29/11/02
As you know Hull Citylearning organised the 'Right to Learn' event recently
at various venues around Hull. As a disabled person on the planning group we
now are asking for feedback on the event from disabled people, both at a
National and Local level.
I know the co-ordinator of the event would like to hear constructive
criticism from any disabled person who has a interest in learning and
education.
I include the 'Right to Learn Events', Evaluation Report for your comments
and views. The planning group are meeting on the 18/12/02 to discuss the
feedback.
If, you want to make your comments 'we' would welcome feedback from disabled
people and especially the disabled people's moment.
I will point out that the event was not successful as we would have liked
and this is why 'we' need feedback in learning the lessons for future
events. We were very disappointed in all the local disabled people's 'user
groups being actively involved and attending the event. These local user
groups in Hull are as follows:
Choices and Rights Disability Coalition;
Mental Health Action Group;
Hull Council of Disabled People
I know by my own experiences that there has been difficulties in getting
these groups around the same table. I know there are misunderstanding and
inter/intra- discrimination and prejudices between understanding individuals
with different impairments. I've experienced discrimination by wheelchair
users who show a lack of tolerance towards other disabled people, especially
those experiencing mental health difficulties, learning difficulties and
those neurodiverse individuals on the autistic spectrum and specific
learning difficulties. Neuro-diverse individuals have difficulties with
neurotypicals and visa-versa.
How can these barriers be overcome ?
As I said I would like to hear your comments. So can you please contact
Tracey Anastasi.on 01482 466893 or by email [log in to unmask]
The feedback evaluation included below:- Please take time to read and reply.
Your comments are important to Hull CityLearning, especially from a disabled
persons perceptive.
Regards
Colin Revell...Right to Learn Events
Evaluation Report...
A. Evaluation Forms completed
Planning group and contributors may request a copy of all the evaluation
forms if they wish.
(NB This feedback does not include the events at Changes the Learning Shop.
Lou Howard has offered feedback under section 2).
1. Have you visited this venue to seek information/advise about support for
those with disabilities?
Yes xxxxxxx
No xxxxxx
2. Do you feel that the advice or information you have received is.
Not relevant 0
Unhelpful 0
Helpful xxxxx
Very helpful xxxxx
3. How did you hear about this event?
Word of mouth xxxxxx
Programme xxx
Newspaper xx
Radio x
Other 0
4. Did you find access to the event.
Difficult 0
Satisfactory 0
Easy xxxxxxxxxxxx
5. While visiting the event, have you taken the opportunity to collect some
information from the disability information table, or to talk to staff about
disability issues?
Yes xxxxxxxxxxxxx
No x
6. Did you find the staff and volunteer helpers at the venue.
Helpful xxxxxxxxxxxx
Satisfactory 0
Unhelpful 0
7. Further comments recorded
The team at the Stroke watch stand were very helpful and informative,
Reflexology massage was stimulating.
No advertising was seen in local newspapers.
Venue a bit draughty as was in corridor (refers to library venue).
Very good event, plenty of information.
Good activities.
Lots of information on the day.
Very helpful staff.
Learnt some things today.
Very helpful.
Very good.
8. Impairment information recorded
Visual/respiratory and vascular (same form)
Mobility
High blood pressure
Vision
Heart problem
Liver transplant
Hip replacement
B. Feedback received from planning group/contributors
Tracey Anastasi
OVERALL
Really pleased with how the planning group members and all the participants
worked together to plan and support the programme. I think the programme
offered and the number of organisations involved was a credit to you all.
I am disappointed though with the number of people reached overall. The
event was as well publicised as the possible within time and budget. Each
planning group member and Citylearning circulated details of the programme
(Citylearning alone circulated to over 1000 people through the Community
Network, 150 people through the local disability network, and 200 + through
our Learning Partnership network. Cityventures also sent it out to SRB
programmes across the city and Radio Humberside advertised it as part of
their events calendar.
Plus I sent two press releases to the Daily Mail.
My reflections/lessons learned then are:
The evaluation forms completed indicate that those who accessed the events
(and took tie to fill out the evaluation form) were pleased with the level
of service and information provided and found access to the venues OK. BUT
we must consider that attendance figures were low, even at the Learning Shop
which took the time to market its activity to target audiences as an
addition to the distribution of the programme and which has a good record of
attracting participation in events/workshop sessions at the Shop.
