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Conference 1998 |
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A member of parliament, the executive director of the Terrence Higgins Trust and a prospective member of the new Scottish Parliament delivered the keynote speeches in the opening plenary session. The chairman was John Nicolson executive director of the George House Trust Manchester who organised the event. All very imposing but where was the independent Positive Voice of the Service User which everyone affirms to be essential? The speakers delivered well prepared orations. However what they had to say was not quite what I was expecting. Perhaps I do the speakers an injustice, but it seemed that two of the texts were adapted for the occasion whilst the third had a clear agenda for change well thought out and reasoned and just waiting for the Conference to give it a rubber stamp of approval. In this plenary session no opportunity was allowed for questions or debate. Incidentally the use of overhead projectors is not a good idea as more than half of the assembly are unable to see the projection clearly. I think it fair to say that I was somewhat overawed by the occasion which only the passing of time has overcome. The seminar sessions were steam rollering on in the same way as the plenary session until someone with a little more conference experience than myself, put the brakes on with a challenging question. This is what was needed. Suddenly the text was forgotten, the overhead projector was switched off and real meaningful discussion began. The session became alive and at last I was able to participate. A hastily convened meeting of Positive People during the lunch break raised similar issues to those which have caused me concern. It would seem that lip service rather than actual involvement of Positive People at all stages of the conference was happening and that some kind of protest had to be made. Fortunately the final session was taken over by the floor, allowing issues to be raised which individuals thought should be part of an agenda for change. Overall GHT has to be congratulated in staging this event. It is a great achievement to have high profile speakers and to attract a nation wide representation of delegates. If the aim of the conference is to facilitate an agenda for change then it needs to be include Positive People in its formulation. This is something everybody seems to be agreed upon but which nobody does. The November Conference was dominated by the proposed merger of several voluntary sector organisations headed by the Terrence Higgins Trust but with no apparent input from Postive People. For example, I doubt if lunch would have consisted of nibblets of burnt chicken and greasy chips if a Positive Person had any say in drawing up the menu! Maurice | |