Minutes

Northern Ireland Advisory Group

Tuesday 9 December 2025, 11:30 to 15:00
The Mount Conference Centre and via Zoom

Permanent Members Present

David McDonald (Chairperson)
Niqi Rainey
Charles Rainey
Collette Jones
Robert Dallas
Caroline Wheeler

Affiliate Members Present

Amanda Paul

Department of Health Representatives in attendance

Tina Price

ILF Scotland Representatives in Attendance

Peter Scott
Linda Scott
Emma O’Neill
Lee House
Sandra Sweeney
Jill Fotheringham
Jackie Aitken via Zoom
Karen Burnett via Zoom
Anne Marie Monaghan via Zoom

Permanent Members Apologies

N / A

1. Housekeeping, Welcome, Apologies and Introductions

Lee Informed the Members of the fire exits and confirmed there were no fire drills planned for today.

David welcomed everyone warmly and asked everyone to introduce themselves before starting the meeting.

2. Minutes from Previous Meeting

The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and discussed. Members confirmed their accuracy.

The Group approved the previous Meeting’s minutes. ILF Scotland’s Communications Team will upload to the website.

Actions from previous Meeting

• Sandra, Emma, and Caroline to review the Facebook page content and assess issues raised to determine Group input. (Ongoing)
• David requested that the information about ILF is shared on the DP User Group Facebook page in January (pending)
• Follow-up regarding collaboration with local organisations (CILNI, ICMS) to offer Recipients the choice of additional support. (Ongoing)
• David to manage correspondence about joining the Independent Mechanism Northern Ireland (IMNI) Group for reporting on United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. (Done)

3. Matters Arising

Sandra gave the Group an update on recent discussions with CILNI and ICMS, which is based in Scotland. These discussions have focused on whether these organisations could act as award managers for people in NI who receive funding.

The Group also discussed whether award managers should be paid. Caroline explained the pressure and challenges she experiences managing a DP, ILF Award and Guardianship. She expressed concerns about what might happen if she were unable to maintain this for her son and brother who both receive ILF funding. Peter explained that ILF Scotland cannot pay award managers and that this is a voluntary role – in the event that someone was unable to maintain their role of Award Manager alongside the other roles Caroline described, Emma explained that this in theory should be picked up by the Trust as they hold primary responsibility for a person’s support needs. It was agreed that due to the complex nature of award management that a separate meeting would be scheduled in order to focus solely on this issue.

Finally, the group raised the issue of paying arrears in advance. This will continue to be looked at by all parties.

4. Minister Meeting

David talked about the recent parliamentary event where ILF Scotland was mentioned three times by speakers. Charles spoke about Independent Living, and David only had a minute or two to speak at the event. Amanda was also there and spoke about living independently. Unfortunately, the Minister was not present at that stage and missed the speeches. David said the event attracted media coverage and news appearances, with multiple views online. Amanda mentioned she was disappointed that the Minister did not acknowledge them.

Linda advised that the Minister would like to meet in the new year, in late January or early February. The meeting will be held in Castle Buildings at Stormont. Tina said she is pulling all the details together. The Group discussed days for the meeting, and Tina noted that Tuesday is an Assembly business day. The Group suggested that an afternoon meeting would work best to give people the best chance to attend.

Tina told the Group that the submission for reopening the fund is now with the Minister. She said the meeting will be an opportunity for the Group to express their views regarding reopening the fund in Northern Ireland and for the Minister to ask questions regarding this.

Charles, David, Amanda, and Caroline agreed they would meet before the Minister’s meeting to prepare.

5. Board Update

Anne-Marie told the Group that they have been recruiting new members for the Board and have now identified two people to join. One of the new members is from Northern Ireland. Anne-Marie explained that there were 25 applicants for the two available roles. These appointments have now been agreed by the Minister.

Both new members will start their roles in 2026. Anne-Marie also said they are now looking to recruit an additional person who can link in with the Transition Fund and has experience and knowledge in this area.

6. Policy Update

Linda discussed the next increase in the PA rate, which will rise from £12.21 to £12.71 in April 2026. This change will be implemented automatically by ILF Scotland. Linda said she will provide an update on progress at the next meeting.

