| Lisa Smith (Co-chair) | Apologies |
| Candace Thomas (Co-chair) | Present |
| Esther Stubbs (Vice-chair) | Present |
| Maria Bowers (Vice-chair) | Present |
| Anne Walker (Treasurer) | Present |
| Hazel Marsh | Apologies |
| Sue Mutter | Apologies |
| Colin Clark | Present |
| Hilary Heath | Apologies |
| Brian Foster | Present |
| Margaret Wood | Present |
| Aluna Lepadatu | Present |
| Thomas Acton | Present |
Agenda
- Apologies
- Minutes of previous Meeting
- Matters Arising
- Finance Update
- Correspondence
- Restructuring responsibilities
- AOB
Minutes of previous meeting
Agreed/Amended
Finance
Discussion
- February 2025
- PayPal £ 981.39
- CAFBank £7122.06
- TOTAL £8103.45
Action
Correspondence
Summary
- From: Seda Seyfullah <seda.seyfullah@hestia.org>
Subject: Conference regarding Romani people and human trafficking. Following and email discussion including Aluna and Thomas, Margaret responded that we are unable to provide a speaker. - Emma Nuttall: the Department for Education are organising a meeting on Monday 10 February, about the children not on school registers which are in the forthcoming Schools and Children’s Wellbeing bill. If nobody from ACERT (and the rest of the Schools Pledge working group) can attend, Emma can feed back. (Discuss whether to invite Emma to the next Education Network).
- From the Welsh Government seeking research bids relating to Gypsy and Traveller communities. Deadline now February 17. This is an opportunity to contribute to research that will inform local authority transit provisions for these communities. (Discuss)
Actions
- See below
Restructuring Executive Committee Working Groups
Discussion
Candace proposed a restructuring of the Executive Committee’s working groups to streamline meetings and reduce pressure. She suggested that each working group could provide updates, with correspondence and other tasks playing a lesser role. Candace also proposed that the chairs and co-chairs could support each other in their roles.
ACERT currently use Dropbox for data storage, but Marie said Dropbox claim copyright on everything stored on its server.
Action
Candace to update and share the document outlining the working groups and their members.
Esther and Ann to work together on membership and finance issues, including Esther becoming an account signatory.
Marie and Brian agreed to work together with administrative tasks, including website management and mailing lists.
Exploring Workspace and CRM Solutions
Discussion
The team discussed the need for a shared workspace and a client relationship management tool. They considered using Google Drive and SharePoint, but were concerned about the cost. Brian suggested Monday.com and Google Workplace have free and reduced price offers for nonprofits; this might be a better option than attempting to use another organisation’s application.
Candace proposed the idea of a CRM to manage contacts and relationships, and Esther suggested LampLight, which costs between £20-£40 per team member per month. The team agreed to explore these options and decide on the best solution.
Action
Brian and Marie to look into data storage and collaboration options for ACERT.
.
Community Engagement and Grassroots Approach
Discussion
We discussed the need for better community engagement and the potential for a survey to gauge community opinions. In the current climate it was agreed that it might be wise to wait and plan carefully before implementing a survey. We recognised the need for a more grassroots approach and the importance of being present in the community to provide resources and support.
Action
Organizational Group Structure and Functioning
Discussion
Candace presented a paper that proposed the creation of several groups, including a conference planning group, an education network meetings group, a higher education forum, a youth project, a parents and community forum, a media and marketing group, and a valuation and feedback group. The idea was to have these groups in place, with meetings happening as appropriate.
She proposed the creation of specialized working groups, including a fundraising and membership group, and a finance and membership group. Candace also suggested the formation of subgroups for specific tasks, such as website management and newsletter creation.
The group agreed to use WhatsApp for quick communication and DropBox for storage and collaboration. Candace also mentioned the need for a CRM system and the possibility of a SharePoint for future use.
Action
Candace to develop the proposed structure.
RSE Letter Draft and Sharing Plans
Discussion
Esther has drafted a letter regarding the organization’s stance on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in schools. We agreed that the letter should be shared widely, possibly through social media and newsletters, to clarify ACERT’s position offering support to parents on a case-by-case basis. Brian mentioned that the letter to Claire Evans had been agreed by the EC and summarised this position. Esther’s draft takes a wider view of how ACERT can support parents.
Action
Candace to draft a combined version of the RSE response letter, incorporating elements from Brian’s and Esther’s versions.
Addressing Human Trafficking Concerns
Discussion
Thomas raised his continuing concerns about whether we should participate in the conference on human trafficking and its potential negative impact on Gypsies and Travellers. He offered to draft a letter addressing these issues. Colin agreed and added that conversations about human trafficking often lead to unrelated topics like child marriage.
Action
Thomas to draft a letter expressing concerns about the human trafficking and Roma issues for ACERT to consider.
Candace to contact Aluna about potentially speaking at the human trafficking and Roma event.
Candace to schedule a meeting with Colin to discuss Glasgow-related matters.
Education Support Network
Date and time
5th March 2025 1:30 – 3:00pm
Zoom link.
- Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
- Work of Roma Voice – Aluna Lepadatu
- Esther Stubbs will introduce a short film by Rosa Cisneros
Action
Next meeting
10th March 2025 5:30pm
