Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

30 June 2009

Confirmed Minutes

In Attendance: Maureen Hetherington, Sean Coll, William Redpath,

Sheena Funston, Caroline Wilson

Staff: Duncan Morrow, Micháela Mackin, Carol Taylor, Frances Dennison, Joan Clements, Brian Mullan, Patricia Cuthel (minute taker)

Apologies: Jim Campbell, Eamonn Oakes

Micháela Mackin welcomed William Redpath from the Victims Unit to his first Victims & Survivors committee meeting.

Joan Clements gave a Powerpoint Presentation of the Council’s Befriending Programme.

Sheena Funston indicated that although she has arrived half-way through the presentation she had some queries relating to befriending supervision.

Minutes from last meeting:

Agreed

Matters Arising:

Duncan Morrowprovided the committee with an update on the current situation within Firinne committee. Duncan confirmed that he was in attendance at the second AGM and NICVA are satisfied that Firinne are a legally constituted organisation and therefore able to continue to receive funding.

Directors Report:

Micháela Mackin informed the committee the victims programme has advertised additional jobs and hope to recruit additional staff in the upcoming months.

Micháela updated committee on the review of the victims programme and requested two committee members to volunteer to sit on the review panel. Maureen Hetherington and Sean Coll volunteered their time. Caroline Wilson also offered her time.

Micháela also updated committee on the governance audit and requested two committee members to volunteer to sit on the panel. Sheena Funston and Sean Coll volunteered their time. Micháela to forward the Terms of Reference to Committee.

Micháela advised the date of the 2009 Victims & Survivor’s Conference is 28^th – 29^th September. Venue to be advised. Micháela indicated that it was the intention of the Council to assist in the consultation of the Victims & Survivors Service once this consultation was published and it was hoped that the conference would be an opportune time to engage with groups on their views.

Officer’s Report

Brian Mullan gave summary including

Contracts and payments
Verification visits

Joan Clementsgave a summary including

Attending a Service of Dedication in Ballygawley
Befriending service – all involved were very appreciative of the support provided by the Council.

Frances Dennisongave summary of the Small Grant Scheme

Assessing new applications
Closing 08 scheme

Micháela thanked Frances for all her hard work and congratulated her on her new position as Core Funding Officer (Community Relations) in CRC.

Welfare Advice/Respite concerns

Committee discussed concerns around groups providing welfare advice and groups awarded funding for respite trips.

Duncan Morrowcommented that committee should invite the political advisiors to meet and discuss the concerns around these applications and the importance of a review of the criteria.

Committee agreed that discussion would be helpful and perhaps to engage with the Junior Ministers in the future.

Sheena Funston commented that it important that individuals who are a member of more than one group, are not availing of respite trips within each group and was concerned about groups getting paid holidays through the grant scheme.

Micháela Mackin commented that groups are advised to take measures to ensure that groups do not apply for more respite support than is needed for its members and would be more than happy to learn of examples and substantiated evidence if this is the case. Micháela also indicated that CRC do not support holidays through the Development Grant Scheme but respite support for carers and for vulnerable people to help them cope better with their trauma, through trips, etc.

Committee discussed the importance of a review of the criteria for small grants. Micháela said there was a significant and timely opportunity to do this now since the Service consultation would be due to commence shortly.

Paper – Report on Yr 2 Underspend Options

Committee discussed the 3 options prepared by Brian Mullan

Committee agreed and approved option 2.

Special Requests

Committee discussed and approved request from Aisling Centre

Committee discussed and did not approve the request from CALMS

Water Rates

Committee read and agreed the Paper prepared by Brian Mullan.

Admin Support to Core Funded Groups

Committee discussed and agreed Brian Mullan’s recommendation and to apply for funding.

VU Request – Raising Threshold of VSGDGS

Micháela advised this will require full committee approval.

Assessing period will increase to 8-16 weeks.

There will be a ringfenced amount of £200k for small groups.

Notification of this will be going out to groups.

Caroline Wilson commented that applications over £10k will have to be discussed at a meeting and not by email, all members agreed.

AOB

Sean Coll thanked all of the Victims programme staff for all their hard work.

Committee discussed and agreed the 1^st meeting for Small Grant Applications over £10k will be 13/08/2009 at 1pm.

Date of next meeting

To be advised.