The DoH was asked previously to clarify the policy around overnight rates. Tina confirmed this is still being reviewed. There is ongoing research with the Trusts across Northern Ireland, and Tina confirmed that an update will be given at the next meeting.

Timing of Communications

In future, there should be a pre-meeting to discuss the agenda with the Chairperson and the Depute Chairperson, and all minutes should be completed shortly after each meeting for review.

DP User Group NI Facebook page

The Group discussed how best to manage ILF-related queries on the page. It was agreed that admins like Niqi and Caroline would flag any relevant posts or questions to ILF Scotland’s communications team, who reply to any messages via the ILF Scotland Facebook account. There was also a proposal to feature ILF’s introductory post prominently on the group page and encourage users to comment with questions. This would allow ILF to respond directly and accurately, avoiding misinformation. The Group emphasised the importance of clear, accessible communication, especially given the frequent confusion between ILF and Trust-managed direct payments.

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Linda advised the ToR have been updated to reflect changes to pre-meeting processes. Due to time constraints group members were asked to review the ToR and let her know if there any further amendments were required.

6. Re-Opening of ILF in NI

Members expressed frustration at the lack of accountability and questioned the sincerity of political support. David suggested raising the issue to the Vice Chair of the Committee for Health and copying relevant stakeholders into future correspondence. The Group agreed that advocacy efforts must continue, and that presenting directly to the Committee for Health could be a powerful next step. There was also discussion about involving disabled speakers in upcoming parliamentary events to strengthen the case for re-opening the Fund.

7. Any Other Business

It was noted by the Group that a Wednesday or Thursday would be suitable for the meeting with the Minister, with a time of 12:00 to 3:00 PM. The suggested dates were 12th, 21st, and 28th January.

The Group also discussed the next Joint Advisory Group meeting and agreed to include a discussion on the Award Manager policy. Linda advised that Policy 26 is due for review in March 2026.

Finally, the Group asked for it to be noted in the minutes to thank Colin Dunlop for all his work in supporting the Group and ILF Scotland as he moves on to his new role.

8. Day, Date and Times of Next Meeting

Lee agreed to look at different food options for lunch at future meetings.

The next meeting dates proposed were 2 March or 10 March. Lee will check with The Mount to see if these dates are available. If not, other suggested dates were 11 March 25 March, and 31 March.

Minutes

Northern Ireland Advisory Group

Tuesday 16 September 2025, 11:30 to 15:00
The Mount Conference Centre and via Zoom

Permanent Members Present

David McDonald - Chairperson
Niqi Rainey
Collette Jones

Affiliate Members Present

Amanda Paul (via Zoom)

ILF Scotland Representatives in Attendance

Peter Scott
Harvey Tilley
Linda Scott (via zoom)
Emma O’Neill (via zoom)
Lee House
Sandra Sweeney (via zoom)

Permanent Members Apologies

Caroline Wheeler
Michaela Hollywood
Frances McHugh
Robert Dallas

1. Housekeeping, Welcome, Apologies and Introductions

Lee Informed the Members of the emergency exits and confirmed there were no emergency drills planned for today.

David welcomed everyone warmly, expressing appreciation for their continued commitment to the Advisory Group. Introductions were made, with attendees sharing their names and roles. This was particularly helpful for newer members and those joining remotely.

There was a sense of urgency about the future of ILF in Northern Ireland, with several members expressing hope for progress on re-opening the Fund. David referred to the challenges faced in securing meetings with political representatives and emphasised the importance of persistence and strategic advocacy.

Apologies were noted for members unable to attend, including those affected by technical issues. The Group expressed understanding and agreed to follow up with absent members to ensure they remained informed about key decisions and updates.

This item also prompted a brief discussion about improving accessibility for future meetings, including better support for remote participants and more timely communication in advance of sessions.

2. Minutes from Previous Meeting

Group members reviewed and discussed the minutes from the previous meeting and confirmed their accuracy. The previous Meeting’s minutes were approved and ILF Scotland’s Communications Team will upload to the website.

