Agenda item

Give & Take Care: Future Plans

To receive a verbal report on the above titled item by Dawn Sines (CEO of Give & Take Care).

Minutes:

Gabriella Spinelli gave a verbal presentation on the above titled item. Members of the Forum were informed that the Give and Take Care was a Community Interest Company (CIC) had formed in 2015 and that they were delivering a time banking scheme with the ambition to become embedded in society long term. It was outlined that there were both care givers and care receivers both of which were known as partners. It was highlighted that Give and Take Care delivered volunteered befriending support through existing charities and encourages regular one to one support visits which can become long term, meaningful friendships. Members of the OBG were told that this would improve the quality of care for many older adults by increasing connections with others and provide additional support with day to day activities. The scheme was available for those who were in existing family care arrangements, enabling family carers to bank some caring time for their own future needs. At present there was a limited volunteer pool and that the scheme currently operated across a number of regions including Windsor, Maidenhead, Wokingham and Leicester.

 

Give and Take Care had received a £1mil grant through the Better Care Fund (BCF) and Council funds. Members of the OBG were told that some of the work being carried out was to redefine attitudes around care and to work more widely with the demographic, as opposed to focussing solely on the aging population. The Forum were informed that a card had been created for volunteers to receive discounts. Breakfast meetings had been held with local businesses to encourage them to join the scheme. It was highlighted that there was a desire to coordinate the skills and talent from volunteers and to create an opportunity for all. There were opportunities to be developed with upskilling volunteers and wider opportunities for the community through this. Members of the OBG were informed that there was respite care available for those who provided care to others which was well received. It was outlined that there were concerns that some people who provided care had been receiving cash for their services and that the discount offering scheme would be more beneficial. The Forum were told that a BCF Fund had been placed in February for £550,000 and that this was a 1st phase bid for the Big Lotto Fund. It was outlined that there were currently 40 volunteers across the Windsor and Maidenhead area, 1000 volunteers nationally and 1500 hours of care were banked. Members of the OBG discussed ways in which they could distribute this information to their own networks. It was outlined that work with Optalis had been carried out in relation to training for volunteers. Members were informed that referrals were received from several clinics and that loneliness and isolation support was also offered.

 

Members of the OBG queried whether any work or contact had been made with local Housing Associations and it was confirmed that there had been work done in Rochdale with tenancy support and in providing 10 hours of free care to residents after moving into their new property.

 

ACTION- That Give and Take Care provide an update at the next meeting.

 

At the conclusion of the presentation, Members discussed the importance of including all carers and young people and to explore isolation and loneliness with the wider demographic.

 

Louella & Lautaro introduced their organisation, Busy Buttons and stated that they were registering as a charity. Their organisation focussed on 5-25 year olds and had been running since 2013 providing free creative activities.

 

ACTION- That Busy Buttons give a verbal presentation at the next meeting on their organisation.