MINUTES OF THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE

DERBYSHIRE CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT STEERING COMMITTEE

The seventh meeting of the Derbyshire Chronic Pain Support Steering Group was held on Tuesday 30 April 2002, at the Guinness Trust Community Room, 1 Sidney Street, Derby.

Attendees:        Mark Charity, Naomi Memmory, Steve Wilson, Sandra Cunningham, Paul Hearne, Peggy Archer, Val Perry, Jacqueline Moss, Margaret Whitehurst, Ray Whitehurst, Sheena Coxon, Roy Smith, Eileen Hogg, Bob Moore, Sandra Moore, Peter Povey, Pauline Povey

Apologies:         Janet Owen, Derek Woodward

Mark Charity (Chairperson) opened the meeting by welcoming all and new faces, he then outlined the purpose and objectives of the group.   All members of the group then spoke in turn and gave a short outline of themselves and their conditions and circumstances.

Minutes from the last meeting held on 9 April 2002 were approved and signed as a true record.

1.  Advertising

Distribution of posters to Doctors Surgeries, public notice boards, various local clubs and Liz Limbert at the Communication office at the City Hospital to distribute them around both the City and DRI public notice boards, to notify the public of the groups existence.

2.  World of Pain Video

Video now received of “World of Pain” a Channel 4 Documentary, which will be available for people to borrow.   Sandra to keep and lend out to interested parties.   Margaret Whitehurst has some videos on the subject of pain, which she will lend to anyone interested.  

3.  Membership Forms

Membership forms were handed out.   Discussion took place regarding fees and voting rights.   Group membership and discounts for Amazon were discussed.

• Subscription fees were received from

• Peggy Archer                           Cheque

• Paul Hearne                             Cash

• Pauline Povey                          Cheque

• Eileen Hogg                             Cash

• Steve Wilson                            Cheque                        

• Val Perry                                 Cash

• Jacqueline Moss                      Cheque

• Margaret & Ray Whitehurst       Cash (£15) Family membership

4.  Funding/Finances

Co-op Community Award Scheme, Mark showed a poster regarding funds available under this scheme.   A letter about the group has been forwarded to them and a reply has been received.

Financial Statement

• Cash Balance:            £131.07 in account

• £85 in membership fees handed to the Treasurer at the end of the meeting to be put into the groups account.

5.  Postal Address

Mark suggested that a PO Box for the Group might be feasible.   CVS have provided this service to date.

Costs discussed           

• 6 months    £42.00

• 12 months   £52.00  

The committee agreed to take PO Box address for one year and then review the group’s finances and situation.

Ray Whitehurst also enquired about Mark’s phone bill for making telephone calls on behalf of the group.   He suggested that Mark forego the Membership fee of £10.00 in lieu of the telephone calls.   Ray also suggested that Mark make enquires for a second line to be installed.    Ray Smith has a group and he has a second line for his group with NTL, for which an itemised bill is sent separately.   

6.  Phone Number

Steve suggested the group have their own 0845 number, he already has a 0845 1210662 of his own which he hardly uses and agreed to donate this to the group as their contact number.  

Steve then asked for three volunteers for the 0845 number to be diverted to their own phone number as contacts for the group.   They are as follows:

•             Mark Charity

•             Paul Hearne

•             Margaret Whitehurst

7.  A.O.B

A letter has been received from Dr Seale confirming acceptance to be the patron of the group.

Sandra mentioned a Derby Evening Telegraph article about a local lady who is paralysed and is trying to obtain a computer.   The group discussed ways of trying to raise some funds to help her.   Ideas to be put forward at the next meeting.

A coffee morning has been arranged as a social occasion for membership, to be held on 14 May 2002, 10.30 am at The Guinness Trust Community Room.

Sandra offered to make a cake to guess the weight of at the social coffee morning, for the lady in the article in the Derby Evening Telegraph who requires a computer.   Items are also required for a raffle to contribute to the fund raising.

Steve reported that the Website has had one thousand hits to date other words we have had over a thousand people visiting the Website, which is excellent news.

Discussion took place regarding the group lobbying on relevant issues in the future.

Roy Smith gave Sandra £5 towards the Social meeting for the fund raising as he would be away on that date.

8.  Date of Next Meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting be held on Tuesday 28 May 2002, 10.30 am, at the Guinness Trust Community room, 1 Sidney Street Derby