Red Kite Support AGM 2021

Attended: Siobhan Nundram (Chair), Norma Symonds, Charlotte Shyllon, Mateja Vuk, Eamonn Drea, Kim Hale.

Apologies: Omar Daniels

Minutes of last year’s AGM were approved by those present as a true record. It was noted that our constitution has been amended to allow this meeting to take place virtually.

Election of Officers

Chair’s position- Siobhan Nundram-Proposed by NS and seconded by CS. Elected.

Treasurer-No nominee (post to be readvertised to attract a suitably qualified Trustee)

Secretary-No nominee (post to be readvertised to attract a suitably qualified Trustee)

Chair’s report- attached. SN acknowledged the stellar contributions of our Volunteers, Trustees and KH without whom Red Kite’s success could not have been possible. She paid particular attention to those Volunteers and Trustees who have moved on throughout the year and wished them well.

Treasurer’s report- none was available, but SN reported that Red Kite has more than £46k in the bank of which £30k is reserved to ensure that Red Kite can be dissolved, if necessary, without incurring a deficit. A Treasurer’s report will be produced as soon as Red Kite attracts a suitable person into the position.

Secretaries Report- none was available, but the areas usually discussed have been covered off in the Chair’s report.

This first part of the meeting was confined to the Board members and the Volunteer Co-ordinator. The second part was designed to include the wider Red Kite community of Helpline and Social Media Volunteers, funders, and Commissioners with the aim of discussing how to improve and make Red Kite stronger and more sustainable over the next year. Owing to technical problems with connectivity only one Helpline Volunteer joined the meeting. Suggestions were made that there needs to be more availability of the Helpline during the day. Plans are already in place to train a cohort of Helpline Volunteers, starting in December who will provide cover of the Helpline during the daytime hours.

Another challenge to be overcome is the relatively low number of calls to the Helpline, despite evidence of need in the community. Greater emphasis on publicising our presence both on-line and in local venues across the catchment is to be made a priority for the next year with a particular focus on Stevenage and Broxbourne.

A further challenge for Red Kite to overcome is the acquisition of secure funding to employ a Charity Administrator for 22 hours per week substantively. Similarly, funding is required to employ a Clinical Services Manager to take over and manage the operational aspects of Red Kite and thus create capacity for the Executive Directors to focus on strategic issues.

Our planning needs to focus on the new normal rather than adhering to notions of how charities worked in the past. Post pandemic charities need to be more adaptable and fleeter of foot to respond to need and collaborate with other organisations to deliver services in a cost effective and comprehensive manner.

The Helpline Volunteer feedback was that she has enjoyed her training immensely and more importantly the training equipped her for the actual work on the Helpline. She also said that the training is transferrable, and she has found much of it useful in her employed role during the day. She feels that the supervision she receives is of a quality that allows her to feel competent and confident during her Helpline shifts and able to manage any situation that callers may generate.

Mateja asked if there was anything which would enhance the experience of Helpline Volunteers further and it as discussed that having face to face supervision would be good on occasion. This will only be feasible for Helpline Volunteers who live locally but it may be possible to organise to have locals present and maintain Teams connection for those from more distanced areas. Team building was also suggested, and SN is happy to organise this in the Spring when Cohort Three complete their training and join the Helpline.

A challenge which is difficult to manage is callers who always wish to speak to the same Helpline Volunteer despite being advised that this is not our policy due to availability. All Helpline Volunteers to advise callers during first contact that Red Kite does not guarantee to provide the same person to call them on each occasion. We do guarantee that all Helpline Volunteers will have briefed themselves fully on the client’s history prior to calling them up.

Our key priority for 2022 is to attract funding to roll out the Holistic Recovery Service.

Meeting closed.