Actions from previous Meeting

• Sandra, Emma, and Caroline to review the Direct Payment User Group NI Facebook page content and assess issues raised to determine Group input. (Ongoing)
• Follow-up regarding collaboration with local organisations (CILNI, ICMS) to offer Recipients the choice of additional support. (Ongoing)
• David to follow up the Group's request with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities Independent Monitoring Mechanism for Northern Ireland (IMNI) to become a member. (Ongoing)

3. Matters Arising

A meeting had been scheduled between Robbie Butler MLA, Mark McGuikin, and Colin Dunlop to discuss the re-opening of ILF in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, the meeting did not happen, and no follow-up communication has been received.

The Group debated next steps, including whether to pursue the matter with the Vice Chair of the Committee for Health and to formally request an opportunity to present our case to it. There was consensus that the situation needed to be addressed diplomatically but firmly, to ensure the Group’s concerns were taken seriously by political stakeholders. The Group agreed to make the request.

4. 10-Year Celebration Feedback

The Group reflected on the recent 10-year celebration event, which marked a significant milestone for ILF Scotland, highlighting the event’s success in showcasing the impact of the Fund and the importance of independent living. The celebration was not only a moment of pride but also a strategic opportunity to raise awareness among stakeholders and the wider public.

Feedback from attendees was generally positive, with many appreciating the stories shared by Recipients and the emphasis on co-production. However, there were also logistical challenges and suggestions for improvement. For example, some felt that future events should ensure better accessibility for remote participants. The Group agreed that lessons learned from this event should inform planning for future engagements, particularly those aimed at influencing policy and public perception.

5. Policy Update

Linda spoke about ongoing work around the Charter for Involvement and the Feedback Strategy, both of which are central to ILF Scotland’s commitment to co-production and continuous improvement. The Group discussed the need for more proactive engagement with politicians and officials.

There was also discussion around the uplift in payments, which had been processed more efficiently than in previous years. The uplift for Northern Ireland was notably generous at 9.78%, compared to 5% in Scotland, and included considerations for employer national insurance contributions. Members welcomed this progress, but Peter cautioned that future funding to ILF Scotland from the Department of Health NI would need to increase to maintain service levels, especially given the likelihood of another national minimum wage hourly rate uplift next year.

Charter for Involvement

Linda presented an overview of progress in key areas of the Charter for Involvement, which includes twelve standards aimed at ensuring disabled people are meaningfully involved in decisions that affect their lives. She highlighted progress made through joint Advisory Group meetings and co-production events, including the parliamentary event in Scotland, the engagement events to develop ILF Scotland’s new Strategic Plan and the recent 10-year anniversary celebrations in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

She highlighted that the Charter’s principles are embedded in ILF Scotland’s strategic planning and in ongoing marketing and communications. Examples include case studies and the PA recruitment campaign that aim to emphases independence and empowerment. Linda encouraged members to continue to identify priority areas for the Charter and to provide feedback on how it could be better implemented across services.

Feedback Strategy

Emma introduced the draft Feedback Strategy, which aims to formalise how ILF Scotland gathers and responds to feedback from Recipients, Award Managers, and other stakeholders. A draft Service Charter is included in the Feedback Strategy that sets out a number of service standards that people can expect from ILF Scotland. The aim is to achieve sign off from ILF Scotland’s Board at its next meeting in November.

The Group discussed the importance of creating accessible and routine mechanisms for feedback. Emma invited members to suggest ideas about how people might share their experiences and needs, emphasising that feedback should inform service improvements and policy development. There was also discussion about aligning ILF Scotland’s feedback approach with best practice from other organisations, and ensuring that responses are timely, transparent, and meaningful.

6. Re-Opening of ILF in NI

Members expressed frustration at the lack of accountability and questioned the sincerity of political support. David suggested raising the issue to the Vice Chair of the Committee for Health and copying relevant stakeholders into future correspondence. The Group agreed that advocacy efforts must continue, and that presenting directly to the Committee for Health could be a powerful next step. There was also discussion about involving disabled speakers in upcoming parliamentary events to strengthen the case for re-opening the Fund.

7. Sleepover Rates

The discussion around sleepover rates highlighted a disparity between practices in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, social care workers are paid the full hourly rate for sleepover shifts, regardless of whether they are actively working or simply present. In contrast, Northern Ireland still operates mainly on a fixed nightly rate, which may fall below the national minimum wage rate depending on the hours worked and the nature of the support provided. The emphasis is placed on the employer determining the nature of the shift.

