Access to Community Education

·                 Money has been raised to purchase a Braille machine, Ian is researching make and model

·   Maggie is checking if Tax can be reclaimed on bank accounts

· Ministers and LSC replied to Chris Wardley’s letter referring members to give views on http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/thirdsector/ 

·  Poster seeking research student to work with ACE to go to Plymouth and Exeter Universities

· Anna Howlett to set up a ‘Friends of ACE’

· Changes to the Thursday programme are often ‘last minute’ and stop gap arrangements

· Taxi procedures confirmed as: Members who keep the cab waiting will be surcharged to cover the additional costs, members should be co-operative with the taxi driver when asked to sit in a certain place, times that were allocated at the start of term would be the norm unless told otherwise

·                 Carers and Volunteers were often treated inappropriately.  Members should appreciate them

·                 Concerns over people talking during the speaker on Thursdays

·                 Second swim class on Wednesday was closed due to insufficient enrolments to cover the cost

·                 A mainstream class on Digital Camera Thursday evening has spaces.  Members would need to bring their own carer if they want to attend

·                 New cookery class will begin after half term on Monday evenings

·                 Volunteers could extend their role to support members when ill or to give evening ‘time off’ to their Carers

·                 Funds are sufficient for this academic year with recent donations from AstraZeneca (£500) for Brailler, Gemini (£1,002) for class resources and Theo Goodall had paid for 2 sewing machines to be serviced (approximately £70)

·                 Sponsored swim should hit £1,800. Support from David Walliams who had sent Jacques a signed photo and offered memorabilia to raffle for ACE. Chris Wardley has contacted Nestle regarding promotional press pictures of Jacques with Smarties mug.  Jacques to join ACE at 1pm on Thursday 7^th February to present cheque. Website has had 1,500 hits.

·                 Further fundraising strategy meeting agreed and decisions taken to cover the period Rob is unavailable

·                 Carers meeting well attended and will take place termly. Questionnaire sent to all who could not attend

·                 Ian White to draft a letter asking for volunteer support from 6^th Forms, Roteract and Duke of Edinburgh groups

·                 AGM deferred to 20^th March to allow for end of financial year documentation

·                 Volunteer Meeting to be held prior to AGM at Berry Head Hotel

·                 Charity Commission changes discussed regarding Annual report and public collections

·                 Next meeting 18/03/08