Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 293 KBVenue: MS Teams
Contact: Sarah Goodman
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Welcome and Apologies
Minutes: The Chairman welcomed all, especially new members to the meeting.
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Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
· Update from Tom Gracey on support for service families · Employer Recognition Scheme Award Update for Surrey (attached) Additional documents: Minutes: Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and completed actions noted.
Co-ordinated support for Armed Forces Families An update from Cllr Tom Gracey was read out in his absence outlining progress to improve co-ordination of support to Armed Forces Families in Surrey and how Armed Forces Champions could work more closely together to share best practices and ideas. This ambition has support from district and boroughs and ideas include: Action: Tom Gracey to be invited to provide an update at next meeting.
ERS Award Surrey CC absolutely delighted to be re-awarded the Gold Award for a further five years. Congratulations were extended to other organisations receiving awards: Spelthorne BC – Gold Award Runnymede BC – Silver Award Guildford BC – Silver Award Veterans Listening Project Camberley – Silver Award
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Support for Service Children
· School Attainment – KS2 (attached) · MODLAP - MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) · Early years support · Service Pupil Premium o https://schoolsallianceforexcellence.co.uk/Supporting-Schools/Service-Children o Service Pupil Premium: examples of best practice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) · School Admissions (attached) · Governor Training Additional documents: Minutes: School Attainment KS2 A written update was circulated with the papers providing an update on the approach to supporting disadvantaged children, including Service Children, in Surrey. Data has shown that Service Children were not achieving as well as their peers in Surrey or nationally by the end of KS2. A targeted literacy drive was launched and webinars held for schools.
Outcomes are positive, with an increase in teacher confidence and improved access to resources. No SATs test results to compare currently as these have not happened nationally due to Covid.
Further updates will be provided to the Board in due course.
MODLAP – MOD Local Authority Partnership Seventeen local authorities, including Surrey, have committed to work together to improve outcomes for armed forces families via MODLAP a local authority partnership run by the MoD. A particular focus is military children with SEND and ensuring the time they may be out of school following a move is reduced to the absolute minimum. Best practice is being generated, shared and disseminated.
EARLY YEARS Carol Savedra presented to the Board on the support for very young children of service families.
Surrey has identified a significant gap in achievement between children from disadvantaged backgrounds of all kinds, including service children, and the regular cohort by the time they reach school. Addressing this is a key priority.
Looking to apply for Armed Forces Early Years funding which could potentially enable: A survey has been developed to capture details about the current numbers of service children in Surrey and their needs. This will inform what funding is applied for.
Further updates to the Board will follow as the project develops.
SERVICE PUPIL PREMIUM Currently looking at best practice around how SPP is spent (£310 per child) and keen to find examples of good practice in Surrey. Raising awareness and uptake of this funding continues to be a challenge. Suggestion that this might be raised with Cabinet Member and at Schools Council to examine how SPP can be promoted effectively and best practice shared.
SCHOOL ADMISSIONS Report circulated to Board. Key areas to note and promote around in year admissions – which often includes service children: · Parents must now be informed of a school’s decision within ten school days of receiving the application. More broadly schools cannot refuse to process an application from a service family because a family do not yet have a confirmed address.
GOVERNOR TRAINING Conversations underway with Head of Governor Training to ensure all Governors are fully aware of the policies around service children and how the Armed Forces Covenant supports service families.
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Armed Forces Covenant within Health
Minutes: Tony Shipley provided an update in his capacity as Chair of the Armed Forces Health Champions Group The Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group is now in a process of transition and from April 2022 this will become the Integrated Care Partnership (with Integrated Care Board leading on commissioning). This is a real change in approach. With relation to the Armed Forces the plan is: · Once formed the Integrated Care Partnership will sign the Armed Forces Covenant, then quickly apply for ERS. · Will be pushing Veteran Friendly GPs for 104 practices within Surrey.
Surrey Armed Forces Health Champions is a collaborative group who share best practice. Working hard to join things up across the county and work in alignment.
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11 Brigade Update
· 11 Brigade Changes · TFC/AFC relationship · Armed Forces Covenant Legislation · ATC Pirbright · Irish Guards Minutes: Richard Moore provided update as Col John Baynham gave apologies. As part of the Integrated Review the Brigade has now become the 11 Security Force Assistance Brigade. Some of the key civilian support offered over recent months has included:
An online meeting was held with SCC Armed Forces Champions in Surrey with two Task Force Commanders to re-evaluate and develop future footprints going forward. Meeting enabled those attending to be better informed about unit moves and informed potential directions of future plans.
