Forums
Born out of our work during the Covid-19 pandemic our forums are now the established voice of the community and used by government and other bodies to consult the community. If you are interested in joining any of our forums and for more information, please email [email protected]
Disability Forum
We meet regularly and share important information and discuss issues affecting disabled people, their families and carers.
Recent projects
Local disability issues
Working on local disability issues such as accessible transport, wheel chair provision and changing places. Particularly the significant investment in the redevelopment of Peterborough Station Quarter, ensuring needs of the disabled community feed into the planning and implementation process through to March 2025.
Keep in touch with Latest News – Peterborough Station Quarter
Ask Don't Assume Campaign
Supporting the national Ask Don’t Assume Campaign
Disability History Month
Taking part in awareness campaigns with partners supporting Disability History Month through Reasonable Adjustment and Socially Accessible (now online) exhibitions.
Last Disability Forum Meetings
18 July 2024
Discussed latest engagement with the Station Quarter project team and the gearing up for wider public consultation. Great news that our forum Chair Michelle King, now has a seat at the Peterborough City Council Equality, Diversity, Disability & Inclusion Board.
Updates on the various Changing Places toilets projects and plans for the Dementia Resource Centre.
12 September 2024
Forum members attended a Station Quarter consultation at PCC offices in Sandmartin House. The event was tailored to focus on accessibility issues. Amongst the many issues raised were, disabled parking including WAVs (wheelchair accessible vehicles), provision of changing places toilets, accessibility aids in proposed new routing from the station including tactile wayfaring and street furniture.
12 November 2024
Discussed a variety of issues including impacts of the latest Autumn Budget and its impact on both charities and disabled people. The challenges with finding support for over 16s who require support as they transition to adulthood. A number of local topics including the installation of a new changing places toilet on the 11th floor of Queensgate, car parking in the city centre and the move of the Dementia Resource Centre to Bretton Library.
Next Disability Forum
Thursday 9 January 2025 via Zoom at 11am
Domestic Abuse Forum
We aim to develop and keep a consistent approach to supporting Domestic Abuse Survivors in the City.
The forum has carried out a mapping exercise of organisations offering support for survivors and have been sharing policies, best practise and training experiences.
News
Supporting local 16 Days of Activism events – Peterborough City Council worked with partner organisations and local charities Impakt, Peterborough Women’s Aid, Peterborough Rape Crisis Care Group and Living Keys to develop a short film showcasing lived experiences of Domestic Abuse victims to recognise White Ribbon Day.
The film can be viewed at: Domestic Abuse Stories
Free online training in respect of Child to Parent Abuse (CPA), is being delivered by the YMCA Trinity Group Family Respect project. Training is via Zoom, 9.30 am to 4pm, 21 January 2025 Click here for details
Recents projects
Supporting local 16 Days of Activism events
Consultation in the county strategy
Organised Peterborough Pull together conference
Attended the Local Authority's Domestic Abuse conference.
Last DA Forum Meetings
16 July 2024
With the support of Gateway Films and John Clare Theatre, the forum held a showing of “Provoked” the 2007 film telling a fictionalised story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, whose case led to a change in the legal definition of provocation in cases of domestic abuse. We hope to build on the success of this showing and provide additional opportunities to use film to reach wider audiences to “provoke” a wider discussion of domestic abuse, healthy relationships, honour-based violence.
22 October 2024
Discussed a variety of topics including on the recent announcement to house domestic abuse specialists in police control rooms, a pilot is being run in 5 counties. Talked about services and support to under 16s and what plans members had in place for the 16 days of action. Started to explore themes for next year’s International Women’s Day and agreed to convene a working group to develop plans.
Next Domestic Abuse Forum tbc
Food Poverty Forum
We meet regularly to discuss the issues around food poverty within the city, the difficulties experienced and how we may come together and try to resolve them.
The forum is working towards overcoming the problems of increasing demand, shortages in the supply of fresh food and recruiting volunteer helpers.
Last Food Poverty Forum
Over recent months the focus has been around sustainability and funding.
Next Food Poverty Forum tbc
Recent Projects
On 19th August, in collaboration with PCC colleagues, we hosted an event themed around “Building Sustainable Hubs”, where representatives from hubs, were able to share their thoughts of what was working well and what wasn’t, raise concerns and identify what was needed to build a more sustainability.
Following on from this event we have been running a number of sessions led by Ali Lyons, a small charity income specialist, covering:
- The reality of charity funding – the challenges and opportunities
- The essential steps to improve your funding position
- Finding the right funding for your organisation
- Identifying the next steps
Health and Wellbeing Forum
The newest of all the forums, we were formed from the former Mental Health Forum. Meetings take place online within the context of a fast-developing health agenda.
Last Health and Wellbeing Forums
20 May 2024
In response to the many changes falling out of the introduction of the Integrated Care System (ICS), the forum arranged an event in Allia Future Business Centre Conference room, bringing together a wide range of health-related organisations to help the VCSE sector better understand how things fit together.
10 September 2024
Project leads from the NHS Work Well project joined us to explain how the 18-month pilot was to be implemented in Peterborough. WorkWell’ pilots are intended to provide tailored support for people in their local area so people can stay and progress in work. It aims to strengthen work already in place. All about integration and holistic support. There will be 4 locality hubs – Peterborough, Huntingdon, Fenland and the south of the county. They will host the Heath & Work coaches.
Next Health and Wellbeing Forum
Next meeting Thursday 5 December 2024 – training session at PCVS offices
Women's Forum
Currently On Hold
We aim to discuss the issues and difficulties women are facing within the city, how these voices can be amplified, and where the gaps are within the city. Supporting local International Women’s Day events.
News
Breast Ironing and Forced marriage v Arranged marriage free online training for professionals is being provided by the Dahlia Project in December. Click here for details.
Recent Projects
In 2024 the Peterborough Women’s Forum organised an IWD event at the New Theatre in Peterborough. The forum held a mini survey of issues affecting women in Peterborough, held self-defence classes, a menopause workshop, had a catwalk with women showcasing traditional costume and enjoyed some great food and entertainment.
Future Forum
We meet as needed to discuss various subjects important to local Voluntary Community Sector organisations.
Last Future Forum (January)
Our last Future Forum was on the subject ‘Making the Case for Peterborough.’ sharing examples of good practise and discussing what is good (and what could be great) about Peterborough. Gill from PCVS showed the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough insight portal which stores lots of data sets. Josh from PCVS presented the health inequalities data. As examples of good practice locally Ali Lyons presented the evaluation of PCVS’ Recovery Project forums, and Sarah Haythornthwaite from Peterborough Presents gave an overview of their work and evolution of approach over that last 10 years.
The attendees discussed the opportunities that the inequalities in health and deprivation offered the sector in the city to show their worth, and what they perceived as barriers to being able to make the most of this. They also discussed what is good in the sector in the city which could be great, and what else needs to be addressed by the sector in the city.
Next Future Forum tbc