AGM Puts Client Involvement Centre Stage
Carr-Gomm held its AGM on September 17th at Friends House in Euston, where the focus was on emphasising commitment to involving clients in every aspect of decision-making.
Gary Lashko, Chief Executive, took the opportunity to launch the new client Compact – an agreement between Carr-Gomm and its clients outlining the rights of clients to be involved in decision making. The new Compact aims to ensure that all clients are able to get their opinion heard.
At the AGM, Rose Wilson, Carr-Gomm’s chair, officially launched the start of the election process for new client board members. Carr-Gomm’s Board of 15 is made up of 5 client members and 10 independent members. Elections are due next year and will mark the 10th anniversary of client involvement on the Board. A series of events will be held across the country for clients explaining what it means to become a Board member. Information will be provided on how clients can stand for election or get involved in voting for candidates.
Client involvement is an extremely important part of Carr-Gomm, and clients at the AGM took the opportunity to express what it meant to them personally. Robert, a member of the Client Panel, said that having the chance to take part in worthwhile activities for Carr-Gomm had really helped him get through a difficult period in his life. He urged other clients to get involved wherever they can, whether it’s offering feedback to staff, or participating in processes such as staff recruitment. The Client Panel is made up of 15-20 clients who meet 3 times a year to discuss the running of Carr-Gomm, offering clients the chance to have a direct say in how their services are delivered.
This year’s AGM said goodbye to long standing board members Karamjit Bhullar, Paul Cummings and Catherine Pestrano, whose time and dedication has meant so much to Carr-Gomm. Karamjit, a Board member for 12 years, spoke about the rewarding experience of working with all the other members, but especially with so many clients.
Key points of the annual report were highlighted and explained. Staff had worked hard to make this accessible to everyone and feedback from clients showed most people found it informative and interesting. A copy of the annual report can be downloaded here.