Events: Surrey Cadet Camp – took place in Farnham Silver ERS Award Bula Festival Lord Lieutenant Awards taking place 21 October 2021
Youth Engagement: SCMPB are actively sharing 11 Brigade youth engagement opportunities, which include: Schools modular programme: Range of activities that can be delivered as stand alone events: build confidence, developing personal resilience, collaborative working etc. Built via the Inter-Schools Challenge where schools get together and compete. Heritage Day – Brookwood Military Cemetery Largely for year 10 pupils to raise awareness of the army.
Employer Leadership Event Being held at Longmore Camp on 6 December. An event for employers of Gold and Silver ERS Award holders. Surrey CC will be represented by 3 members of staff from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
Covenant Funding Still time to apply for the last round of this year.
MOD Government Legislation Focus Group Group to be re-convened at the end of November to look at the second draft of the statutory guidelines ahead of the Armed Forces Bill becoming law.
ATC PIRBRIGHT Community Engagement: Now back to doing some community engagement face to face. Supporting/attending local veterans hubs in Guildford and Woking when it re-opens. The main Remembrance focus will be Brookwood cemetery, but also sending representatives to a number of local services. Hosting Royal British Legion for Centenary poppy launch with about 200 people attending.
Funding: 74K received from Armed Forces Covenant Fund for 3 year project to support families around activities and holiday clubs. Two grants awarded from NAFFI Fund, one for Peter Pan pre-school on camp to support their forest school activities and the other to enhance the outside area of the community centre.
On camp: Pleased to be working with local company 87% around supporting wellbeing of permanent staff. Electoral registration pilot would be going ahead in the updated programme.
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Recognise and Remember Update
· Remembrance 2021 · Veterans Hubs o Norbury Park Minutes: Recognise and Remember Task Group Meeting held Friday 30 September 2021 was well attended and valued, especially by Armed Forces Champions. Looking to bring together those involved in supporting Veterans’ Hubs across the county to share best practice. AFC’s are encouraged to be involved with local hubs and also to build relationship with local RBL.
Remembrance 2021 Poppy appeal going ahead as normal this year.
Veterans Hubs Chelsea Pensioners attended the Guildford Hub and a partnership has been formed. Fordbridge Hub is gaining strength. Veterans and Families Listening Project in Camberley continues to provide great support and has gained silver ERS.
Norbury Park SCC has opened a consultation looking at the long term vision for Norbury Park estate, including development of Saw Mill. Norbury Park Consultation – Have your say on making it a better place for nature and enjoyment | Surrey News (surreycc.gov.uk) The Youth Offer Team are looking at ways they could use it for young people to learn about land management, carpentry etc. There may be potential for ex-service personnel to use the site in a similar way working alongside young people.
Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) – an ongoing conversation has begun around potential opportunities for veterans using some of their facilities. They have some fully funded two-day courses for adults over 19 with some form of disadvantage which can be offered to groups of 8-10 people perhaps via Hubs.
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· Forces Connect · Adult Social Care (attached) Minutes: Surrey County Council on behalf of the Forces Connect partnership have been awarded an additional £25k to continue Armed Forces Awareness training in counties across the south east. This will reflect the forthcoming Armed Forces Bill Legislation changes around the Armed Forces Covenant.
Funding has also been awarded for a project being led by SCC Adult Social Care to identify new former service personnel through friendship groups who can be signposted to Veterans’ Hubs and to capture life stories. It is also looking at how to better support veterans in care homes.
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Surrey Armed Forces Covenant Conference 2022
Discussion around format and topics. Feedback from last year suggested: · Online work well and enabled greater attendance from a wider reach however some people missed the face to face networking · Prof Simon Denny from the National Cadet Training Centre suggested as a good speaker · Keep the wide range of topics with speakers with first hand experience Minutes: This is being planned for early March 2022. It is hoped that this will be in person, but if not possible it will be held online. Suggestions for speakers / topics should se sent through to sarah.goodman@surreycc.gov.uk.
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AOB
· SERFCA Update · Agile Stance Campaign Plan (attached) Additional documents: Minutes: SERFCA Update from Col Patrick Crowley: Defence Paper - Reserve Forces 2030 has been published. Broad paper for use of the Reserves. More details will follow.
Dates: Lord Lieutenant Awards - 21 Oct 2021 SERFCA County Briefing – 23 November Leadership Challenge at Longmore – 6 December
Discussion held about promoting work opportunities to service leavers. Surrey Chambers keen to find practical ways to extend awareness. Suggestions included:
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Date of next meeting
10am-12pm on Thursday 31 March at Woodhatch Place, Reigate Minutes: 31 March 2022 10:00-12:00 – Woodhatch Place, Reigate
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