David emphasised this might leave employers open to accusations of paying employees below the legally required minimum wage as detailed by HMRC and that he was awaiting clarification from Colin about whether the directions from HMRC applied in Northern Ireland.

8. Direct Payment User Group NI and ILF Information

ILF Scotland has recently joined the Direct Payment User Group NI Facebook group. At the request of the Advisory Group, ILF Scotland’s communications team are asked to prepare a post to explain ILF Scotland’s role and clarify that applications are not currently open in Northern Ireland. The aim is to raise awareness without causing confusion or false expectations. Niqi proposed featuring this post prominently on the group page and encouraging users to comment with questions, which would allow ILF Scotland staff to respond directly.

The Group discussed how best to manage ILF-related queries on the page and agreed that ILF Scotland’s communications team should reply to any messages via the ILF Scotland Facebook account. If questions are raised via messages that ILF Scotland is not included in, Niqi / Caroline will alert ILF Scotland’s Communications team. The Group emphasised the importance of clear, accessible communication, especially given the frequent confusion between ILF and Trust-managed direct payments.

9. Terms of Reference

Linda confirmed that the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group are due for review in December. David raised concerns about the timing of agenda and minute distribution, noting that receiving documents too close to the meeting date makes it difficult to prepare adequately. He proposed that draft minutes be sent to both the Chair and Vice Chair within a month of the meeting and that the draft agenda be sent to both two weeks in advance of the next meeting, allowing for collaborative review and input. Linda will revise the TOR and Lee will circulate to members for any comment prior to review at the December meeting.

Linda agreed and suggested scheduling a short pre-meeting with the Chair and Vice Chair to discuss the agenda and any emerging issues. This approach had worked well in Scotland previously and could help streamline planning and ensure all voices are heard. The Group supported this idea, recognising the need for more timely communication.

10. Any Other Business

It was noted that the transition from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit could significantly impact disabled Recipients. Sandra explained that transitional protections exist for current ESA claimants, but new applicants may face reduced support. The Group agreed that ILF Scotland should publish clear guidance on this issue via newsletters, social media, and the website to help Recipients navigate the changes.

Another concern was the growing complexity of award management, especially when family members acting as Award Managers become ill or unable to continue. Sandra shared a brief insight from a recent paper produced by ILF Assessors exploring alternative models, including third-party organisations. However, this option often lacks the depth of involvement provided by family members. David suggested that Microboards should also be considered. The Group acknowledged the need for flexible, sustainable solutions and agreed to keep this issue on the agenda for future meetings.

Actions Points from today’s meeting.

• Improve accessibility for future meetings, including for those participating remotely – Lee
• Ensure minutes and agendas are issued more timeously – Lee
• Communications Team to upload minutes of the June meeting to website – ILF Scotland Communications Team
• Ensure follow up regarding the meeting that was scheduled to take place between Robbie Butler MLA, Mark McGuikin, and Colin Dunlop to discuss the re-opening of ILF in Northern Ireland – David
• Ensure improved accessibility particularly for remote participants at future engagement events – Linda
• Share ideas about methods of sharing feedback – Advisory Group members
• Ensure ILF Scotland’s feedback approach is aligned with best practice from other organisations and that responses are timely, transparent, and meaningful – Emma
• Raise re-opening of ILF in NI with the Vice Chair of the Committee for Health, copying relevant stakeholders into future correspondence – David
• Involve disabled speakers in upcoming parliamentary events to strengthen the case for re-opening the Fund – David
• Provide clarification from the DOH NI regarding the application of directions from HMRC regarding sleepover rates applies in Northern Ireland – Colin
• Prepare a post for the Direct Payment User Group NI Facebook group explaining ILF Scotland’s role and clarify that applications are not currently open in Northern Ireland – ILF Scotland Communications Team
• Ensure that the post features prominently on the group page and encourage users to comment with questions, and share individual enquiries about ILF where required with the Communications Team – Niqi and Caroline
• Incorporate suggested changes to the timing and procedure for issuing minutes and preparing agendas to the Terms of Reference, due for review at the December meeting, and circulate to the Group - Linda
• Publish guidance on ESA via newsletter, social media, and the website to help Recipients navigate changes – ILF Scotland Communication Team
• Include Award Management on future meeting agenda when feedback is available from the ILF Scotland internal working group – Linda / Sandra

11. Day, Date and Times of Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 9 December 2025, with a proposed earlier start time of 11:30 a.m. The Group discussed the planning for the Christmas lunch, to be held at the Mount, and agreed to confirm dietary requirements in advance. The Group agreed to invite the Minister to the meeting and / or the lunch.

