Chairman Ron Mitchie welcomed another record attendance at the Great Aycliffe Community Aid Partnership monthly meeting held at DISC offices, next to the Blue Bridge, on Monday 6th November.
Secretary Joan Mitchie updated partners on progress made during a busy month. The new website is progressing and will be launched January 2018. Peter Driver from Harvest Church, Assistant secretary, is working with CDFHS to develop the website. Information is needed from all partners and Joan circulated two forms, requesting contact details, a summary of the organisation and areas where help and guidance could be obtained for people in need.
Sally Symons a Town Councillor was co-opted onto the Management Committee. An idea that was voiced a few months ago was officially launched when partners accepted the Conditions of Membership of Friends or Associates of GACAP, extending the hand of friendship to individuals who had a heart for the work done by partners offering support, advice and food/white goods to those people on our town who are in need.
Associates would be organisations or businesses who are interesting, in seeing how they can help. If you are reading this and wish to help please email the Secretary on the address below. Vice Chairman Geoff Batchelor from the Rotary Club explained he was running a promotion day for GACAP at TESCO, who are partners. This will hopefully bring in money that can be used via our discretionary fund to help partners helping others.
The Chair and Secretary, after visiting ‘A Place of Welcome’ last month, dropped in on the AARMS meeting an Alcohol self-help group led by Val Fawcett. It was a nice warm family feeling, mixing with people wanting help with a drink problem.
Alison Firby from The Foodbank and A Place of Welcome gave a report on Holiday Hunger. She said the Pilot Scheme was on the wrong day and was not advertised sufficiently. The town had several distractions during the school holidays, but those involved were undeterred, and were encouraged by support given by TESCO, Rotary Club, The Foodbank and their volunteers. A Tombola in the Thames Centre raised £190 towards the expenses of the day.
A further scheme would be run over the Christmas School Holiday period with the aim of providing free food, fun and friendship under the name of PLAY CAFÉ. With the roll out of Universal Credit in March 2018 it was felt there will be a need to help hungry families.
Rachael O’Donnell from Advice Durham explained the service which was part funded by DCC and Co Durham CAB. They started in 2013, there are 140 services involved including GP practices. Networking was important and which GACAP has found to be imperative to grow the organisation, giving more opportunity to help people who were in need.
Derek Butler, founder of RocSolid explained how the charity had evolved, with him and his wife Dorothy prepared to get their hands dirty after initially starting as a Fostering Agency. They realised when children reached 18 they were literally given a ticket back to where they were referred from. They saw a halfway house was needed to help these young people find their way back into society as not everyone can make it successfully. Since then the organisation has grown and the number of young people helped is immense. They currently have around 100 staff and 100 properties.
Young people aged 18-25 from across Teesside and Darlington area are helped, trained and accommodated and Derek said he was proud of the fact that their Ofsted rating of Outstanding.
Foodbank organiser Alison Firby issued a list of items required to make up emergency boxes.
Sid Rooke from NE First Credit Union advised they would be moving to the Library on 23rd November.
He expected coverage by Newton News about the move. Sid explained there were two credit unions in the North East, Prince Bishop in Bishop Auckland and NE First in Aycliffe. The Secretary spoke to Sid after the meeting about the Salary Scheme as there were many organisations who employ staff and volunteers in GACAP. He said the salary scheme allows employees to have money deducted automatically from their pay and deposited into a saving scheme account. The credit union can also offer support to staff who need assistance and provide a low cost source of borrowing at times when it is necessary.
The last meeting for the year is December 4th at the new time of 3.45 to allow time for networking before the meeting. The larger part of this meeting will be given over to Christmas Fayre and Networking.
Please note GACAP is open to all statutory and voluntary welfare groups working in the Aycliffe area.
For more details please contact Joan Mitchie on: secretary@gacap.org.uk
