The Community Council for Berkshire is calling on the next Government to deliver a fair deal for rural communities in the ACRE Network’s newly launched 2015 manifesto.
CCB, a member of ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England), is urging politicians to improve health, wealth and access for the millions of people who live in the countryside.
The manifesto sets out the ACRE Network’s 12 key asks in the run-up to the General Election on May 7. The pleas are based on the intelligence ACRE collects from its nationwide Network of 38 rural community councils, which reaches 52,000 grassroots organisation.
The ACRE Network is calling for:
• An urgent review of the criteria for Non-Emergency Patient Transport to address discrimination faced by rural residents.
• The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee for rural GP surgeries to be reinstated.
• A review of the rural delivery of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) energy efficiency programme.
• A review of the advice and support available for communities who want to set up renewable energy schemes
• The LEADER funding programme to benefit as many communities across rural England as possible.
• A fair share for rural areas of the funding available to Local Enterprise Partnerships.
• Withdrawal of the ‘bedroom tax’ on properties in rural communities with a population under 3,000.
• A commitment to provide a proportion of affordable housing on all rural developments.
• Investment in alternative broadband solutions for communities not covered by the national rollout.
• Investment on more ‘on the ground’ support for rural communities to develop social enterprise solutions for the services they lack
• Investment in recruiting and training volunteers, especially younger drivers, for community transport schemes.
• A review of concessionary bus travel in rural areas to balance the needs of users and providers.
CCB Chief Officer Tim Parry said: “Through our work with communities, we have a deep understanding of how Government policy affects the 20% of the population who live in the countryside. Politicians need to listen to and act upon the problems faced by rural people, from the struggles older people face to get to health appointments to the urgent need for more affordable rural housing. We urge the next Government to rise to the challenge and deliver a fair deal for rural communities.”
The full manifesto is available at the ACRE website:
http://www.acre.org.uk/our-work/our-manifesto
Continue funding for community action in rural England
Ninety years of dedicated support for England’s 11,000 rural communities is under threat after the Government warned it may withdraw funding from the ACRE Network.
This nationwide Network of Rural Community Councils carries out crucial work to help our communities thrive (CCB is the Rural Community Council for Berkshire).
The ACRE Network funds, leads or enables thousands of projects to help people tackle the challenges they face – from lack of affordable homes, broadband or public transport to supporting the young, the elderly and the most vulnerable in our society.
The ACRE Network is the only Network that provides advice to the 80,000 volunteers who keep England’s 10,000 village halls alive.
Without the ACRE Network's support, communities will be less resilient, services will be lost and more people will become lonely and isolated.
We call on Defra not to withdraw funding from the ACRE Network. To pull it now would fracture the Network, undermine years of investment and leave the most vulnerable in rural areas with nowhere to go.
Please show your support for the ACRE Network by signing the petition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73418
Thank you.
Active Communities funding for Berkshire community groups
Local groups and organisations with great ideas to make their communities even better places to live are invited to apply for funding from this new People’s Health Trust programme, to turn their ideas into reality.
Using money raised by HealthConfirm through The Health Lottery, People’s Health Trust is now looking to invest in projects that support people living in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Wokingham, West Berkshire, Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough and Bracknell Forest.
The Active Communities programme is aimed at community groups and not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £350,000 per year, that are seeking investment of between £5,000 and £50,000 for projects lasting up to two years. The projects should take place within a small area for a small group of people such as 20 or 30 streets or a couple of villages.
John Hume, Chief Executive, People’s Health Trust, says: “We’re looking to support ideas designed and run by local people which help create even stronger links and ties within communities. Whether it’s a tenants and residents’ mediation group or a computer skills group for older people, we’re interested to hear about it.”
“Applying couldn't be easier – it’s about local people telling us what would make their local community an even better place grow, live, work and age. It’s an online process with a step by step guide from start to finish.”
The programme is open now in Berkshire, with a deadline for applications of 1pm on 28th January 2015.
The team at Reading Voluntary Action is really keen to ensure that groups in eligible neighbourhoods in Reading and across Berkshire get as much benefit from the scheme as possible. For full details about the programme, eligibility and the localities covered simply visit www.rva.org.uk and click the Active Communities banner.