Note of Meeting

Northern Ireland Advisory Group

Tuesday 3 June 2025, 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm
The Mount Conference Centre and via Zoom

Permanent Members Present

David McDonald (Chairperson)
Frances McHugh via Zoom
Michaela Hollywood via Zoom
Caroline Wheeler via Zoom

Affiliate Members Present

Amanda Paul

ILF Scotland Representatives in Attendance

Peter Scott via Zoom
Claire Henry
Harvey Tilley
Emma O’Neill
Karen Burnett via Zoom
Lee House
Sandra Sweeney
Jackie Aitken via Zoom
Brendan Burns

Other

Colin Dunlop via Zoom at P2P
Mark Bates Insurance - Leona

Permanent Members Apologies

Robert Dallas
Niqi Rainey

1. Housekeeping, Welcome, Apologies and Introductions

Lee Informed the Members of the fire exits and confirmed there were no fire drills planned for today.

David welcomed everyone to the Meeting and accepted apologies.

2. Minutes from Previous Meeting

The Group approved the previous Meeting’s minutes. ILF Scotland’s Communications Team will upload to the website.

Actions from previous Meeting

List of Actions:

1. Peter to write to the Minister of Health, inviting him to the Event (Done).

2. David contacts Danny Donnelly to check dates for the 10-year Celebration Event (Done).

3. Lee to schedule meeting to discuss 10-year Celebration Event (Done).

4. Niqi to discuss with Caroline the possibility of Incorporating ILF matters on the Direct Payments Users NI Facebook Group.

5. Communications Team to prepare Question and Answer insert for post to Direct Payments Users NI Facebook Group.

6. Peter to discuss with companies like CILNI about the possibility of cover arrangements for Award Managers if sick.

3. Matters Arising

Brendan joined as a new assessor. Discussion focused on enhancing the Direct Payments Facebook user group to provide comprehensive information about Independent Living Fund (ILF) to over 7,000 members, addressing questions on funding, employment policies, and support. Linda would like to understand the content to be used and shared on the group page. The group agreed that sharing as much about what ILF Scotland does and FAQ to help support any questions. David mentioned explaining what ILF Scotland does, who receives the funding and links to the website policy page. Linda keen to avoid confusion on the page with what the Trust offers with direct payments.

Direct Payments User Group and ILF Information

Caroline and Niqi have admin rights on the Direct Payments Facebook page and plan to add ILF-related content and Q&A to support users.

Users inquire about insurance, hourly rates, holidays, maternity pay, Universal Credit, and conflicting advice from social workers.

Admins manage posts closely to maintain respectful communication and provide peer support, referring complex issues to solicitors and other organisations.

There is a need to clarify distinctions between ILF and Direct Payments to avoid confusion.

Groups like this exist but are less active in Scotland.

Action Items

• Sandra, Emma, and Caroline to review the Facebook page content and assess issues raised to determine group input.
• Follow-up regarding collaboration with local organizations (sell, ICMS) to offer users support choices.
• David to manage correspondence about joining the Independent Mechanism Northern Ireland (IMNI) group for reporting on United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

4. Annual Uplift

ILF uplift of 9.78% is approved, pending final Scottish Government sign-off expected imminently.

Implementation anticipated by end of month, backdated to 1 April.

Delays in trust payments cause budgeting difficulties for recipients.

Uplift applies only to directly employed personal assistants, with a wage cap at £18.53 per hour; self-employed rates differ.

Memorandum of Understanding among ILF Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Scottish Governments signed, enabling progress.

5. Mark Bates Insurance

Employers' Liability Insurance: Covers serious illnesses or injuries occurring because of employment, with policies typically retained for 30-40 years for such latent claims. It also includes protection for incidents caused by employer fault, for example, injuries due to unrepaired hazards.

