Support and Strengthen Your Local Community by Becoming a Member

At CCB our priority has always been working to enhance, strengthen and promote community life in Berkshire. Since being formed over 40 years ago CCB has delivered a wide range of projects that have a positive long lasting effect on communities in the county and beyond.

We are a membership charitable organisation. Membership is a great way to help make sure communities you are involved in are given the very best services and support. Membership for 2015-16 is £30 for organisations and £15 for individuals.

If you would like to support CCB in our work please download a membership form by clicking here.

During the last financial year (2014-15) we were able to deliver a range of projects that made a real difference to people living and working in Berkshire, including:

• Advice and training to ensure that community buildings are safe venues that comply with complex legislation.
• Evidencing the need for affordable housing for people with a local connection in Berkshire; resulting in a small development of 8 affordable homes being built in Woolhampton for people with a link to the village.
• Useful guidance and advice on how to lower people's household energy bills; particularly of use to those at risk of fuel poverty.
• Advice and support on how to write a Neighbourhood Plan.
• A variety of training course topics aimed at helping and improving local communities including how to reduce food waste, funding advice, how better to get to know your community and community housing.
• The CCB Oil Club, a bulk-buying service saved its members over £13,000 on their heating oil.
• Advice and training for parish and town councils.
• Enabling community orchards in Berkshire to flourish by linking growing food with healthy eating.
• Helping communities in Berkshire to create an emergency response flooding plan.
• A regular e-bulletin full of local news, events and funding information.
• Supporting communities in the county to write and refresh their community led plans

CCB could not exist without the crucial support of its members. Membership entitles you to:

• Members rates on training courses
• Regular news and information updates
• Voting rights at our AGM
• A copy of our annual report
• The ability to nominate a Director to be elected to serve on our Board of Trustees
• A way of getting your voice heard at a national and regional level through our networks.
• Opportunities to take part in discussion groups and consultation on key issues.
• A certificate of membership

If you would like to support CCB in our work to strengthen and empower communities please download a membership form.

Community Life: Blog from our Community Planning Development Worker

Spring has bought the beautiful daffodils and bluebells out in our communities and at the same time has kept the community planning teams and parish councils buzzing.

In early March, Holybrook Parish Council held two open days in order to inform local people about what they do and what projects they are trying to achieve for the area. A community quiz was held and information was displayed about local projects. Parish Council members were on hand to talk to people about local concerns and ideas.

March was also a busy month for Basildon who had a very successful open event to see if the local people might be interested in a refresh of their community plan. 50 people visited the village hall to provide their ideas for new projects. Delicious home made cakes and cups of tea were provided. The room was buzzing with ideas and several popular topics are already emerging. The new Parish Plan steering group will be holding their first meeting towards the end of May.

In March, Arlene Kersley, CCB’s Rural Housing Enabler and I, led two training days all about  ‘Getting to Know Your Community’. We held one in Thatcham and one in Bracknell and both events were well attended with positive feedback. The sessions were in two halves, the first was on how to research statistical information about your community, using information from Local Council websites and the Office for National statistics websites, amongst others. The second half was about consulting with your community.  Possible barriers to consulting widely in your community and how to overcome them were explored. If you were unable to attend this training but would like to find out more please contact me at Tessa.Hall@ccberks.org.uk.

April saw Streatley Parish Plan refresh group, led by Karen Morton, held a feedback evening to show the community the results of their parish plan survey and questionnaire. The event was very well attended by local councillors, interest groups, members of the public and local businesses. Attendees were asked to make comments about the most popular topics from the plan and also to make any suggestions as to which organizations can help with the projects arising from the plan.  It was hoped that people would register their interest in taking the projects forward once the plan has been adopted. The Steering group has worked hard and would like some fresh volunteers to take over for the next stage of the plan. They hope to launch the plan by the AGM on 15th May.  If you live in Streatley and would like to get involved, please email:  karen.morton@thecapabilitycompany.co.uk or contact Nicola Swan at Streatley Parish Council: nicola.swan@streatley.org   All help will be gratefully received. 

By Tessa Hall, Community Planning Development Worker at CCB.
Tessa.Hall@ccberks.org.uk

Mental health and stress in rural communities

The Rural Services Network has published an interesting article on health in rural areas.

According to Defra’s Statistical Digest of Rural England, if you live in the countryside your life expectancy increases and you are less likely to die prematurely from cancer, stroke or coronary heart disease. On average, people born in very rural areas will live up to two years longer than those in major urban area.

