Notes of the Furzedown Community Network meeting

Held on 10 September 2000 at 111 Ribblesdale Road

Present Anna Lubelska (chair), Sue Pearson, Sarah Buttinger, Shirley Sim, John Hayns, Ellis Cory, Bob Board, Lia Kahn-Zajtmann,

Mark White, Vijay Bhuchar, Helen Long, Linda Lewis, Brian and Maureen Way.

Apologies Gina Bailey, Ros Mand, Diane Berry


1. Picnic debrief

Anna tabled copies of her report on the picnic. It was agreed that this had been a very successful and enjoyable event. Around 100 people attended and it didn’t rain! Highlights included the hard-working and funny Charlie the Clown, the never-ending plastic squirrel treasure hunt, the exciting rounders match and the creative children’s arts and crafts. Nearly £120 was collected on the day to offset the costs.


2. Network responses

Vijay tabled copies of his analysis of responses to two of the questions in the picnic survey. The questions were:

* What other activities and issues should the network be involved with?

The responses revealed a wide range of interests in social, community and campaigning activities, providing lots of ideas for things the network could do.

* What could you offer the network eg skills, time etc?

The offers of help showed that there was a firm basis on which to develop a new organisation.



3. Organising the network and planning activities

After some discussion it was agreed that the role of the network should be:

* to bring together/act as an umbrella for existing groups and provision in the area;
* to provide the means through which information can be exchanged between groups/provision and with local residents;
* to stimulate and support new activity.

Again, after much discussion it was agreed to focus on three main activities in the coming year:

* setting up the information exchange mechanisms (such as website, newsletter, noticeboard)

* getting the café on the recreation ground for community use;
* reviving the Furzedown Festival for summer 2001 and incorporating next year’s picnic into the Festival programme.

It was agreed that the network would:

* do most of its work through single issue/activity subgroups;
* have a core group which brought together the different strands of activity and this group would have to meet monthly;
* need to work towards having a constitution and bank account;
* raise funds as it develops to support its programme of activity.


4. Action agreed

Activity
Person/people responsible for initial work*

Information/website
Vijay Bhuchar, Linda Lewis, John Hayns

Local resources/provision list and area boundaries
Ellis Cory

Constitution and vision
Anna Lubelska

Furzedown Festival
Anna Lubelska, Helen Long, Maureen Way

Café
Linda Lewis, Vijay Bhuchar, Mark White, Lia Khan-Zajtman


* these are the people who agreed to work up ideas/proposals in these areas. Others will be invited/encouraged to get involved too!
5. Next meeting

8.30 to 10pm Sunday 8 October in Seeley Hall, Chillerton Street.

Arrangements for use of the hall – Helen Long

Informing others who had attended the picnic about the meeting – Vijay

Minutes of this meeting – Anna

Business for the next meeting will be mainly reporting back on the actions agreed (see 4. above) and plans for spreading the news about the network.