Therefore my feeling is that a 'drop in' event across a number of venues
seems not to be the best
way of reaching the target audiences. It was what the group wanted and was
really the only way to try and open the information up to everyone (the
passer by as well as the person with a specific interest) and so it was
WELL worth trying. Also it did have some benefits (not least that the
Learning Partnership now has a wealth of disability information and
contacts). But I feel that if a future 'combined group' event is planned,
the planning group might consider using a single venue with a free,
'conference' approach and stand information as added value.
This format would allow a focus of effort, and could allow transport to be
arranged where required. I'd also say that the planning group would need to
target invitations at disability organisations/group and work with them
direct to ensure needs are met to allow them to attend. Also I feel that it
would be vital to have more user-led input from the start (I know we did try
this time around). One idea I talked about a little with some participants
was doing something around 'Volunteers' and the need to attract volunteers
to help support disability group activities. Certainly I know that this is a
big area of work for many of you. Let me have any thoughts on this.
Citylearning would certainly be happy to help were possible. For instance we
could offer some free stand space at the Family Learning conference on 19
Feb 2003 at the City Hall to have a 'volunteers required' type stand??? Or
we might add something into the Community-based learning event being planned
for late January at the Super Stadium?
My feedback on VENUES
1. I think the event at Age Concern worked quite well. Ann reported that the
Centre had attracted 'new' visitors and that the overall mixed programme had
encouraged visitors to explore all the floors of the building rather than
remaining on the ground floor. The cyber cafe on the
ground floor staffed by the Goole Disability Coalition seemed to do a brisk
trade through the morning and the stands on the second and third floor did
receive visitors and stand staff took the opportunity to network with each
other. However I think we'd all agree that we could have
potentially reached more visitors if all the stands had been located on the
ground floor. This was not possible though due to health and safety
restrictions.
The evaluation forms I received from the event were all positive and at the
'general information table' I had two very specific requests for further on
local disability provision plus several people taking information.
2 The Children's Centre was fairly quite but the enquiries that the staff on
stands received were quality enquiries and will led to further contacts.
Also two of the organisations there had the opportunity to talk highlight
their activities on Radio Humberside. On the information desk I had some
people (practitioners and parents) collect information, and two people who
visited specifically to gather information as a result of receiving the
programme. The evaluation forms that both completed were positive.
3. The Library event was un-staffed on Tuesday and today and staffed on
Wednesday. When I called in on Tuesday there were some people collecting
info from the tables. When I called in on Wednesday mid morning, staff
reported that it had been v. very quiet. Could anyone give me feedback about
the afternoon? I think that it was good to have the opportunity to display
organisations information for a period of three days but I am disappointed
that people did not take up the opportunity to talk to staff/advisors direct
on the Wednesday. I'm sure the grotty weather did not help but it is still
disappointing.
4.The Learning Shop events to date. Lou reported that the Saturday 9th and
Sat 16th events were poorly attended, again despite the Shops best efforts
to publicise. Wednesday I believe was quiet-ish but saw a good visit from
Ganton Special School in the morning and a number of practitioners over
lunch.
Claire Thomas - KIDS
Thanks for your email and comments - they were interesting to read. Yes I
agree, I think that a conference would work quite well. Although I do think
that a conference would work particularly well for Professionals, rather
than parents (perhaps the conference could have a crèche / be held on a
Friday and Saturday for parents)
I have been involved in the National Parents Week this year - we had some
display stands in Princes Quay. Last year it worked better because more
organisations contributed and we had quite a presence on the ground floor.
This type of event in a shopping centre may allow groups to reach everyday
shoppers and those who specifically attend to gather information.
The organizer of this event is Shirley Stephenson (Parenting Education
Development Officer) 617764
Yes we are interested in attracting volunteers and would be interested if
you do something around volunteers.
Also we are interested in the Family Learning Conference (19.2.02) at the
City Hall - either as display stand or workshop. And we are interested in
the Community-Based learning event at the Super Stadium.
