Blog
It feels like it is time I did another update. Lots has been going on recently with more coming along.
This week Lucy and I were grilled by someone from HMRC, the tax people. They were checking that we paid you properly and everyone was at least earning the minimum wage. We had to show them lots of information from payslips to employment contracts. They also looked at both payclaims and also how we check that we pay you correctly for the hours worked, i.e. matching these against all your delivery report emails. They said they were satisfied but will be writing to some people directly. All in all we were very pleased that we insist on the delivery reports, an audit I thought would occur has happened from an unexpected direction. It just shows how important this evidence is for even more than we thought so keep on going!
Since our away day I’ve been doing more development work and putting in bids. People Matters has now been successful in getting two small grants to carry on working on developing a new social enterprise which will seek to offer training and employment opportunities for people with learning and other disabilities. This feels like a really good place to be in. When the grants are signed up to I will be able to talk more about them. We also have a place on a support programme to which staff from the office will be involved in from now to the new year.The Teens project is gradually getting up off the ground with Roxanne working hard with the college. We are advertising new opportunities to work in the project at the moment, see the vacancies page of our website. Sally is organising a new film club for under 18s on a Saturday. It will be at Armley Mills Museum in their little cinema. If you know of anyone who might like this through people matters or somewhere else you work then more info is available from Sally.
We are also in the middle of organising our 2015 AGM. This will be held at the Technology Campus of Leeds City College on Cookridge St at 5 – 6.45pm on 10th December before those who have tickets go off to the pantomime. (You might say oh no it won’t but I say oh yes it will!) A letter will be going out to all members inviting them and we very much hope that staff and volunteers will be able to spare the time to come too. There will be a buffet and I hope for an enjoyable evening for everyone.
Our new apprentice Lucy B and I will be working on the people matters NMDS information very soon. This involves us setting up learning and development profiles for everyone with Skills for Care and will mean that we will be able to support accredited learning better, which is good news. I hope that we will have all the info we need on file but if not Lucy will be in touch. I’ve been really pleased to realise we now have a good few members of staff studying at the moment doing level 2 or 3 qualifications.
My Teens and Twenties Matter groups are for 14 – 25 year olds. Groups meet on weekday evenings or Saturdays. Find out more on the leaflet My Teens and Twenties Matter leaflet feb 2016 FINAL. The programmes are packed full with activities that the members have chosen. Have a look at one Wednesday Teens group- May_Jun 16.
Our adult group is for anyone over 18. They meet on a Thursday night. This group is all about having fun with friends. Have a look at a recent programme here to see what they get up to Thursday night group Jan Feb 16. We do not have funding for this group. This means that there is a charge involved. The cost is £16.00 per month. This helps cover the cost of the staff whom support the group and the producing of the programme.
There are forms to fill in to join and to help us get to know you. You can ask your parent/carer and us to support you with this. There is also more information available for carers including application forms for both young people and adults.
Why not watch this video of one of our adult groups out in Leeds
