To receive updates from members of the group.

Josephine Crabb said that it had been a very busy time at St John Ambulance, with many of the volunteers being on the Covid-19 frontline at local and London hospitals. However, the volunteers needed to find a new premises in Maidenhead due to the York Road regeneration scheme. The team supported local events in the area but needed to have a large training room for first aid training for local employers and members of the public, an office, kitchen and lavatory facilities, a storage room, an ambulance bay and parking facilities.

David Scott, Head of Communities at RBWM, suggested that writing to Russell O’Keefe, Executive Director of Place at RBWM, would be best as he would be able to find some options.

Councillor Davey said that Braywick Heath Nursery needed financial help and suggested speaking to them as something could be possible.

David Scott said that some organisations were still not listed on the One Borough Directory. He also anyone who had not done so to send their organisations details across to Mark Beeley so that they could be added, at mark.beeley@rbwm.gov.uk.

Councillor C Da Costa said that the Covid Response Hub that she was part of would continue as long as Covid continued to be a thing. They were currently looking at next steps but still needed donations of food.

Alison Bourne, from the Dash Charity, said that their workload had doubled, with child referrals trebling. Covid had provided some more funding for the organisation which would help to deal with the extra workload.

Jane Corry said that Norden Farm had reopened and encouraged members of the group to visit. The Dementia Choir would be restarting in October online and it was hoped that it would reach more new people this way. Norden Farm were also running a number of online courses and classes along with live shows that were live streamed to the website.

Sheila Holmes, while not present at the meeting, had passed on an update to the group. The Older Peoples Advisory Forum were in the process of producing a comprehensive Newsletter. They were grateful for the support of the Older Persons Champion, Councillor Greg Jones. They were pleased to be reporting on the success of colleagues at the Disability and Inclusion Forum who had met twice this summer with a director from Areli, who were designing the Nicholson Quarter car park. 

Paul Samuels said that the Men’s Matters programme had looked at having meetings in person but were now having them on Zoom again for the foreseeable future.

Councillor Price questioned if voluntary organisations were included in the ‘Rule of Six’. David Scott explained that there were a number of different circumstances but things were changing at pace. He would try to provide an update to the group.

Belinda Dixon said that her organisation were still visiting the homes of anyone with dementia and could provide 1 to 1 therapy for an hour, so if anyone was interested they could contact her.

Valeria Pike asked the group if anyone had any recommendations for equine therapy. Councillor Tisi said that her school could provide it or Hope Farm in Holyport was also an option.

Barbara Grossman said that they would be hosting a MacMillan coffee morning on Friday 25^th September 2020, which would be held online and would be opened by Theresa May.