Public Liability Insurance: Applies outside the home and employment relationship, covering damage or injury caused to third parties, for example a wheelchair accidentally damaging a public member's property.

Property and Workplace Safety: Employer's duty to maintain a safe environment. Issues with housing association properties were raised, highlighting the use of health and safety policies and documentation of efforts to secure timely repairs.

Healthcare Training and Certification: Challenges securing formal recognition or certificates from trusts for PA training were discussed. The insurance perspective requires training to be delivered by a medical or healthcare professional with documentary evidence (email or certificate) including trainer and trainee names, task details, and training date.

Insurance Coverage for Healthcare Tasks: Specific policies exist for healthcare tasks carried out by PAs, with premiums based on the number of trained healthcare PAs. Temporary or bank staff are excluded. Coverage also protects against potential harm PAs could cause to care recipients.

Delegation Panel in Trust (Northern Ireland): Established following advocacy, this panel issues certificates and monitors training, but similar consistent structures are lacking elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

Use of Private Sector Training Providers: Private providers can be accepted if trainers are appropriately qualified healthcare professionals. Virtual training is permissible if the trainer is suitably qualified, though face-to-face is preferred.

Redundancy Cover for PAs: Included in some policies but requires strict adherence to legal processes to avoid employment tribunal risks.

Temporary PA Replacement: Enquiry made about insurance coverage when substituting a PA temporarily, pending further investigation.

Action Items

• Follow-up on insurance coverage options regarding temporary PA replacements; responder (David) to report findings.
• Sharing detailed information about the Trust delegation panel with interested parties to promote consistent training standards across Northern Ireland.
• Encouragement for employers to document all communications regarding workplace safety and repairs to demonstrate reasonable efforts.
• Consider contacting insurance provider for clarification on acceptable training providers and evidence required.

6. Policy Update including Employer NI, Feedback from ILF Board, Feedback Strategy

Feedback Strategy

Emma sent out a draft to gather feedback.

The first stage was to draft a copy then develop Charter. Working group within casework and assessors to feedback further. The last action is to format statements and gather further feedback to enable them to sign off.

• ILF uplift of 9.78% is approved, pending final Scottish Government sign-off expected imminently.
• Implementation anticipated by end of month, backdated to 1 April.
• Delays in trust payments cause budgeting difficulties for recipients.
• Uplift applies only to directly employed personal assistants, with a wage cap at £18.53 per hour; self-employed rates differ.
• Memorandum of Understanding among ILF Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Scottish Governments signed, enabling progress.

Employment and Payment Challenges

• Significant confusion exists over employment rules, insurance policies, funding entitlements, and budgeting for direct payments.
• Issues arise with redundancy payments, insurance coverage, and trust financial assessments.
• Some recipients face conflicting advice and problems due to inconsistencies across different trusts.
• Calls to establish a dedicated direct payments group for recipients to discuss problems and influence policy.

Other Notes

• Discussion on sleepover rates and employment appeal tribunal outcomes highlighted differences between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Admins are vigilant about unregistered agencies advertising in the group to protect service users.
• Feedback strategy underway including the creation of a service charter outlining expected service standards to users.
• Universal Credit informational notes circulated and well received.

Next Steps

• Continue refining ILF content for the Direct Payments user page to support diverse inquiries.
• Complete coordination with relevant organizations to enhance service options.
• Monitor and facilitate implementation of the ILF uplift payment.
• Consider establishing a direct payments recipient group to address widespread challenges.

Michaela Hollywood left the meeting 2.30 pm
Leona (Mark Bates Insurance) left the meeting at 2.30 pm.

Board Feedback

Peter advised that the board need to recruitment as are two people short. They would like to recruit from Northern Ireland. This is managed by Scottish Government and not by ILF Scotland. The minister will make the final decision on this post.

The board have invited David and Jim to attend the meeting. The board have been invited the upcoming celebration events.

7. Terms of Reference

Agreed to carry forward to the next meeting.

8. Re-Opening of ILF in NI

Harvey advised the group that a submission has been provided with updated figures and details looking at how the Scotland re-opening has worked. A final proposal is now being worked on to submit to the minister.