While that’s great news for physical health, many people living in rural areas have lower overall accessibility to key services such as GPs and hospitals, and experience poverty, isolation and mental illness. 

There’s a wealth of data about the number of people coming into contact with mental health services but much less research specifically into rural mental health. Evidence does seem to suggest that mental health is probably better in rural areas but that demography, access, social exclusion and deprivation certainly contribute to stress, anxiety and depression. People living in rural areas also seem less likely to seek treatment than their urban counterparts.

How can we put mental health issues at the forefront of rural communities? Sometimes there can be a culture of self-reliance and stoicism towards mental health problems which prevents rural dwellers seeking medical help.

Should we be looking at ‘themes’ such as adult, child, older adults, substance misuse and so on, or at the actual geography of the local area, level of general provision and the problem of ‘postcode lotteries’? How can we balance the ‘quality of mental health service’ with ‘distance of travel to access these services’? 

It’s a complex debate. Read the full article here and find out more about the Rural Services Network’s work on health issues by clicking here.

Article courtesy of Community Action Norfolk

Free accredited Community Action and Leadership Course!

Free accredited Community Action and Leadership Course

Do you have an idea for something you would like to do to help your community, but don’t know how to set about it? Would you like to attend a free course which would give you all the information, support and tools you would need to set up a new project? This course will run for 8 weeks and will give you an accredited qualification in Leadership Skills at Level 2.

To qualify for this free course applicants need to be without experience of Higher Education and be from an under-represented or disadvantaged group.

The course will build on your strengths, give you confidence and inspire you. A former participant of the course said:

“A friend recommended Community Action and Leadership course with the OCVA. I really felt that I wanted to become more pro-active in my community but didn’t really know where to start. After completing this very interesting and stimulating course, feeling fully motivated and equipped with the right information, I immediately went on to organise a Christmas Day event for the elderly and vulnerable in our community which was very successful and now to become an annual event. On top of this fabulous achievement channel 4’s “4thought” covered the event on Christmas Day itself. Enriched by the experience and gaining confidence steadily, I then went on to find work after being at home with my children for several years and I’m now involved in delivering this Community Action and Leadership course myself”! Kathy's Christmas Day Event

To find out a little more about this course, you can watch a short video made by two former participants, Penny and Sarah on You Tube. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdztIbULj7Q

To register for this course please visit the OCVA website by clicking here.

Calling all Community Buildings Looking for Funding

If you are a volunteer involved with running a community building then you should attend a workshop run by CCB and Greenham Common Trust specifically focusing on FUNDING.

Hear from volunteers that have successfully accessed funding streams to improve their community buildings. They will share the process with attendees and lessons learnt.

Training is taking place on Thursday 21st May at 7.30pm at Boxford Village Hall. The meeting is free to attend but places must be booked either by email wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk or phone 0118 9612000. The speakers will be from two halls which have funded large projects and they will explain the pitfalls and highlights in funding and managing a new community building project.

This training is supported by West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning Team.

Fantastic All-rounder: Community Sports Building Training

 A joint training workshop between CCB and Greenham Common Trust was held at the cricket pavilion, Bradfield on Thursday 16th April focusing on how to attain funding for Community Sports Buildings.

Hosted by Bradfield cricket club which had rebuilt its pavilion within a year of an arson attack, the speakers were Richard Lafford from the cricket club and Russell Downing from Thatcham Rugby Club which is in the process of building a new clubhouse. Both organisations had received grants from Greenham Common Trust and they explained how their projects came about and how they managed (and are managing) them.

15 people attended from various sports and other organisations. Wendy Dacey, Community Buildings Advisor for CCB who organised the event said: "It was really nice to be able to hold the meeting in Bradfield Cricket Club's new pavilion. The enthusiasm of their committee, as well as that of Russell Downing, inspired the attendees to embark on new buildings of their own"

Feedback from participants included: 'Information was excellent' and 'I gained really useful and relevant tips and have come away with some new ideas for fundraising'.

If you are involved in running a Community Building and would like to learn more about funding opportunities we have great news for you as CCB and Greenham Common Trust are hosting a session at Boxford Village Hall on Thursday 21 May at 7.30pm. The meeting is free to attend but places must be booked either by emailing wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk or calling 0118 9612000. The speakers will be from 2 halls which have funded large projects and they will explain the pitfalls and highlights in funding and managing a new community building project.

Thanks goes to West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning Team who provided funding for this training ensuring it was free for attendees.

