CARERS IN MENTAL HEALTH GROUP
Meet every Third Tuesday of the month at 12.30pm to 3pm
at Wigan & Leigh Pensioners Link, 27 Charles Street, Leigh.
WN7 1DB. For more information ring (01942) 606086.
CARERS IN MENTAL HEALTH
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY
JANUARY 15TH 2008
PRESENT – Gaynor Smith, Celia Taylor, Jim Hart, Edna Hart, Cath Williams, Brenda Thorpe, Frank Jones, Anna Casey, Margaret Robinson, Teresa Darbyshire, Eileen Hollinshead, Llyn Kenyon, Frank Kenyon, Danny Kenyon, Alison Thomasson
APOLOGIES – There were no apologies. Gaynor our chairperson opened the Annual General Meeting and welcomed everyone
MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR 2007 - The minutes were read by all present and it was agreed that they were a true record of this meeting.
SECRETARY’S REPORT - We have 16 members on our register. We have had several people referred to our group during 2007 but unfortunately they have not returned. We also received the sad news in January that Marion had lost her son.
We have had several speakers during 2007. Stan Barnes Making Space, Helen mccomb, Dr Ramamurthy, Linda Smith, Judith Gallagher. Dr Ramamurthy continues to take an interest in our group and sent us £50 towards our Christmas Lunch (read Letter). All these speakers gave us lots of information.
Llyn is still taking our concerns to the meetings she attends and keeps us informed thank you Llyn The changes to Mental Health Services is still ongoing and we hope that someone from Mental health services will be coming to one of our meetings this year to explain the changes to us.
We have had two breaks to Noddfa in the last year. 10 of our members went in May and 7 in October. We were asked by the sisters at Noddfa in April if we would like to join the welsh carers for their 10th anniversary when an important visitor from the Princess Royal Trust would be visiting and special events happening however this didn’t happen. Instead the sisters put on a carers week programme for us including exercise massage & Relaxation discussions, Labyrinth & cosmic walk, circle Dancing, on the Thursday all the sisters took us to Conway for afternoon tea and we had quizzes and games in the evening We met up with 2 Carers from Warrington and we have kept in touch and 5 of us went to their group last Monday.
WE also had a day out to Skipton in the summer and enjoyed a meal out in Ashton. Our final outing was Christmas Dinner at Bents which was excellent all these outings were subsidised by our funds and the money received from the Carers Grant
We had a tom bola stall at the summer fair and raised £ 64 we gave £10 donation to Pensioners Link. We also continue to pay £10 for using the meeting room. We now can only have it for 2 hours as another group also uses the room on a Tuesday afternoon. I would like to thank you all for your donations to the summer fair, raffles and to our funds
Congratulations were given to Gaynor and Cath on their special birthdays and to Jim and Edna on their Diamond Wedding.
I would like to thank you all for your continuing support of the group and also to thank everyone at pensioner’s link and the carers centre for their support as well.
TREASURERS REPORT – Jim gave out statements for the year’s accounts and for Bank account and Petty cash and explained them to the meeting.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE – Celia gave everyone a copy of the amended constitution and explained that we need two members to stand in the absence of the chairperson & secretary. Gaynor asked if anyone else would like to take over the committee. Everyone was happy for the committee to continue in their present roles. Alison and Llyn volunteered to be committee members
FUTURE EVENTS – A break to Noddfa has been arranged for April 7th – 11th 2008 Names needed at next meeting for those wanting to go. Some discussion took place about outing for later in the year to be discussed further at future meetings. Everyone said how much they enjoyed the Christmas Dinner at Bents. It was agreed that we would book Bents for Christmas dinner 2008.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS - Fundraising – It was agreed to continue the raffles and we would take it in turns to provide the prizes. Celia would also look at finding funding for the coming year. The members will continue to make contributions at meetings.
Irene (from Pensioners Link Management Committee) & Chris (Co –coordinator on the Carers Helpline) came in to inform us that from March 31st The Carers Centre and Carers Helpline would no longer be financed by Adult Services. Irene assured us that Pensioners Link Management committee will continue to support carers. There is to be another carers Centre opened in the future elsewhere in the borough. There was a lot of discussion about this decision as to where and when this centre would be opened and what happens in the meantime. There is a consultation Meeting being planned in the near future.
There being no other business the meeting was closed by the Chairperson.