Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations

BAVO's networks and forums offer local groups an opportunity to meet with other organisations, to share ideas and concerns, to develop interagency partnerships and to agree voluntary sector standpoints to take forward into consultation with statutory and other bodies.

BAVO facilitates the following networks and forums:

Never Too Old Action Team

The County Borough of Bridgend has a long established Joint Strategy Planning Team for Older People where there are representatives from health, social care, voluntary / community and service users groups. This group reports to the Health Social Care and Well Being Partnership Board and was responsible for delivering the action plan associated with the Never Too Old Strategy 2002-2007. With the current publication of guidance from the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of older people, the joint planning team chose in 2006 to review its work and its stakeholder involvements and the ability for everyone to participate in the processes.

For older people, the Bridgend Partnership was established as the 'Never Too Old Action Team', from which there are two work streams. One which considers the health and social care needs of older people and the other which considers the wider issues that have direct implications upon health and social care such as older people's well-being and social inclusion. These two work streams have priorities to work to, and will engage stakeholders in task and finish groups to deliver on the objectives of the relevant action plans for older people. Progress made is reported regularly to the local multi-agency Health partnership board, Delivery Board and Local Service Board. In this way we are striving to ensure the voice and views of older people are heard across the whole community of Bridgend.

Never Too Old Action Team (NTOAT) Membership

The membership is made up of representatives from Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC), ABMU Local Health Board, the voluntary and community sector (via the Ageing Well network and BAVO, SHOUT and Carers.

The current membership is:

Susan Cooper - BCBC Head of Adult Social Care (Chairperson)

Heidi Bennett - BAVO (Vice Chair)

Roxanne Dacy – HSC Facilitator, BAVO

Hedley Davies – Carers Representative

Carmel Donovan – Group manager Adult Services

Vicki Franklin – ABMU LHB – Nurse Director

Sara Forster – ABMU LHB - Head of Occupational Therapy

Jon Efford - SHOUT (and OPAG)

Cllr Lyn Morgan– BCBC Champion for Older People

Des Rees– County SHOUT Chairman

Rachel Rowlands, Voluntary Sector Rep (Ageing Well Network Chair) – Age Concern Morgannwg

Rena Sweeney – Voluntary Sector Rep (Ageing Well Network Vice Chair) – BC Care and Repair

Zoe Wallace – ABMU LHB Head of Strategic Planning and Partnership

Catherine Webb / Ann Davies– Bridgend locality NPHS

Paul Wood – ABMU LHB– Champion for Older People

For more information on the Never Too Old Action Team, contact Stuart Burge-Jones the Strategy Coordinator or visit the local website by clicking here

For information on SHOUT, the voice of the older person in Bridgend County, click here , visit our Local services page or contact Mo Williams on 01656 810400

Bridgend Stakeholders Workshop - Big Lottery Advatage Programme Funding for Advocacy or Befriending - Bridgend Recreation Centre, Newbridge Suite, Monday 6th September 9.30 - 12.30

Following the pre launch we held in Bridgend earlier in March, this is a diary marker for a jointly facilitated (statutory and voluntary sector partners - Never Too Old Action Team) morning which aims to look at and ensure Bridgend County responds to the Big Lottery Advantage Programme Funding.

BIG are formally launching the fund in June which clearly provides great opportunities for individual groups, and partnership bids across sectors as well as unitary authorities. BIG are also very keen to ensure that bids are reflective of local older people’s strategies and that bids have active engagement of a wide range of partners.

The session being held is to give a quick overview of the programme and also to examine areas of possible joint working where proposed projects could overlap.

The scheme is designed to provide opportunities for

Advocacy project ideas could include:

support for older people who face issues with service providers. For example, problems with day care provision and carers
support during major times of change. For example, adjusting to life after retirement, help in accessing benefits and services following the onset of illness
support with finances to enable older people to maintain independence. For example, assistance in dealing with banks, utility companies
projects that support self-advocacy for older people and support for older people who face particular issues in understanding their rights and the options available to them. For example, people with dementia, people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Befriending project ideas could include:

befriending services with a purpose. For example, shopping schemes
befriending groups based in the community
telephone befriending
one to one befriending
befriending models which make use of information technology.

Who should attend?

Voluntary and Community Sector Providers who have an interest in finding out more about the BIG lottery programme
Voluntary Sector and Community Providers who have a strong interest in developing individual / joint bids
Statutory Sector Partners who have a key role in strategy development
Statutory Sector Partners who have a key role in service delivery.

Please register your interest for this workshop with Rhys.Owen@bridgend.gov.uk or jade.worthington@bridgend.gov.uk by 25th August 2010.

Download the agenda and to register interest.

For further information please contact Roxane Dacey 01656 810400 or Stuart Burge-Jones on 01656 643529