SDN Open Meetings

SDN Open Meetings are usually held 4 times a year 

Anyone wishing to contact SDN about its meetings should use this contact form  https://shropshire-disability.net/contact/ or contact Russell Price chair@shropshire-disability.net or call/text 07794497704 Members & guests are welcome at our meetings. Each meeting features an aspect around current disability issues in Shropshire. The meetings are led by the Management Committee as they seek to appoint a new Chair. Usually following the essential SDN business there are presentations from two guest speakers. You will also have the opportunity to network and to talk to members.

Our speakers have been selected to enthuse and inform. The topics are varied, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and raise points for discussion. Your views are very welcome and much sought after to inform the way Shropshire Disability Network provides for you. You might think the disability topics discussed aren’t specifically relevant to you, but we are confident that you will be surprised by how inspirational our speakers can be.

Promotion: We also have space available for 2 Information Stands at each of our Members Meetings. We charge a small fee of £25 which includes a non-returnable deposit of £5 on booking. The balance of £20 is payable on the day of the meeting, if not paid before. By offering this opportunity to you, it helps us meet our meeting costs and it helps you to promote what you/your organisation does.

By taking up this opportunity to have a stand, you get the chance to give a brief 5 Minute Talk to our members about what you do to help those with a disability, their families and carers. Should you wish to have a stand but not do a 5 minute talk, then we charge £15 including a non returnable deposit of £5. Cheques should be made payable to Shropshire Disability Network or if you wish to pay via BACs please contact us for details. All monies are receipted. For more information on booking a stand please email our Fundraising Lead admin@shropshire-disability.net

Click here for 2020 Schedule of Meetings & Events: SDN-Meetings-Events-from Jan 2020-Master , SDN-Meetings-Events-from Jan 2020-Plain text

Read about previous meetings:

Thursday 12th March 2020 (minutes from our Members Meeting will be attached after agreement by SDN Members)

Thursday 12th December 2019 (minutes from our Members Meeting will be attached after agreement by SDN Members)

Thursday 5th September 2019 (minutes from our AGM and Members Meeting will be attached after agreement by SDN Members )

Thursday 13th June 2019 Minutes SDN Members Meeting 13th June 2019 (2) Guest Speakers: Vicky Handbury-Madin from The Movement Centre and Lindsay Barton from Shropshire Providers Consortium (SPC).

Thursday 14th March 2019 Minutes SDN Members Meeting 14th March 2019 (2) Guest speakers: Mike Layward from DASH (Disability Arts Shropshire) and Phil Ramsbotham talking about Access to Public Places.

Thursday 13th December 2018 SDN Members Meeting 13th December 2018 amended Guest Speakers from: The Samaritans, The Sequal Trust and a short presentation by Heulwen Trust.

Thursday 6th September 2018 SDN Minutes of AGM September 2018 Guest Speaker: Abby with her Assistance Dog Chloe.

Thursday 14th June 2018 SDN Members Meeting 14th June 2018 Guest Speakers from: Recycling and Tai Chi

Thursday 8th March 2018 SDN Members Meeting 8th March 2018 Guest Speakers from: Deaf N Able and The Lyneal Trust.

Thursday 25th January 2018 (postponed from December 2017 due to bad weather) SDN Members Meeting 25th January 2018

Guest Speakers: Laura Kavanagh Jones, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Gill George, Defend our NHS and Pam Schreier and Niki McGrath, Future Fit

Thursday 21st September 2017 SDN Minutes of AGM September 2017

Guest Speakers: Jess Noel-Hiles, who is a Special Olympics Gold Medallist and her Mum Jo Allmond

Thursday 8th June 2017 SDN Members Meeting 8th June 2017

Guest Speakers: George Rook on dementia and Inclusively Fit presentation & launch of video’s.

Thursday 9th March 2017 SDN Members Meeting 9th March 2017

Guest Speakers: Jo Allmond & Jess Hiles “Continuing their Journey with Jess the Goth Fairy. David Sandbach also spoke about NHS in a digital age.

Caring for God’s Acre also had an information stand at our meeting.

Thursday 8th December 2016 SDN Members Meeting 8th December 2016 (2)

Guest Speakers: Kelda Wood British Paralypian & Climbing Out & Sara Giles-Crime Prevention West Mercia Police.

Thursday 29th September 2016 Minutes AGM September 2016

Guest Speaker: Fiona Smith-Swimming After Surgery.

Thursday 9th June 2016 sdn-june-2016-qtly-meeting

Guest Speakers were: Katrina Gilman-Equality & Diversity Officer for Telford Wrekin & Shropshire on Hate Crime & Disability Awareness and Kerrie Berroyer from Dazlious, learning the language of Autism.

Thursday 10th March 2016 March 2016 Members Meeting Minutes

Guest Speakers were: Andrew Sharman -Remap & Adian Wassell -Shrewsbury Town in the Community.

Thursday 10th December 2015 December 2015 Members Meeting Minutes

Guest Speakers were: Carla Siswick Shop Manager at Oxfam & Sophie Davies from Lanyon Bowdler, Solicitors.

