ANNUAL REPORT 2022 ## **Ripon Disability Forum Charitable Incorporated Organisation** ## **Registered Charity 1192414** ## **Previous History** The organisation has been in existence since 1995 when it was known as the Ripon and District Disability Action Group (RADDAG) a CVS Project. The group later became known as the Ripon Physical and Sensory Impairment Project (RipPSI) and its role was a User Group funded by NYCC. and it was a member of the North Yorkshire Disability Forum. It eventually changed to be the current Ripon Disability Forum, which brought it in line with other Forums in North Yorkshire. As in the past few years, the scope and activities of the group had grown, it was necessary to change from a user group to a constituted organisation and it became a Registered Charity and a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in November 2021 and this report covers its first full year of operation as such. ## **Trustees** Mrs Maggie Donnelly Chair Mr Jeremy Dunford Finance Mrs Lindy Webb Membership **Co-Ordinator** – Mrs Lynette Barnes, OBE ## **Trustees Meetings** In normal times the Trustees will meet bi-monthly but during the past year they have met quarterly. They have adopted the necessary policies and carried out the due diligence of the governance arrangements. They set and monitored the work plan for the year ## **Rebranding and Publicity** The Trustees obtained a Stronger Communities Grant which enable the Forum to rebrand and produce new information and to purchase display boards. These were used to good effect at the Sights and Sounds exhibition in March ## **Membership** The membership has increased from 9 at the beginning of the year to 12 at the end of the year ## **Members Meetings** Members meet on the third Monday in the month at Ripon Community House. During covid these became virtual and although meetings in person have resumed the intention is to now make them both in person and virtual for those that are housebound or do not have transport, if we are able to procure some improved equipment ## **Other Membership held** Ripon Disability Forum is a member of North Yorkshire Disability Forum and also meets quarterly with the other Disability Forum in Harrogate District. ## **Partnership Support** The Forum greatly appreciates the support received from the Officers of North Yorkshire County Council Partnership and Participation Team, North Yorkshire Highways and Harrogate Borough Council. ## **Activity undertaken in 2021-2022** ## **Access and Highways** Members have identified a number of issues that impede or make access difficult, these are are photographed and given a map reference and forwarding to North Yorkshire Highways who investigate them and pace them on the works list if appropriate. This partnership working has resulted in a number of significant improvements ## **Ripon Swimming Pool** Harrogate Bough Council consulted the members of the Forum at the planning stage ,on what facilities would be needed for people who have disabilities in the proposed new swimming pool. On completion of the pool they invited members to view the new pool just before the pool opened and we were pleased to see all the suggestions had been incorporated, including two Changing Places and we were told that the suggestions would be in replicated in other new pools in the district. ## **Changing Places** Although Ripon does have toilets for disabled people, but it currently does not have a Changing Place in the centre of the City. This is difficult for local people who require the facility but also for the many people who visit the City. The Forum worked with Harrogate Borough Council to making a funding application for funding to achieve this. ## **Housing** The Forum is particularly interested to improve the standards of house building so that accessible features are incorporated at the construction stage and also that there is a sufficient allocation of suitable housing on new developments. The Forum met with Ripon Renewal and Homes England to discuss these matters and in particular the need on the West Lane development. The Forum drew attention that one bedroom housing was not appropriate, as there was often the need for couples to have separate rooms, or room for large pieces of equipment or a room for a carer to sleep over night. ## **Access to Places of Interest** With Fountains Abbey being on the outskirts of Ripon we have a develop a helpful co-operation with the National Trust. Providing them on information on Changing Places and we have recently agreed to assist with their disability audit of their information and access standards the venue ## **Walking, Cycle and Access Infrastructure Plan and the Ripon Bid Accessible Signage Plan** The Forum is involved in both these projects which are currently been worked on ## **Consultations** Members of the Forum have contributed to the following consultations on: Advocacy Services NY Libraries technology. Care Services and the Care services Directory Yor Bus Employment Inclusion and Diversity ## **Issues Raised** Difficulties for people with a disability in obtaining a test appointment Disability access at a Vaccination Centre ## **Invited Speakers to meetings** Victoria Sandell Health & Social Care Team on Advocacy Professor Alison Laver-Fawcett on Mental Wellbeing when having longterm conditions Josh Wood NYCC Discoveries on your Doorstep ## **Representation at other meetings** Members have represented the Forum at other meetings: North Yorkshire Disability Forum Meetings with the Director of Health and Social Care Accessible Transport meetings The Wheelchair Forum ## **On Going Projects** ## **Take a Seat** Encouraging retailors and businesses to provide a seat in their premises for anyone to go in and sit if they are tired or feeling frail. This project has the support of Ripon City Council, the Cathedral, and the Rowel Rotary Club ## **Ripon Disability Forum** Registered Charity Number 1192414 ## **The Accounts for the period 1 April 2021 -31 March 2022** ## **Balance Sheet** **Funds B/F 1 April 2021 Income received 21/22 Expenditure21/22 Bal 31 March** **NYCC Contract** £ 504.44 £4640.00 £4097.30 £ 1047.14 **NYCC Stronger Communities** £ 500.00 £ Nil £ 518.85 £ see note 1 **Disability Awareness Fund** £ 856.57 £ Nil £ Nil £ 856.57 **RDF Projects Fund** £1543.28 £ Nil £ Nil £1550.00 see note 2 **Total funds £3404.29 £4640.00 £4616.15 £3453.71** £ 544.50 see note 3 **£3998.21** Funding held by Harrogate & District Community Action 31 March 2022 £2504.21 CAF Accounts £1494.00 **£3998.21 Total Funds held 31 March 2022 £3998.21** **Note 1 £18.85 Stronger Community overspend expenditure charged to NYCC Contract Funding Note 2 £1543.28 RDF Projects Fund rounded up to £1550 from NYCC Contract Funding Note 3 £544.50 an accrual from 20/21** Signed: **Jeremy Dunford, RDF. 18.05.22** Phil Newby, Hadca 17/5/22