SWEDAUK, for pro-recovery help & support around anorexia & bulimia nervosa and compulsive (binge) eating in Somerset, England
Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
"Serving those affected by eating disorders"
Strode House, 10 Leigh Road, Street, Somerset, England, UK
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Back to the Homepage The Steering Group

The SWEDA Steering Group Needs You!!

The Steering Committee is an important part of SWEDA. It is made up of users, volunteers, staff, and other committed members.

If you could spare one evening every six weeks and would like to be part of "steering" SWEDA forward, then I invite you to come along to the next meeting and see if it's for you!

Lyn Southway
Steering Group Chair
The Steering Group - History and Function
Since it's inception as Mendip Eating Disorders Association (MEDA) in 1992, Somerset & Wessex Eating Disorders Association (SWEDA) has always been steered and guided by a Steering Group, 'the voice of its users'. SWEDA's Steering Group has always debated and decided the direction that the organisation takes and has accepted or vetoed proposals as to its function and direction.

The Steering Group embodies SWEDA's core principle of being 'user led' and its membership has always been drawn from SWEDA's client group which it seeks to represent - "those affected by eating disorders", comprising sufferers, carers and professionals. Since the organisation took on paid staff, non-voting staff representation has also always been present on the Steering Group to help and inform its members in their decision making process.

In 1996 MEDA expanded out into the whole of Somerset and became Somerset Eating Disorders Association (SEDA), a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. As part of this process the organisation formed its Board of Trustees with legal responsibilities for and overview of, both the legal and financial operations of the organisation (and a group of voting 'member'). The Steering Group's function has remained the same and it now informs and directs the Trustees as to the direction its users wish them to take the organisation.

In 2004 the organisation again expanded and became Somerset & Wessex Eating Disorders Association.

SWEDA is, and always has been, a user-led, self-help organisation intending to 'serve those affected by eating disorders'; to date the Steering Group has had fourteen unbroken years at the helm of the organisation, enabling it to meet these goals and guiding it to where it is today.

The Steering Group - Joining the Steering Group
The Steering Group has always sought to draw its membership from SWEDA's client base (service users), whether sufferer's themselves, carers, professionals or other concerned parties, in other words, all those affected by eating disorders.

If you would like to join the Steering Group, pop along to a meeting to see how things work before deciding or just find out more why not email SWEDA?

The Steering Group - Meeting Dates

Monday 11th February 2008, 7pm

The Steering Group - Terms of Reference

Below you can find a copy of the Steering Group's "Terms of Reference" Document

Terms of Reference
SWEDA STEERING GROUP
TERMS OF REFERENCE

Purpose
To support and advise the Staff and Trustees on matters relating to eating disorders, in order to ensure that SWEDA remains a user led voluntary organisation.

Composition
The Steering Group shall consist of sufferers, carers and professionals from as wide a geographical area of Somerset as possible, together with one member of Staff and one Trustee. The secretarial function shall be provided by SWEDA.

Meetings
The group shall meet every six weeks and have twice yearly meetings with the Trustees. If an urgent decision is required, a meeting of at least three members will be convened. At the May meeting the group shall elect a Chairman for the forthcoming year. Questions arising at the meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have the casting vote. The quorum should not be less than three members.

Responsibility
To guide policy. To recommend and inform Trustees about the direction of SWEDA.

Functions

  1. To identify training needs and advise the workers (Staff and Volunteers) on the content of training.
  2. To provide feedback on service provision in order for SWEDA to represent the views of sufferers and carers. To work with statutory authorities to ensure the provision of a countrywide range of treatment, including in-patient treatment, day services, self help programmes, counselling, therapy, dietetic advice, and support of carers and families.
  3. To provide feedback on services provided by SWEDA and to make any recommendations for improvements.
  4. To identify gaps in the services provided by SWEDA.
  5. To act as a sounding board for the Workers and Trustees on matters relating to eating disorders.
  6. To advise the Workers on establishing short, medium and long term objectives.
  7. To help monitor progress towards achieving those objectives.
  8. To provide the opportunity for full discussion of issues relating to eating disorders and SWEDA.
  9. Decisions about eating disorders and SWEDA should not be taken without prior discussion with Steering Group.
August 2005
© 2004 ~Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
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