Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 15 June 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022 were approved as a correct record.

It was noted that Jealott's Hill Community Landshare currently had 3 members of staff with many volunteers.  It was noted that Jealott's Hill Community Landshare was a large site, a 6.5-acre vacant site offered for community use by Syngenta.

It was noted that Jealott's Hill Community Landshare partners formed a steering group which had consisted of:

• Syngenta (landowner).
• Silva Homes (lead partner & lease holder).
• Warfield Parish Council.
• Bracknell Forest Council.

It was noted that the mission for Jealott's Hill Community Landshare was to use the power of gardening to positively change the lives of people, for them to be able to enjoy being close to nature and share produce.

It was noted that Jealott's Hill Community Landshare had a community hub which was a space for individual participants and volunteers and consisted of individuals such as:

• Retired.
• Work experience.
• Living with dementia or health conditions.
• Feeling low mood.
• Learning or physical disabilities.
• Support groups and schools.
• Reparation services.

It was noted that there was also an area for group plots where Jealott's Hill Community Landshare worked with community groups, charities, support organisations and more.  Some of the group plot holders were:

• Sorelle (Adult care support).
• Breakthrough Employment Support.
• Woodhurst Park (Resident group).
• C.  H.  Support (Adult care support).
• Activate College Bracknell SEND.
• Friends in Need (Mind).
• Growing Hope (New Hope).
• Recovery College (Stepping Stones).
• Warfield Grow and Share (Resident group).

It was noted that Jealott's Hill Community Landshare also had a pond and welfare room.  It was noted that the welfare room had a disabled ramp and disabled toilets which was found to be accessible and had received positive feedback from the public.  As well as this, the carpentry workshop also had ramps which had then provided everyone the opportunity for DIY projects.

It was noted that Jealott's Hill Community Landshare worked on their funding and sustainability through the following:

• Partner contributions.
• Commission services.
• Project funding & grants.
• Donations.
• Fundraising & events.
• Site rental & educational workshops.

Kate Darrall also discussed the plan for Jealott's Hill Community Landshare moving forward and it was noted that from 2022, they would be working on the following:

• Educational workshops.
• Relaxation sessions.
• Outdoor family activities.
• Network events for charities and businesses.
• Income from produce.
• Utilising the 5-star kitchen & fitted carpentry workshop.
• Creating opportunities for people that were seeking employment.
• Online fundraising.

In response to questions raised, the following points were noted:

• It was noted that horticultural training or horticultural gardening for disadvantaged young people was being researched into, but it was difficult to find a provider of qualifications, someone who would oversee that side which would be a regulated school or organisation as a governing board of qualification to work with was required.
• It was noted currently that there was a large decking area around the polytunnel which was from the Olympics 2012, but the framework had rotted.  Due to this, a project had been created to reinstate the area.  By reinstating the area, it would also provide disabled access from the car park to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

For the last 12 years, it was noted that the interest was in helping young people with mental health concerns and struggle with mainstream schools, being able to help them find the right education.

It was noted there was a problem currently with young people wanting to go to school due to their mental health concerns with the addition of anxiety from Covid-19.  The focus at the moment was creating education projects that would help young people, parents, schools, colleges and more.  It was noted that by doing this, it would support young people transition to the next stage of their lives. 

It was noted the main source of engagement with young people was through video games.  It was noted that the topic of video games was appropriate as 95% of young people tended to play video games constantly through different technological devices. 

It was stated that the process for this project was that either the school, the local authority or the parent would contact members from the project regarding the child in question.  The video games would then be used with the students to engage and communicate and to find out how they could help further.  It was noted that EOB also offered formal qualifications, up to A-Levels.

It was noted that the purpose of the project was to create a more engaging environment by immersing neurodiverse young people with video game design skills.  It was noted that the mission was to offer diverse opportunities to enable maximum capabilities and confidence through learning about game design which meant education without boundaries would be provided.  The vision was accessibility and offers to all young people across the world who wished to engage with the project. 

In response to questions raised, the following was noted:

o   EOB was under the High Needs funding as EOB work with a large amount of young people with educational healthcare plans.  If a school did not have a special needs department or be able to support the young person in question, then EOB would be contacted.

o   The school would manage the time the young person would spend with the project, if the child still attended their school whilst working on the project.

o   The sessions were a hybrid.  This was because most students already had their set-ups at home and could contact members of the project virtually.  This was why it was a seamless transition to switch from virtual to remote.

o   It was noted that the students were registered and worked with through the academic year to complete their qualification (39 weeks).  It was noted that an academic curriculum was not considered as EOB did not follow the curriculum.

Cllr Mattick provided a blue badge update as the council had reviewed the Blue Badge scheme and had noted the following:

·       It was noted that if people had a disabled car park space painted outside their house, they did not have exclusive rights to it.  It was noted that the space would be available for anyone with a blue badge.  However, if there was a disabled car parking space available on private land, then it was illegal for anyone to park there as only the people who paid for the space had access to it.

To note proposed items for discussion at the Panel’s next meeting and consider any additional items for discussion at future meetings.

The next meeting of the Disability Advisory & Access Panel will be held on  01 March 2023.

The following were proposed as items for future meetings:

·       Opportunities for young people with hidden disabilities.

·       Representatives from the Parents/Carers Forum.

Next meeting: 01 March 2023.