9. 10th Year Celebration Event Planning

Discussion focused on organizing the Life Worth Living conference celebrating 10 years of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland. The event aims to raise awareness about the social and human rights models of disability, showcase successful delivery of ILF grants, highlight their impact on disabled people and their families, and advocate reopening ILF in Northern Ireland. It is scheduled for 3 July in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, with attendees including ILF recipients from Northern Ireland, their representatives and personal assistants (PAs), other disabled people, family carers, ministers, politicians, government colleagues, public bodies, and the Third Sector.

Key Decisions

• Date: 3 July (not 12 July).
• Venue: Great Hall, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
• Sponsors: Three MLAs - Danny Donnelly, Robbie Butler, and McHugh.
• Event order: Arrival from 6:00 pm, registration and refreshments from 6:30 pm in the rotundas, event begins at 7:00 pm.
• Accessibility: British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters to be provided.
• Invitations: Postal invitations sent in Scotland last Friday; email invitations to be sent this week, including to Northern Ireland attendees.
• Media: Holly is liaising with the Assembly and Department of Health regarding media invitations.
• Event recording: The event will be live streamed or recorded and posted afterwards.

Discussion Topics

• Program includes speeches by David, ILF recipients, non-recipients, presentation on social return on investment by Finbar (if available), remarks by Minister Mike Nisbet, and closing by MLAs.
• Format envisions a panel with Frances, Michaela, Caroline, Nicky telling their stories collectively, followed by four non-recipients sharing theirs.
• David explained scheduling of a preparatory online session on 19 June to rehearse stories with recipients and non-recipients separately.
• Preparations are ongoing including a site visit to Stormont to discuss audio / visual needs, accessibility, and health and safety requirements.
• Consideration of seating arrangements based on expected turnout (hall can accommodate up to 200) once attendee numbers are finalized.
• Potential for representatives from this group to attend the related Scottish ILF celebration event on 25th June as observers.

Action Items

• David and Linda to finalize invitation list and continue coordination with stakeholders including Danny Donnelly and Alice at Stormont.
• Emma to arrange BSL and ISL interpretation; Holly to manage media invites.
• Group members to prepare for online story rehearsal on 19 June (half 1 to 2 pm recipients, 2 to 3 pm recipients, 3 to 4 pm non-recipients).
• Plan site visit to Stormont post-19th June to finalize event setup.
• Verify venue availability aligning with dates and Scottish event on 25 June.
• Distribute event details and Scottish event invites to group members.

10. Future Meeting Arrangements

Tuesday 16 September 2025

Note of Meeting

Northern Ireland Advisory Group

Tuesday 4 March 2025, 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm
The Mount Conference Centre and via Zoom

Permanent Members Present

David McDonald (Chairperson)
Niqi Rainey

Affiliate Members Present

Amanda Paul

ILF Scotland Representatives in Attendance

Peter Scott
Harvey Tilley
Emma O’Neill
Karen Burnett via Zoom
Lee House

Other

Colin Dunlop
Aisling McHugh - observing
Greta Gurklyte - observing
June Best - observing

Permanent Members Apologies

Frances McHugh
Michaela Hollywood
Robert Dallas

Affiliate Members Apologies

None

ILF Scotland Representatives Apologies

Linda Scott

List of Actions:

1. Peter to write to the Minister of Health, inviting him to the Event (Done).
2. David to contact Danny Donnelly to check dates for the 10-year Celebration Event (Done).
3. Lee to schedule meeting to discuss 10-year Celebration Event (Done).
4. Niqi to discuss with Caroline the possibility of Incorporating ILF matters on the Direct Payments Users NI Facebook Group.
5. Communications Team to prepare Question and Answer insert for possible post to Direct Payments Users NI Facebook Group.
6. Peter to discuss with companies like CILNI about the possibility of cover arrangements for Award Managers if sick.

1. Housekeeping, Welcome, Apologies and Introductions

Lee Informed the Members of the fire exits and confirmed there were no fire drills planned for today.

David welcomed everyone to the Meeting and accepted apologies.

2. Minutes from Previous Meeting

The Group approved the previous Meeting’s minutes. ILF Scotland’s Communications Team will upload to the website.

