Great Aycliffe Community Aid Partnership. (GACAP), held a good festive meeting at DISC officers on Monday with 25 partners present. Ken Robson chaired the meeting with four new partners in attendance. Peter and Terri Driver were the new representatives from Harvest Church and told all all about a very interesting online project TTRS (Touch Type Read and Spell) a unique multi-sensory, phonics based approach to learning for students who struggle with reading and writing.

As Secretary, I had been given a temporary licence to try it out and quickly learned how my touch typing skill had slipped. Peter will give a full power point projection of the benefits of the course at the next meeting. All partners and anyone interested in learning for students with difficulties in reading and writing. ie. Dyslexia and autism are invited. New partner who Belinda Jones Atkinson from Sugar Hill School, Belinda had a variety of knowledge and talents and is keen to get involved in projects in the community especially those that were in crisis.  Faye Callan introduced herself as the new Police Engagement Officer with an interest in Crime Prevention.

Being new in post, she wanted to know who was who in the community and where to go for advice and felt GACAP was a good starting point. Ken Robson knew Faye’s predecessor and knew she would do a good job if she was to follow in his excellent footsteps. Faye gave her contact details and could also be contacted on 101. Other new partners or changes to partnership were Fiona Mawson a change of representative from PCP and Clair Johnson who had represented Veteran’s at Ease was at her last meeting and would be attending in future as a partner for her newly formed organisation.

Ron Mitchie thanked Liane Taylor for the use of DISC premises with refreshments, free of charge for the year. He also thanked partners who brought along food and Tesco for the excellent Festive Faye they had donated for partners’ enjoyment whilst networking after the meeting. He wished all present a very tranquil Christmas and looked forward to seeing all in the new year. He and Joan would not be around for Christmas as they were away on a late Honeymoon.  The chairman closed the meeting confirming the date of the next meeting as Monday 6th February as the first Monday in January was a Bank Holiday.