How time flies, indeed. Nearly the end of May already and we feel as if time is slipping through our fingers!
The target of being up and running for the summer holidays seems to be receeding.
It's not all bad news though...we have a very interesting group of candidates to interview for the post of Project Co-Ordinator, lots of families are asking for the project's help, and sessional staff/volunteers are coming forward. It's just wonderful to have reached so many people.
We really hope to make significant strides forward in the next week or two.
We're also beginning to put together a programme of activities with the help of lots of partners.
Our big challenge is Care Inspectorate registration and the need to make sure we have the right staff, everyone is fully trained, we have a comprehensive programme, and we have pool of families from all over Tweeddale who we have spoken to and worked out a support plan.
Not much to do then!!
Monday, 28 May 2012
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Project co-ordinator - nearly there?
We've decided to extend the closing date for applications till next Monday - 28th - at noon, in order to allow the many people who have expressed an interest to get their applications in.
It means the time before appointing someone is extended again, but we want to make sure folk have enough time to apply.
So, shortlisting next week and hopefully an appointment a few days later......
It means the time before appointing someone is extended again, but we want to make sure folk have enough time to apply.
So, shortlisting next week and hopefully an appointment a few days later......
Friday, 18 May 2012
It's a rollercoaster ride
After the high of hearing our funding applications had been successful - a wonderful payback for all the blood, sweat and tears of the writing process - we're now dealing with the reality of trying to get the Buddy Bank off the ground in time for the summer holidays (now less than six weeks away).
Recruiting and training staff and volunteers, reaching families all over the large Tweeddale area, planning a programme of activities - all these things have to be done. But probably the most daunting hurdle we face is meeting the requirements of the Care Inspectorate. We couldn't find out before we started the project whether we would need to be registered because they won't look at our project or offer advice until our people and plans are in place....and our people and plans can't be in place till we start the project.
The worst bit is that looks like it could take many months, not weeks, to be registered.
So, while we try to keep all the other balls in the air, we need to be solution focused so that we ensure EVERY young person in Tweeddale has equal access to fun activities for the summer.
Our ideas day this week brought in more potential staff and volunteers as well as families, so we know there is huge potential....it's now up to us to deliver.
Recruiting and training staff and volunteers, reaching families all over the large Tweeddale area, planning a programme of activities - all these things have to be done. But probably the most daunting hurdle we face is meeting the requirements of the Care Inspectorate. We couldn't find out before we started the project whether we would need to be registered because they won't look at our project or offer advice until our people and plans are in place....and our people and plans can't be in place till we start the project.
The worst bit is that looks like it could take many months, not weeks, to be registered.
So, while we try to keep all the other balls in the air, we need to be solution focused so that we ensure EVERY young person in Tweeddale has equal access to fun activities for the summer.
Our ideas day this week brought in more potential staff and volunteers as well as families, so we know there is huge potential....it's now up to us to deliver.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
What steps did you take?......big ones!
Things are moving on apace: our launch on 1 May left us amazed and thrilled at the level of support and interest - the next step is to deliver on the promise.
We've go a number of priorities:
1. Make sure families who have children with disabilities/additional support needs - all over Tweeddale - know about the project. Once they know about us, we want them to get in touch so we can make arrangement to meet and put a Family Support Plan in place: the Plan will be our way of setting out what we will do, then measuring if we are meeting the needs of the young people and their families.
2. Get busy recruiting a project co-ordinator who will be employed for the next 10 months to pull all the threads together.
3. Find sessional staff and volunteers who will work with the project-co-ordinator to support our young people.
4. Start to pull together a programme of activities to meet the needs of the families we are serving. We want to work with people who are already planning activities or are able to do so quickly, so we can slot in as far as possible, giving youngsters the support they need to take part.
5. Make sure people who are working with families - in education, health, social work - know about the project so they can tell families
Alongside all of this we have to make sure we take care of all the necessary things like training everyone so they have the right skills and attitudes to work on the project, PVG checks, Care Commission registration....and lots more.
It feels like a massive task, and the summer holidays are approaching fast. But where there is a will, there's a way.... we know there's a huge amount of goodwill out there, and the committee is very focussed on getting this project working as soon as we can. So to say we're positive is a bit of an understatement.
We also need a name for the project, that the young people will like and identify with (though one or two are emerging as possibilities).
Watch this space...
We've go a number of priorities:
1. Make sure families who have children with disabilities/additional support needs - all over Tweeddale - know about the project. Once they know about us, we want them to get in touch so we can make arrangement to meet and put a Family Support Plan in place: the Plan will be our way of setting out what we will do, then measuring if we are meeting the needs of the young people and their families.
2. Get busy recruiting a project co-ordinator who will be employed for the next 10 months to pull all the threads together.
3. Find sessional staff and volunteers who will work with the project-co-ordinator to support our young people.
4. Start to pull together a programme of activities to meet the needs of the families we are serving. We want to work with people who are already planning activities or are able to do so quickly, so we can slot in as far as possible, giving youngsters the support they need to take part.
5. Make sure people who are working with families - in education, health, social work - know about the project so they can tell families
Alongside all of this we have to make sure we take care of all the necessary things like training everyone so they have the right skills and attitudes to work on the project, PVG checks, Care Commission registration....and lots more.
It feels like a massive task, and the summer holidays are approaching fast. But where there is a will, there's a way.... we know there's a huge amount of goodwill out there, and the committee is very focussed on getting this project working as soon as we can. So to say we're positive is a bit of an understatement.
We also need a name for the project, that the young people will like and identify with (though one or two are emerging as possibilities).
Watch this space...
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Ready, Steady, GO!
And we're off - Tweeddale Buddy Bank is up and running, working hard to get this new, exciting project off the ground.
Look out for updates here!
Look out for updates here!
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