Get into the NHS

The Prince’s Trust will be running ‘Get into the NHS’ in partnership with Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust from 18th May to 5th June 2015.  

If you are aged 16-25, unemployed, living in the Thames Valley and interested in
a career in the NHS, join their FREE training programme, where you can:

•  learn about careers in the NHS, how to apply for jobs and complete a corporate induction
• receive communication and customer service training and Health & Safety training
• get on the job work experience in a variety of clinical and non clinical roles
• improve your teamwork and communication skills and boost your confidence, interview skills your CV at the same time
• receive up to six months support after the programme to help you find a job

When and where?
This programme will run from 18th May until 5th June 2015 in Reading

To be eligible for the programme you will need to attend an information session on
Tuesday, 28th April and a Taster Day on Thursday, 7th May. Final selections will be
made after the Taster Day.

For more information please contact Shirley Eastwood on 07909 545004 or email
shirley.eastwood@princes-trust.org.uk.
The programme is entirely free and travel costs and lunch will be provided.

New Training Dates announced for New Councillors

The Berkshire County Training CIC has just announced three dates for New Councillor Training. This will obviously be of particular interest to those new faces standing for election on the 7th May.

Who should come?

This training is designed for newly elected councillors; it will be of help to new or inexperienced clerks too. More experienced councillors may find it useful as a refresher and reminder of roles and responsibilities.

The evening will be run by Kim Bedford a very experienced and recently retired County Officer of Gloucestershire Association or Local Councils.

What does it cover?

• The role and responsibilities of a Councillor.
• Examining how the four key components fit together - Councillor, (Code of Conduct) Council, Chairman and Clerk.
• How a council works; the law, procedures, meetings and a place for committees.
• How to fulfil compliance, accountability and transparency requirements as a statutory body.
• Forward thinking - discussing possible future changes.
• How to work with and engage with the community to ensure that you work with and for them.

There will be time for questions and networking. 

Cost

BALC Members    £40 + £8 VAT = £48

Non Members       £80 + £16 VAT = £96

VAT registration number: 186 1942 79

Dates and Booking

To book a place at one of these sessions please click on the appropriate link below.

All training sessions are being held at the Calcot Centre, Highview, RG31 4XD which is just off Junction 12 of the M4.

Click here to book on Wednesday 17th June, 6.00 - 9.30pm: 

Click here to book on Wednesday 15th July, 6.00 - 9.30pm

Click here to book on Wednesday 9th September, 6.00 -  9.30pm

Funding for Community Sports Buildings

A joint meeting about funding for community sports buildings is being organised by CCB and Greenham Common Trust. It will be held on Thursday 16th April at 7.30pm at Bradfield cricket pavilion at 7.30pm. It will be of interest to any organisation raising funds for a sports pavilion in their community (football, cricket, rugby, tennis, bowls etc) and speakers will include a representative from Bradfield Cricket Club which has a new pavilion, and Thatcham Rugby Club, which is raising funds for a new building.

There is no charge to attend but you must book a place. If you would like to attend, please contact Wendy Dacey, Community Buildings Adviser at CCB on 0118 9612000 or by email wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk.

Rural Development Funding is on its way!

North Wessex Downs LEADER 
Rural Development Funding is on its way!

The North Wessex Downs Local Action Group is delighted to announce that its bid for new funding from Defra has been approved (subject to contracts being agreed).  We have secured 2.132m Euros to run a new LEADER Programme between 2015 and 2020.  

Funding will be available for farmers, foresters, community enterprises and rural-based businesses and there will be six priorities for investment:
• Farming productivity
• Micro and small businesses (including farm diversification)
• Tourism / the visitor economy
• Forestry productivity
• Rural services and connectivity and
• Culture and heritage. 

We are now busy preparing to be "open for business" in June / July this year and are working with Defra to confirm programme rules, the application process and new forms.

If you have a business development or community project idea which will improve the rural economy and quality of life for people locally please get in contact. We are keen to understand your plans and timescales and how we might be able to help. 

We have extended the boundary of our area for LEADER funding so more villages, farms and woodland will be potentially eligible for funding – please check our website for the new map.  If your project falls outside our area it may well fall within a neighbouring LEADER area so check the link here which takes you to the government website showing all the Local Action Groups which will be running a LEADER programme from the summer: https://www.gov.uk/rural-development-programme-for-england-leader-funding 

To find out more or talk through your ideas please contact our Programme Manager, Dawn Hamblin, on: nwdleaderprogramme@wiltshire.gov.uk  or 01488 680458.  

