Friday, 5 October 2007

I arrived at work about 7:00 in time to work through Steph Gallagher’s draft of the HIC project specifications from yesterday. Steph had naturally delivered as promised and I responded suggesting some small amendments. Sha-Lee has delivered a final draft of the Watford Community Directory and I also spent some time checking this.

At 11:00 I went to see Alison Stainsby (WBC Head of Community and Leisure Services), Andy Large (WBC Head of Property Services) and Ruth Ellis (YMCA) to discuss a bid to the Community Assets fund to help renovate the Orbital Community Centre. We mapped out the broad parameters of a bid, but we all recognised that the timetable is very tight (deadline for submissions is in about five weeks). As YMCA will have to do most of the work on any bid, she will prepare a rough draft to help her decide whether the timetable is feasible.

Back in the office, I found that our Development and Training Officer Vanessa has done a brilliant job on our 2007-08 Training Programme and on sorting out a planning meeting for the Watford One World forum. I wrote to staff about calendar year and leave year ending arrangements: office closure over Christmas, “thank-you” dinner for volunteers, TOIL etc.

I received a call from Jackie to say she had left work after having some quite worrying heart palpitations. Her GP has signed her off work for a week and she has to have lots of tests. She was resting at home and I said I’d join her as soon as I could.

I first returned to WBC for a further meeting with Alison Stainsby, and this time we were joined by Norman Powell of Community Matters and David Fitzpatrick of the Herts Community Foundation. I had not had time to brief David Fitzpatrick on the meeting, but he was thoroughly splendid. We had an extremely positive and productive talk through how best we can collaborate to ensure that Watford is served by thriving community centres. Discussions will continue.

Back home, Jackie was fine but a little worried. I tucked her up in bed adn while she slept like a baby, I spent a few hours preparing our Community Directory for the printers.