Jeannie Bishop - Lifelong Learning Unit (Central Library)
Hello Tracey, thank you for the evaluation, the main points of which I agree
with. As regards the library event specifically: It was disappointing on the
Wednesday that it was so poorly supported, although most of the participants
I spoke to did think it had been worthwhile attending, as you never know
precisely what comes from these days in the future.
The library itself was unusually quiet in all departments on that day, poor
weather, Xmas shopping? The time of year is a factor which could be
considered for future events, a fine, dry, Spring or Summer's day does
encourage more people to venture out!
The members of the public who did visit may have felt a little intimidated
by the number of people around the stands, 2 or 3 at some, which inhibits
general browsing. Particularly in a smaller area it can be daunting to dare
approach! Certainly I did notice more looking and collecting leaflets on the
other two days. Invited groups, plus transport, would certainly have been a
good idea to
boost interest on the day.
Libraries generally, and particularly the Central Library is a good location
for unmanned stands which may be considered in recruiting volunteers. People
will come in just to have a look around when they have time on their hands
(ideal volunteers!)and not feel threatened or watched. You also cover a wide
variety of the 'general public.' To have these over a longer period, a week
as a minimum, also covers the busier days eg Saturdays. The display cabinets
are also a good means of displaying artwork, eg items produced by Case, or
Adult Education disabled students. Hope this information is of some use to
your final evaluation.
Cindy Clark - Children's Centre
Hello Tracey, I have just got round to reading your comments about 'Right to
Learn' and I agree with all that you say, although I have mixed feelings
about a
Conference type event. Perhaps 'we' have to try it though!
Anyway, the idea of putting on something to attract potential volunteers
would I guess be something appealing to 'Ability' and many of our
groups/organisations. Please count me in on any future discussions.
Regards Cindy
Lou Howard - Changes the Learning Shop
1.The Promotional programme was not eye-catching - failed to engage - needed
a more colourful (perhaps 'glossy') approach, also perhaps less fine detail.
Experience shows that glossy well designed literature works, and should be
prioritised despite the cost.
2. Hull Daily Mail did not pick up press release. We perhaps need to spend a
bit of time talking to the reporters. Lesson of 1 and 2 potentially that- a
portion of the budget should have been set aside early on to 'buy in'
marketing activity (creation/design).
3. Staff time and expenses incurred were disproportionate to outputs
achieved (ie people reached). While the process of getting organisations
together to work to
a common goal was good and had useful networking/ relationship building
spin-offs, numbers of visitors to each venue (excluding Age Concern) were
low.
4. Was group consensus the way to go to really achieve maximum value for
time and money? In other words by trying to incorporate the input/ideas of
all planning group members, was the resulting event a 'jack of all trades,
master on none' affair?
5. Despite being what the group developed by a process of
discussion/negotiation, was the delivery vehicle flawed from the start?
Should the group have thought more about
how to reach the target audiences, and perhaps decided early on that the
event should not be 'aimed at all' but v. specifically targeted. Should the
event have followed the more common Citylearning format of :one venue,
invited audience with facilitated access, mix of discussion,
talks/workshops, perhaps an entertainment event, maybe a mixture of disabled
and non disabled performers?
C. Next Steps?
If you feel it would be useful to have a short feedback meeting I am happy
to arrange this. Please contact me to let me know on 466893 or by email
[log in to unmask] I'd be looking for a meeting in early - mid December.
Over the period of the event, a number of organisations talked to me about
their need to attract volunteers. One way in which Citylearning might be
able to support this is to let you know of Citylearning events that are
being organised where there is an opportunity to 'piggy back' for free on
existing arrangements and to reach invited audiences.
To example of this early in 2003 are
1. A community-based Learning day being planned at the Super Stadium at the
end of January and 2. The Citylearning /KuHCC Family Learning Conference on
19 Feb 2003 . A stands or a joint stand at each of these events could be
arranged to highlight the call for volunteers? Again contact me if you are
interested in this idea.
Keeping the group together as a 'email group'. In other words keeping in
touch so that when a useful bit of information comes our way, we can
circulate it around the group or if a member of the group wants to discuss
an idea or issue, a group meeting can be arranged.
Again if you wish to continue as part of this email group please contact me.
Finally my thanks once again for all your help.
Tracey Anastasi.
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