Visit our website at: www.northwessexleader.org.uk  to read our Local Development Strategy and find details of the kinds of projects we want to support. 

Partner dating event for Building Better Opportunities

Partner dating event for the Building Better Opportunities Fund
Tuesday 21 April 2015, 
Are you considering applying for Building Better Opportunities Funding?

It is likely that successful applications will be from pan-Berkshire partnerships. This event is for any organisation that wants to meet partners and discuss potential bids around the priorities listed below.

The first Berkshire priorities and allocations are:

Addressing Barriers to Work: £1,706,250
In urban and rural areas where there are high levels of deprivation and social exclusion.
Activities – supporting people at a disadvantage in the labour market to access employment or training to gain employment – those who lack literacy and numeracy skills, ethnic minorities, refugees, disabled people.
Supporting families with complex needs: £1,137,500
For those that are ineligible for support under national Troubled families programme but have issues such as intergenerational unemployment, criminal & anti social behaviour, poor school attendance and other chaotic lifestyle issues.
Encouraging and developing social entrepreneurs: £568,750
To support the set up of new enterprise including support with business planning, understanding different business models, developing sustainability and autonomy and accessing support.

If you are interested in being a lead partner and would like to meet partners at the event please email rachel.spencer@rva.org.uk

Please register a space on Eventbrite  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/partner-dating-event-for-building-better-opportunities-tickets-16378953892

Have you attended training delivered by CCB in West Berkshire recently?

Have you attended training delivered by CCB in West Berkshire recently?

So far in this academic year (September 2014 onwards) CCB have delivered training on the following community led subjects:

• Community Housing Models
• New Councillor Training
• Fire Safety for Community Halls
• Funding for Community Halls
• Getting to know your community
• Being a good employer
• Funding and managing your community building

Perhaps you have attended some and thought you had a super duper tutor?  If you enjoyed the training we have facilitated or delivered since March 2014 perhaps you could consider nominating CCB for a West Berkshire Learner Achievement Award.

The Learner Achievement Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals, organisations and businesses dedicated to learning in West Berkshire. You can nominate anyone for an award: family or friends, colleagues or employers, students or tutors. Award winners will receive a certificate and prizes and will be invited, with their nominators, to an awards ceremony at Shaw House in Newbury on Friday 12 June 2015

Award categories
Awards cover a range of categories including Outstanding Achievement, Determination, Group Learners, Returning to Learning and Teacher, Tutor or Trainer.

Entry requirements
The West Berkshire Learner Achievement Awards are open to adults aged 19 or over on 31 March 2014 who are either current learners or who have been students at some point since 31 March 2014.
For more information please contact the Community Learning Team on 01635 519060
The deadline for completed nominations is 5pm on Monday 27 April 2015
To make an online nomination go to www.westberks.gov.uk/LAA2015

New Homes Celebration for Woolhampton Local

Aster Homes held a tea party was held on the 25th of March to celebrate the completion of Hill Place in Woolhampton,  a development of 8 affordable homes for people with a local connection to Woolhampton. 

New residents, parish councillors, and other locals enjoyed a sunny garden tea in one of the property gardens.  The properties all benefit from large gardens and beautiful country views across the Kennet Valley.

Sarah Canning, who has moved into one of the properties with her husband and 4 children said: “We are so thrilled to be able to return to the village that my husband grew up in .  We are now surrounded by family support, friends and lovely new neighbours.  The stress has gone from our lives”

 Arlene Kersley, the Rural Housing Enabler for Berkshire from the Community Council for Berkshire was invited to give a speech. Arlene said:

“It can take a very long time to develop schemes like this one, but with the strong support of  Woolhampton Parish Council, West Berkshire District Council, a willing landowner, Martin and Sarah Cox, and the development team at Aster Homes, after 8 long years 8 local families have the benefit of new homes.  The tenacity of local residents in driving this scheme forward in a very positive way cannot be under stated.”

Following opening speeches a ribbon was cut by Arlene Kersley and Julian Canning, one of the new Residents.

Aster Homes developed the homes on a rural exception site, where the homes must be affordable and for local people in perpetuity. West Berkshire has had the benefit of such schemes in over 25 locations over the past 30+ years.  However these schemes are increasingly at risk due to funding cuts and changes in national policies. For further information on this project please contact arlene.kersley@ccberks.org.uk