NNEF 2025 AGM
This NNEF AGM meeting was held in Birmingham on Friday 27th June and also streamed online.
PRESENT:
Morgan Beck, Philippe Bonnet (Chair), Jamie Bridge (Deputy Chair), Alistair Bryant, Rebecca Bulmer (online), Deanne Burch, Helen Dale, John Fox, John Hamilton, Craig Hazlett, Joe Kean (online), Sue McCutcheon, Tony Mullaney, Sue Murphy, James Pierce, Mark Roberts, Maeva Schollaert, Maddy Seager, Molly Stringer, Mark Tudor, Helen Wilks (Treasurer), Judith Yates
Welcome:
Philippe Bonnet, NNEF Chair, opened the meeting and thanked the participants for joining, despite the sweltering heat!
Approval of the minutes of the last AGM:
The last AGM was held online in February 2023, and Philippe apologised for there not being a meeting in 2024. The minutes from the last AGM were approved with no further comments. [Of the actions from February 2023, progress was not made on the mystery shopper exercise. The issue of changing the NNEF name to reflect ‘needle and syringe programmes’ has also not been further discussed – so that action is repeated below].
Action: New Planning Group to take the discussion forward on renaming NNEF to avoid the outdated term “needle exchange”.
Reflections and feedback from the NNEF meeting:
The AGM came after a successful all-day meeting in Birmingham, attended by over 100 people. The feedback from the day was positive. It was also commented that it was good to see new faces at the meeting, with many saying it was their first NNEF or similar event. The presentations were well received, and around 50 naloxone kits were distributed by Helen and her team of trainers. Things to improve in future are the inclusion of those with lived experience on the agenda, and better engaging service management and commissioners. Philippe thanked Jamie, Helen and John, and everyone else who helped to make the event possible on the day.
A question was asked about the Safer Inhalation Pipes Project (SIPP) and what services should be doing now about pipe distribution. Although we are hopeful that the necessary legal and policy changes will be made for this, the timeline is impossible to predict. Services therefore still have the “letter of comfort” option available to them to allow local provision. Templates are available online for this (such as this one, focused on foil provision).
Presentation of the NNEF accounts and finances:
Helen provided an overview of the latest NNEF account transactions. The balance at the last AGM was £2,003, and was now £3,703. But this does not yet include costs from the event – including the venue and catering, as well as a few remaining sponsorship payments. It is anticipated that the event itself will eventually break even, leaving around £2,000 in the account again – in line with the policy of holding sufficient reserves to deliver one face-to-face event without any external sponsorship or support. The only non-event costs are for the NNEF website (which is hosted and managed by Nigel) and some basic communications costs such as stamps.
Discussion on NNEF activities and whether it remains a “going concern”:
Both Deputy Chairs (Jamie and Nigel) have announced their decision to step down as they no longer do front-line work, but both will remain available to provide ongoing support and transition as needed. Philippe expressed that he could stay on, but only if other co-Chairs would come forward and bring that front-line experience and “fresh blood” to the NNEF. It was discussed that the formality of the role of Chair may be putting some people off, and perhaps the better option would be to select a group of Co-Chairs who can share any workload and reduce the perceived pressure.
Election of NNEF Officers:
At this point, several people put their names forward to join as Co-Chairs to help take the NNEF forward: Phillipe Bonnet, Alistair Bryant, Helen Dale, John Fox, Tony Mullaney, Suzanne Murphy, James Pierce, Mark Roberts, and Molly Stringer. Rebecca Bulmer and Lou Wilkins had also indicated their willingness before the AGM, so will be added to this list too.
Helen confirmed her willingness to continue as Treasurer.
These appointments were all approved by the AGM.
Action: James to set-up a new WhatsApp group for the NNEF Co-Chairs and Treasurer.
Action: Update the website with the new Co-Chairs (as well as these minutes).
Selection of the NNEF Planning Group:
Given the decision and structure agreed above, it was also agreed not to have an additional Planning Group – the Co-Chairs above would effectively form the Planning Group going forward.
Any other business from NNEF members:
Thanks were recorded to both Jamie and Nigel for their work for the NNEF to date, now that both are stepping down as Deputy Chairs. It was confirmed again that Jamie would remain on hand to support the new Co-Chairs whenever needed.
Jamie also said a few words in memoriam of Dave Estabrook, a former NNEF Planning Group member who sadly passed away in May this year. A minutes silence was held at the start of the day to remember Dave and everyone else who we have lost in recent years.
Finally, Jamie also mentioned the “Harm Reduction Alliance” WhatsApp ‘Community’ that has been created, with the suggestion that the “NSP practice & provision” sub-group be co-opted as the NNEF’s main discussion space (replacing the old Yahoo group, and instead of creating anything new). Anyone can join the ‘Community’ using this link, and then select the NSP group (and any others that may be relevant).