Actions from previous Meeting

List of Actions:

1. David to write a letter to the Minster of Health asking him to meet with the Group. (Paused)

2. Sandra to produce practice note on Universal Credit. Lee to email out to Group. (Done)

3. Lee to contact Frances McHugh and ensure he includes her in any mail outs concerning the NI Advisory Group. (Done)

3. Matters Arising

David informed the Group that he had been informed that IMNI are re-structuring at the moment so cannot accept new applications as yet.

David advised the Group that he had sent a copy of instructions, issued by Revenue and Customs concerning the National Minimum Wage and the duties of employers in relation to it and sleepovers, to Colin, asking him to check its relevance to Northern Ireland. He added that the instructions also referenced handovers, travel during work and training. Colin confirmed he will check this for us. Members agreed to discuss this further at future meetings.

Lee confirmed that he has spoken with Frances McHugh to ensure she is included in all papers sent to the Group.

4. Anniversary Celebrations in Northern Ireland

Peter agreed to write to the Minister of Health, inviting him to the Event.

It was agreed that potential dates for the event in June were 18 (preferred) or 11 or 25.

David agreed to contact Danny Donnelly, to check these dates with him.

Peter agreed to arrange a planning meeting with Communications and Senior Management on 1, 8, or 15 April.

5. Re-Opening of ILF in Northern Ireland

Harvey asked Colin when the best time would be to put forward the latest submission from ILF Scotland to the Department of Health.

Harvey explained that the submission has been updated to include relevant key learnings from the re-opening in Scotland but that a barrier at the moment is the first Programme for Government which was only released on the 3 March 2025.

Harvey added that this needs to be approved with budgets and then ILF Scotland would look to submit the re-opening plan.

Colin explained that the Department of Health budget is looking at a £400 million deficit for the coming year, that the ILF Scotland submission will all be about timing and key to this is the learning from the first year of re-opening in Scotland.

Colin added that as it is a new policy decision there must be a consultation, which would last between 8-12 weeks.

Colin confirmed that an initial decision would be made by April this year to decide if the re-opening goes to this next stage, the consultation, and that he would inform the Group of the outcome.

David asked what if the decision was ‘no’ to re-opening?

Peter answered that the sustainability of currently funded Recipients would be hard to maintain but that ILF Scotland would look at the possibility of protecting Recipients if funding stops.

6. ILF Recipients NI

David referred to the Direct Payments User Group NI established by Caroline Wheeler and proposed that a similar group be established for ILF in Northern Ireland to let the Group learn from and react to the views of Recipients and Award Managers and their family carers as well as those not receiving the Fund.

Niqi suggested posting on the Direct Payments User Group itself and agreed to discuss the possibility with Caroline in advance of our next meeting.

Harvey suggested that ILF Scotland's Communications Team could prepare a Question and Answer insert for the posting to help anyone new to ILF.

All agreed that Niqi's and Harvey's suggestions be followed up for the next meeting.

7. Wage Uplift

Peter Informed Members that ILF Scotland and the Northern Ireland Sponsor Team are working on the next uplift in April to be in line with increases to the National Minimum Wage.

Colin confirmed that, from this financial year (2025 to 2026) onwards, the uplift of ILF would happen at the same time as the uplift of Direct Payments.

David asked - could ILF Funding match Direct Payments Funding?

Peter replied that ILF Scotland would require additional funding to enable it to match the Direct Payments rate for everyone.

8. Universal Credit Practice Note

Emma agreed to liaise with Sandra Sweeney to develop a Universal Credit practice note.

9. Policy Update

None.

10. Terms of Reference

Deferred to Next Meeting.

11. Any Other Business

David asked, on behalf of Caroline, what happens if Award Managers are sick, namely, who covers and how is it paid for?

Peter replied that in the past Social Work has taken this on but would no longer do this due to capacity but added that In Scotland there is financial management available, which could take over on a temporary basis and ILF Scotland could pay for this.

Peter agreed to have a discussion with companies like CILNI, to see what options could be available and added that ILF Scotland would make payment for this type of additional support if required.

Emma informed the Group that Linda and she were drafting a feedback strategy which will look at how people interact with ILF Scotland and will be seeking the Group’s feedback.

12. Date & Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 3 June – The Mount Conference Centre