PUBLIC Chairperson's Report Disability Resource Centre Service Users Commlttee SC017575 I'm Paul Roderickson and would liketo welcome everyone tothisyear's Annual G8neral Meeting. Since 20201've been more involved in the Servlce Users Committee. In recent years, it has been an absolute privilege to be Ch8irperson. I w8nt to take the time to thank everyone who has been involved in making this organisation successful. It's still running after over 30 ye8r8. We are the link between service users. carers and st81f. We are here for all service users 8nd can highlight issuos and problams independently. Within the Service Users Committee 8ndthe DRC. we are careful nottoforgetthe need to celebratethe many positive expariences we have shaied. We are representing all service users at the Disability Resource Centre. We understand thet we face a climate of change. with an emphasis on ne8dingto make 88vingsto services. Morethan ever, ourviews and experiences are needed. Sharing and le8rningfrom our own determination to k88p ongoing is important, We are makinga positive difference in tho communlty. This18ads us to the maln themesthe Committee has prioritised and the direction we h8ve chosento take. We continue to have a stsff team atthe Dlsabilty Resource Centre who aro committed and keen to support us, to co-work 8nd develop the servic8. At this point more than ever signrficant cuts to public services are belng discussed. Before l outtine details of the work we heve been involved in over th8 last year, I'm keen to highlight several Aims and Objactlves ané Powers in our Constitution. To promote the benetit crf all people wfth a physical or sensory impairment who are Us818 of tho Dl8abillty Resource Centre The Committe8 responds-"W8 are inclusive and will encour8ge and support everyone vvho 8ttends': To 8g¢ertain and co-ordlnate, on a regular basls, theviews and wishes of allwho U88the Disabluty R080ui¢o Centwe. "The Commltte6 li8ises with members of st8ff and the m8nagem8nt. Committee mémbers c8n be approached with sensitive m8tt&rs and vvith permission. in confldence, will take any conc8rn5 Wlth the msnagem&nt team.. To encourage the involvement of the Users In self-dovelopment opportunltles. "P8rticip8tion in groups, acc8SS to tr&inin& peer-supportand d8V8lopmentproj8Cts". To provide soclal, educatlonal. and cultural 8Ctlvltles PUBLIC "The Commltt88 provides additional r8sources forgroupwork n78teri81$ and eouipmentforthe thirdsector org8nis8tions based at the Dis8bilityResource Centre". Promote Interaction between goneratlons. °We 8r8 k88n to b8 Inclusive 8nd 8n8ble peop18 of 8118g8S to become involved and ensure representation". Promote and ¢arryout. orasslst In carrylng out. research, surveys, and Investigations relevanttothe aims and objectivesotthe Users Committee -we work together to m8ke 8n Imp8Ct andsh8r& our flndlngs". The Committee promotes work beingcarrled out In surveys and consultations. "We investig8te information and consult with service users before we make 8ppllcatlons to trusts 8ndgrantgivingbodles". We're plenningto d8velop mor8 In terms of supportlngpeoplewho rely on 8ttendingth8 DIs8bility Resource Centre. Thanks for contributing to the Committee. It's been established for more than 30 years now. We int8nd to Continue hlghllghtlng dlfflcultles In the community and workwlth our p8rtnersto representourviews end promote accessibility. Mental health and wellbeing concerns have become mor8 comlortableto discuss in appropriate settlngs. We learned recently that Engage Renfrewshire has awarded the Service Users Committee8 Grantfor8 new Peersupport Prolect. Thefunding application was made to the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. This is goingto make a signiflcant difference to our membership and POtentl8lly informal cBrers and family member8. We 8ppreciate that the potentialfor ski115 and learning experiences around peer support is high. The successful application Disabllity Rasour¢6 Centre Userts Committee, to the value of £3500 forthe parlod to 31° January 2026. We hop8 that this will be an excitingstarting point for new participants. As a pilot project, this is a fantastic opportunity for us. ItÈ goingto be a wonderful experience for people to1gam new skilts and explore the benefits of peer support. Although we stlll need to identify a facllitstor, we are confident thatthey will structure and guide the waythe sessions ere plann9d. Th8 DRC as links with some tslented people who prev¥ously collaborated in community workshops and peersUPPOrt projects from previous years. The Commlttee members and Ordinary mernbersworked In collaboration. We are determined to have our voices heard thls year. People were generous with theirtime and demonstrated ebsolutè dedlcation to working tog6th8r. Informal c8r6rs and family members also assistBd and are dlscusslng differ8nt perspectives and experlences. Vickycampbellwas nominat8d asTreasurer8gain lastyear. and Ann Wiggins continued asthe CommEttee's Socretary. As part of a team th8y have bothworked hgTd behind the scenes to fundralse and motlvate peopl8 into actlon. I would lik8 to thank Vicky and Ann for thelr efforts. Nowadays, peopletalk ofthe import8nce of lived experienc8. Shared insight Cen helpto craata positive outcomes. Durfng the Covid-19 P8ndemlc. our Insight was stark. Relying on care to get PUBLIC by it limited our independence. As people relying on care and accessing services, we identified with many who were able to shale personal experiences. They described feelings of isolation. For the majority. Digital meetings didn't replace relationships with people who may be facing anxiety and concerns about the future. The challenge for thi5 Committee was to help people to regain confidence in their abilities and re-establish links in the community again. The staff at the Dlsability Resource Centre have continued to Show their support. Cl8ire Gr8ham, Senior Business Support and Irene Macneil. Managerattend meetings regularly. Joe McAdam. DCO and Mary Christi50n, Senior DCO have liaised with othey groups in the Centr8to highlight developments gnd plans for groupwork equipment and org8nising soci81 events. A Coffee Morningwas organised bythe Committee last year. Itwas an amazing success. With home baking. and raffle prizes. The knitted crafts were beautifully made by some ofthe Committee members. namely, vic￿. Karen and Marjory. We noticed thatAnn hast8rrrfic expertise in sales! Joe McAdam- our digr(al expert, guided the Committee to help source digital supplie& inL paper etc. The Committee have supported groups and service users with investing in equipment in the past. Many people benefit and use the equipment and materials in groups. The support is appreciated by service Users and staff. The grounds atthe Disability Resource Centre are huge and we've always rèlied on the small group of people volunteeringto keep the raised beds in good order and growvegetables. The Service User's Committee has recentlyfundedtimber and materialsfor outdoorwork. The gardening group, with their dwindling number of volunteers worked togetherto replace raised beds and makethe space as accessible and sale as possible. Since April 2025. prior to the AGM in June, several public consultations were organised by Renfrewshire Council. Public meetings took pL8ce in a variety of venues throughout Renfrewshire. Representatives from the Users Committee attended the consultations at various locations or responded online. An important meetingwas held atthe Disability Resource Centre as partofthe con8ult8tion process. Renfrewshire Health 8nd Social Care Partnership has had to put forward difficult options forloc8lcommuniti8s includingcLrtbacks to Adultservices. Thè Users Cornmlttee are grateful to everyone who has contributed since the consultation process started. We lookforward to continuing to develop our commitmant to represent all service users. family members and actingas a support networklnthe community. Paul RoderiGkson Chairperson SeNice User's Committee 74 Love Street Paisley PA3 2EA.