These notes are based on the minutes of the Steering Group (SG) meeting held on Saturday 10 March at Stopsley Baptist Church, Luton.
Present: Ken Stoner, Larry Peer, Tom Mangan, Bob Jamieson, Sylvia Watson, Robert Bates
John Steadman, Andres Crespo, Jeff Hughes
Apologies: Bob Twitchin
In attendance: Mike Still, Alastair Crombie, Richard Armstrong, Brian Barr.
Refer to Appendix A
2. ACTIVITY SUMMARY
2.1 Client Visits for Jan-Dec 2000
- Number of visits made in year: 400
- New clients: 254
- Follow up visits to existing clients: 179
- Problems solved: 296
- 2nd visit required: 70
- Referrals for professional assessment: 14
Note that these figures are not complete because there are still some outstanding activity returns to follow up.
2.2 Volunteer Structure
The number of volunteers continues to grow! Note that there are over 110 volunteers participating in ITCH (including administrative staff).
Changes since January meeting. In brackets are the January figures.
Area Organisers: 6 (5)
1 stepped down, Derek Knowles
2 recruited: Richard Armstrong, South East. Robert Bates, Central (care-taker).
County Controllers: 21 (22)
1 stepped down, Steven Newton (Flintshire CC).
The present 21 CCs represent, 18 England (incl. 2 in London), 1 Wales and 2 Scotland (Note that the South East and South West Scottish area contacts are equivalent to CC posts)
Local contacts + Lone Volunteers 19 (12)
The additional 7 are based in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, Newport, Carmarthenshire, Co. Durham, South Lincolnshire
Tom will apply to Reach for volunteer to fill the South West AO post.
If anyone is interested in this AO post please email Tom Mangan at
3. FINANCE
3.1 Accounts
Expenditure to date: approx. £3,950
We now have an ITCH Bank Account of our own.
3.2 Insurance
Larry has had a response from the Insurance Brokers concerning ‘accidental erasure of information from clients’ computers’. However the Brokers are awaiting a reply from the insurance company. They have indicated that it is likely that a separate computer policy would be required to obtain the additional cover. If we are unable to obtain this cover at a reasonable cost we may need to consider issuing a disclaimer when visiting clients.
3.3 Distributing clients details eg/on expense claim form
Please do not put clients name and address on any claim forms being sent from AOs or CCs to Larry Peers, initials and the town/city where visit was done is sufficient.
Please try to reduce as much as possible emailing all clients details such as full address , whenever possible just give minimum details.
4. TRAINING
4.1 Training packages for clients
It was agreed that it would be useful to look into training material for clients.
4.2 Training volunteers
ITCH volunteers are able to attend, free of charge, two of the courses run by
AbilityNet, ‘Enabling Technology for Life’ and ‘Disability and Internet Access’.
Refer to appendix A for more information.
It was agreed that training is a topic that should be addressed at the National Volunteer Meeting.
5. NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MEETING
Date and venue to be confirmed.
6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
An Area Organiser meeting was held prior to this meeting. Refer to Appendix B for details.
7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 25th April
Time: 4.15pm
Veune: Carnival Hall, Basingstoke
Tom has spoken with Dianne Cockburn, Manager of the Advice and Information Service, about the service disabled people can expect when they contact AbilityNet. When contacting a main centre (i.e. Warwick, Surrey) about a possible assessment visit they can expect a response time to their enquiry within 2 days. If they contact a small AbilityNet centre (i.e. Edinburgh, Liverpool, York, Reading, London), they can expect a response within 1 week.
If AbilityNet believe they are able to help, they will arrange an appointment. If the visit is at an AbilityNet Centre, the appointment date is likely to be between one to two months. If the visit is at the client’s home, it is likely to be between two to three months.
The service is free when the client visits an AbilityNet Centre. A discretionary charge of £35 is made when the visit is at the client’s home. This charge is seen as a contribution to travel cost and is not requested if it appears to be inappropriate (and it is not made a condition of the visit).
If a client or ITCH volunteer is experiencing difficulties getting a response from an AbilityNet centre then they should contact the Advice and Information Service (tel: 0800 269 545) and they will try to resolve the problem.
For the contact details of a particular AbilityNet Centre refer to the AbilityNet website (www.abilitynet.co.uk) and select ‘About AbilityNet’. Note that a new centre is about to open near Cambridge.
AbilityNet run a free Advice and Information Service to assist disabled people who have (or are likely to have) difficulties using the standard keyboard, mouse or screen (or may benefit from using the computer as a communication or literacy tool). If an ITCH volunteer comes across a person with these difficulties, but believes a computer assessment would be inappropriate (or premature), then the client or the volunteer can contact the Advice and Information Service for some assistance. Tel: 0800 269 545 or email: [email protected]
For more information about AbilityNet, refer to their website, www.abilitynet.co.uk
a. ‘Enabling Technology for Life’
This gives an overview of the different technologies to help people overcome any difficulties using the standard keyboard, mouse and screen. In addition it looks at how the computer can help people with literacy and communication problems.
9 May: Edinburgh, 12 June: Reading, 10 July: Carlisle, 11July: Manchester
12 July: North Wales
b. ‘Disability and Internet Access’
This course demonstrates what is available to help overcome the difficulties involved in accessing the internet and email for people with a visual impairment, literacy or keyboard/mouse difficulty.
24 May: Reading, 9 October: Liverpool
The course fee has been waived for ITCH volunteers. If anyone would like to register for these courses contact: Tricia Sanchez, The Course Administrator, AbilityNet
Tel: 01926 312 847, Email: [email protected]
For further information about these courses refer to the AbilityNet website: www.abilitynet.co.uk and select ‘Courses and Events’.
AREA ORGANISER MEETING
Action points resulting from the Area Organiser (AO) meeting held on Saturday 10 March at Stopsley Baptist Church, Luton.
Present: Alison Crerar, Alastair Crombie, Brian Barr, Richard Armstrong, Robert Bates, John Steadman, Ken Stoner, Larry Peer, Tom Mangan, Sylvia Watson.
Apologies: Derek Knowles
In attendance: Mike Still
John Steadman agreed to continue as Area Organiser Representative.
2. HANDLING PERSONAL DETAILS
It was agreed that a piece of work is required to develop a procedure on how we handle volunteer and client personal details. In particular, to look at the way personal details are circulated, from the time the client makes the initial contact, to the time the volunteer makes the visit.
Ken and Tom will work with the AOs to propose a workable procedure.
3. DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WITH CLIENTS
It was agreed that we should have guidelines on what to do if a client complaints about a volunteer or appears to make unreasonable demands on our service.
Ken and Tom will work with the AOs to propose a workable set of guidelines.
4. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Meeting to be arranged in October.