Thursday 10th September 2015 agm-minutes-september-2015

Guest Speakers wereTom Kane with his Hearing Dog Harley & Amanda White from TelfordUCare. We also had an in depth presentation by Tom Brettell re Swimming Pool Provision at Quarry Pool, Shrewsbury

Thursday 11th June 2015 June 2015 Members Meeting Minutes

Guest Speakers were: Matt Johnson-Area Transport Planning Commissioner (North) and then Michael McCarthy who has written 4 books with the help of his family & carers.

Thursday 12th March 2015 March 2015 Members Meeting Minutes

Guest Speakers were: Mark Allan-Technical Director from Orthoplastics Limited &  Jo Allmond, mother of Jess, they have written a book called “Jess the Goth Fairy”

Thursday 11th December 2014 December 2014 Members Meeting Minutes

Guests Speakers were:Debbie Gibbon Carers Service Manager from Carers Contact Centre-Telford & Wrekin and Kate Ballinger Manager of Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin

Thursday 18th September 2014 AGM AGM Final Minutes Sept 2014

Guest Speaker: Sue Bott CBE Director of Policy Services & Development at Disability Rights UK

Special Presentation by SID (Shropshire Inclusive Dance)

Thursday 11th September 2014 September 2014 Members Meeting Minutes

Guest Speakers wereRachel Harding, Project Coordinator for “Me & You” a project at Albrighton Trust & Keith Billson from OSCA (Advocacy)

Thursday 12th June 2014  June 2014 Members Meeting Minutes

Guest Speakers wereDavid Rees Co-Author of the book  ”Why are you pretending to be normal?”  and Lizzie Evans Fundraising & Publicity Officer at Headway Shropshire

Thursday 12th March 2014 

To read the minutes click the link here: Minutes_Qrtrly Members Meeting_March 2014

Guest Speakers wereDementia Friends: with Dr Sal Riding and Sonia Roberts (our Chairperson) both are Dementia Champions. Followed by  Guide Dogs with Lin Stapley from Oswestry joined us with her Guide Dog “Woody” and gave an awe inspiring talk on the work of Guide Dogs.

Wednesday 11th December 2013 

Guest Speakers wereCaptain Nick Beighton-Double Amputee -Paralympian London 2012,  Ben Rowlings-Wheelchair Racer from Newport, Shropshire &  Tony Lawrence-Tai Chi for those with a Disability.

2013 AGM

Guest Speakers wereJim Hawkins -How to take a good snap followed by  Linda Cox, Development Manager of Shrewsbury Dial-A-Ride talking about the various Transport Schemes and  Haydn Jenkins proprietor of Alpha Automatic School of Motoring. Haydn gave us an informative talk on driving with a disability and adaptations to motor vehicles.

Wednesday 12th June  2013

Guest Speakers wereColin Smith MBE Changes to the Benefits System with the latest updates on DLA to PiPs &  Ann Johnston Support Services Manager from Shropshire Housing Alliance re Bedroom Tax also Universal Credit.

Wednesday 13th March 2013  

Guest Speakers were: Wendy Southall and Karen Higgins from CCG and Jackie Jeffrey from CAB Shropshire

2012 AGM Minutes 

including notes from our guest speakers

Rachel Woods – Cooking for People with Disability & Rob Price – Implementation of PIP’s (Rob is Team Leader for the Benefit Options Team at Shropshire Council)

Thursday 13th December 2012

Guest speakers were:

Grania Miller of Shropshire Council-Blue Badges, Margaret Williams, a member of Rotary’s Inner Wheel Club spoke about Limb India, and Sgt David Braid of West Mercia Police talked about Hate Crime.

14th June 2012 General Meeting Minutes

8th March 2012 General Meeting Minutes Wace Morgan Solicitors – Expect the Best, but plan for the worst,   Tina Jones – Listen Not Label

8th December 2011 General Meeting Minutes

9th June 2011 General Meeting Minutes

10th March 2011 General Meeting Minutes

9th December 2010  Dominic Campbell from Enabled by Design

9th September 2010  With Sally Edwards from the Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company

10th June 2010  Jools Payne on Rheumatoid Arthritis

9th March 2010  Guest speaker Jenny Pitts discusses Transformation of social care

Dates of Future Meetings: 

 2020 Meeting Dates:

  • Thursday 12th March 2020
  • Thursday 11th June 2020-cancelled due to Covid19 pandemic
  • Thursday 3rd September 2020 (AGM and Meeting) cancelled due to Covid19 pandemic
  • Thursday 10th December 2020 cancelled due to Covid19 pandemic

For further Information please contact:

Email secretary@shropshire-disability.net (Secretary) or call/text 07780 852 229.

We have Sign Language Interpreters (BSL) at all our meetings.

Click here to download a Schedule of Meetings & Events for 2020: SDN-Meetings-Events-from Jan 2020-Master , SDN-Meetings-Events-from Jan 2020-Plain text .