Agenda item

To receive such communications as the Mayor may lay before the Council

Minutes:

i.              Presentation of Andy Ludlow Homelessness Award 2012

 

The Mayor announced with pleasure that Haringey's Hearthstone centre,  which offered domestic violence advice and support, had won a prestigious award. The Mayor advised that the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Award 2012 recognised the innovative approach Hearthstone had taken to help survivors of domestic abuse in the borough and help them avoid becoming homeless and this has been recognised with this award.

 

Councillor Bevan advised that for more than a decade, the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards had been established as the foremost awards recognising innovative work to tackle homelessness in London. The awards were sponsored by the London Housing Foundation, the 33 London councils and Shelter and were run by London Councils.  Hearthstone developed a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence, encouraging greater co-operation between the agencies to improve the experience for the survivor and this was recognised with this award.

 

Councillor Bevan advised that the award was especially poignant for Haringey Council as Andy Ludlow was a much respected director of housing and social services in the borough.

 

            The Mayor asked the team to come forward to receive their  award.

 

            The team were:

 

Sophie Dixon, Hearthstone Manager

Cynthia Greer, Senior Hearthstone Support Worker

Karen Vincent, Hearthstone Support Worker

Hayley Holohan, Hearthstone Support Worker

Margaret Symister, Hearthstone administrator

and one additional member of staff in the team who was on leave – Abigail Brennan, Hearthstone Support Worker

 

Following a brief summary of how the award monies would be used within the centre, and further congratulations from Councillor Watson the team received a round of applause from members of the Council.

 

NOTED

 

ii.         Presentation from the Mayor’s Charity “Action for Kids”

 

The Mayor introduced Mr David Budd from Action for Kids, the Mayor’s  Charity and ask him to give  a brief  presentation and answer questions on the work the organisation was doing.

 

Mr Budd addressed the meeting highlighting the Mayor’s positive involvement in the past 6 months by his visiting the Action for Kids Offices and getting to know the staff and better understanding the Charity’s aims, and attending the Trustee Board meeting. The mains aims of the Charity  were to work with kids in developing confidence and to equip them with the requisite skills to get them ready for a job in the world of work through the creation of jobs and opportunities.

 

Mr Butt referred to the Mayor attending a number of charity events including the annual City Beach Volley ball event where £50K was raised for the Charity. Mr Butt advised that the most challenging aspects of the Charity’s work were to assist  in developing personal CVs and placing individuals in work experience placements, and the Charity’s  Transition Officer was the key person who worked with businesses etc to secure placements for work experience. Mr Butt then asked Ms Nolan to speak.

 

Ms Nolan commented on her experiences with Action for Kids since she was 16 (some 6 years ) and the work they did to build self esteem and confidence. Through the Charity’s effort Ms Nolan advised that she had had worked in a voluntary capacity in a Charity in Muswell Hill together with a work experience placement at Sainsbury’s Muswell Hill, which she hoped would lead to a permanent work position. Through gaining confidence in public speaking Ms Nolan commented on the large number of capacity events she had now spoken at to raise the profile of the Charity by detailing her own experiences.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Egan Ms Read advised that most of the individuals referred to the Charity were from Schools and Colleges, and there was assistance given to people in their 20’s and 30’s as well, and also some referrals came from the Local Authority Social Services.

 

Councillor Winskill commented on the forthcoming fund raising carol concert event at Hornsey Town Hall on Saturday 8 December 2012 to which Action for Kids was supporting, and hoped that as many Councillors as possible would be attending.

 

 

The Council gave Mr Butt, Ms Nolan and Ms Read a resounding round of applause.

 

The Mayor thanked each of the representatives for their attendance.

 

 

3.         The Death of ex Councillor Ann Douglas

 

The Mayor, with regret, reported the death of Ann Douglas who was a former Labour Councillor for Green Lanes Ward (1986-1987), who died peacefully on Wednesday 8 August 2012. As a mark of respect, the Council stood for a minute’s silence.