RUGBY DISABILITY FORUM

Chair: David Foster – Tel: 01788 544991              Secretary: John Burrell – Tel 01788 533796
  Website www.rugbydisabilityforum.org

                       SECRETARY’S    REPORT  ( October 2008 )

We have had another very successful year. The Forum now has 106 members which is an increase of 27 from last year and the average attendance at our monthly meetings over the last 12 months was 28 ( last year the average was 22 the previous year it was 25 )

Throughout the year we have had a variety of interesting and informative presentations at our meetings and these will continue. Presentations have been booked up to August 2009 however if anyone has any subject or topic they would like to hear about then please let me know and I’ll discuss with your Committee and try and arrange something.

I have looked through the minutes of our meetings and here is a sample of the things we have done. My apologies to those involved in things that I do not mentioned but there was simply too many to mention them all.

November 2007

1.The Forum were involved in the “Compact Celebration “ at the Benn Hall where the Chairman gave a presentation to the meeting explaining what we have achieved in the relatively short time that we have been together.

2. The Christmas Meal was a great success with 58 people attending.

January

A group of members met to discuss and complete the Dept of Work & Pensions questionnaire on  “Proposals to improve effectiveness of support to help disabled people enter or retain employment”

April

June

  1. Summer barbeque at the West Indian Association Club - although the weather was terrible it was well attended.
  2. Day trip to Stoneleigh Mobility Show was well attended.
  3. Race & Disability Group - fund raising concert held at West Indian Club.

The Forum is continuing to be recognised by other organisations as the voice of people with disabilities in Rugby and surrounding areas.

Examples of this is the continuing support and involvement we have and give to  our Drop Kerb initiative,  Restoration of Caldecott Park,  Transport & Decriminalisation of Parking, Provision of Disabled Parking and Disabled Toilets, Community Safety,  Rugby Compact, Disabled Friendly Walks, Equality Impact Assessments and of course the Forums own Website.

Your Committee

Committee members have met every other month with each member taking a lead on initiatives we are involved in, and they represent the views of the Forum by attending meetings of other organisations ( some of which are evening meetings ). They do give up a lot of their time and put in a lot of effort on our behalf. I would like to thank them all for all the work they have done over the last 12 months.