Minutes Of Future of Suresearch Meeting

Friday August 20th, 2010 at CEIMH

Present:

Paul Roberts (Chair/mins), Alex Davis, Ann Davis, Adrian Fisher, Duncan Purslow, Stephen Jeffreys, Dave Howes, Jerry Tew, Sohan Serota.

Apologies:

Barbara Norden, Paul Ormerod, Janie Greville, Anne Lloyd.

Update from Ann Davis:

Ann had some pluses and minuses to report in her ongong negotiations with the College of Social Science and the University.

Money has definitely been secured from CSS to pay for expenses associated with Suresearch’s core activities (including sub groups). So travel expenses will be paid and refreshments provided for meetings. Agreement has been reached on Helena’s job description which will allow her to devote time for Suresearch’s monthly meeting. David Stevenson has agreed in principle to office space for SS at Muirhead on the basis that it will bring added value to the University by its presence although this would be reviewed in a year’s time and SS would have to demonstrate this is the case. Agreement has also been reached on a SS Advisory group.

However, as a result of a challenge from CLAD, who will be taking over the Watson Building post CEIMH, the bookings for the Glyn Rooms made up till July 2011 are now in doubt.
Ann has a meeting on Wed Aug 25th when some of these outstanding issues might be sorted out.

Sustainability & Flexibility Fund

There was a general discussion on the bid and issues surrounding it. It was felt that the bid as outlined has a good chance of success as it would fill a gap due to the lack of expertise of service users in research & research methods generally, which disadvantages them in partnerships with academics. It would encourage service users to play a fuller role in research bids in the future and challenge what is seen to be a glass ceiling in operation.

It was felt two introductory courses followed by an advanced course would be seen to be value for money. We were advised an outline would be sufficient and not to get into too much detail in writing the bid. Its possible the cost  of hiring venues for the courses could be accounted for out of B&SMHFT budgets.

It was agreed that AD, PR, AF and SJ would draft up their own versions of the application and come together in a meeting to finalise it. The deadline for the bid to go in is Monday Sept 13th. Carly is available for advice until Fri Sept 3rd and Paul agreed to try and set up a meeting with her before she goes on holiday.

Draft Constitution

Stephen has put a lot of hard work into drafting the constitution, a necessity in order for Suresearch to become a basic organization.

The group read through the first draft and discussed issues around membership (what is a member? How active a member would you need to be to vote at an AGM?). Two key amendments made at the meeting were that Suresearch be described as a network of Mental Health Service Users, Carers and their Allies in Research and Education (point 2). Also under Objects point 3 Suresearch aims to influence the quality, ethics and values of mental health research and teaching and training in education.

SJ will make further drafts to cover these and other amendments that members might propse. The draft will be presented at the Review Day on Sept 1st to a full meeting of Suresearch for further discussion, with final agreement at the SS meeting on October 7th.

DVD

DH has completed the Suresearch Celebratory DVD and it was hoped to view it for feedback from members today. However as the meeting had already over run by one hour this was not possible. It is hoped the DVD could be agreed upon and shown at the Review Day.

 

Date of Next Meeting

Provisionally agreed for Monday Sept 6th 1.30-3.30pm at CEIMH with the Sustainability & Flexibilty bid the main item on the agenda.

 

DAB-P ( 03/09/2010)