place draft standards for Acquired Brain Injury. When she addressed us at our April meeting, she said she was interested to hear some of our personal stories, so this is another point to be raised with her.

Election of Office-bearers and Committee at next meeting
Sam Coyne noted that as the election of Office-bearers and Committee was intended to take place next time, members should give some thought before then as to whether they might wish to stand, and/or who they thought suitable to fill one or more positions.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at approximately 2.30pm.

Date of Next Meeting: Agreed as Fri 25^th July at 1pm , with the venue subsequently confirmed as Momentum’s offices in the Savoy Tower.