Laughing with the Greater Manchester Police

I was pleased to be invited to participate in a Carer's Day, organised by the Women's Group of the Greater Manchester Police. So, if you've ever wondered what a Happystance workshop looks like, this is it!

Here, a Laughter Chorus performed Happy Birthday with laughs of different tones rather than in song.

We finished with a laughter conga line and some ingenious shoulder and neck rubs.

The picture is generally bleak for carers in the UK but it is essential that carers have some attention paid to their own needs. After the Happystance slot a number of the participants came up to say how much they had enjoyed the event. They had been a little apprehensive that the day would be worthy but very dull and had appreciated the unexpected levity.

Cops and bloggers

I've just come back from Holborn Police Station.

Out of the blue the other day I got an email from Simon Hughes (no, not that one). He works for the 4Holborn Business Improvement District (BID). We got talking and set up a meeting to see how walkit could provide them with a customised walking route planner for their part of London.

"We're based in the police station" he says, "so call me on your mobile when you get to us." Bit odd I thought. I arrive in the police reception, call him up, down he comes to get me, and within seconds I'm in the Kafka-esque behind-the-scenes world of modern-day British policing.

It turns out that 4Holborn are housed in the police station because a lot of what they do is about keeping streets safe and crime down. So there I am, doing my walkit spiel in a police canteen, surrounded by coppers. It all feels like a bit of strange Channel 4 drama-cum-comedy mongrel.

Anyway, it turns out the BID is keen to promote sustainable transport and so I'm going to pull together a little proposal for them.

One of the stranger incidents in the history of walkit.com. But nice to think that people are now starting to approach me, rather than me constantly having to knock on doors.

As ever, TfL are involved with 4Holborn. But I think I'd better just bite my tongue when it comes to TfL. Probably more politic to save that story for another day.

Too much disclosure?

I have a standard disclosure from the Police National Computer/Criminal Records Bureau. Despite this, although I do not fall into the categorisation for which the more in-depth check is recommended (e.g., a teacher, Scout or Guide Leader), I’ve been informed that I need a more in-depth, enhanced level of disclosure in order to receive the funding for the Happystance  project. Enquiries at my local Police Station were met with a blank stare. The receptionist did not know how to deal with a request for a standard disclosure and had no advice to offer about how I could apply for an enhanced one.

Since then, I’ve been advised that I should apply for an enhanced disclosure via my local Council for Voluntary Services. For the last week, I’ve emailed and left phone messages but have received no response. The local branch is only open for short hours during the day, mid-week. I don’t work in the local area so visiting the office during opening hours is not readily practical. I appreciate that services that rely on volunteers will always be subject to limitations, so I’m not optimistic about whether there are the necessary resources to deal with my request in a timely manner. However, this is just my apprehension because I don’t understand the process as yet. It might be a straightforward experience. And my disclosure may be ready in time for my proposed launch date.

I accept the necessity for CRB checks. But when the process is not readily accessible, then it can deter some volunteers from following through on their interest. Some charities and voluntary organisations are reporting a drop in the number of volunteers because potential volunteers object to the idea of being investigated. Other volunteers see it as a waste of time, money and other scarce resources because the role for which they are applying does not involve contact with children or members of vulnerable groups.