Berkshire Groups Benefit from Neighbourhood Planning Champions

Arlene Kersley from CCB and
Geoff Botting from Woodcote NP

On Thursday the 30th June, Woolhampton Village Hall was overrun by Berkshire residents thirsty to learn about Neighbourhood Planning.  CCB's Rural Housing Enabler, Arlene Kersley organised and ran an Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning training session with support from  the West Berkshire Adult and Community Learning Fund.

The event was oversubscribed and in the end had 27 people from all over Berkshire attend.

Two Locality Neighbourhood Planning Champions shared their knowledge and expertise, Dr Geoff Botting the Chair of the Woodcote Neighbourhood Plan which was made in March 2014, and Arlene from CCB who is a member of the Hurley and the Walthams Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group in RBWM which was submitted for examination earlier in June.

The session was very well received and it is hoped that a number of different groups might have come away with the inspiration to initiate Neighbourhood Plans in their own parishes.

Delegates said after the event:

"(the session) gave me the information I needed and encouragement to carry on"

"Bite sized chunks presented by experienced presenters, a good balance of  presentation and discussion, was very useful to have an interactive approach and share issues with the other participants."

If there is sufficient demand, Arlene will run a further session later in the year, so do complete the CCB training survey at:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CCBTrainingNeeds if you would like to express an interest in Neighbourhood Planning training.

It's Rural Housing Week 11th - 15th July

Well where is the fanfare?  Where are the homes?  Where is the passion, the drive, the determination to have truly affordable homes for local people?  Gone with the funding, gone with local capacity, gone with Government policy that actively seeks to undermine the poor in our society.

Just for the record I am a dyed in the wool middle of the road activist.  I am completely bi-partisan and consider myself to be on the the conservative (small 'c') side of liberal.  In other words I often, to my shame, sit on the fence.

But this Blog is about affordable housing, specifically rural affordable homes for local people in Berkshire villages.  So on the eve of celebrating 'Rural Housing Week'  you may well be asking what are we celebrating?  The last rural exception scheme to be developed in Berkshire was the very lovely scheme in Woolhampton which opened its doors back in early 2015.  At this moment in time there are no other developments in the pipeline.

In Berkshire communities are so concerned about development site allocations that they have forgotten that real people need homes, and they need homes that they can afford, and sometimes they need to be near family members who can help them in their old age, or help them raise their children, or maybe they need homes near their work, because if people can't afford to live near their work they certainly are unlikely to be able to afford to commute very far.

Despite this Government's insistence that 'affordable' means homes to buy.  The reality on the ground is that many people on average or below salaries (that means 50% of the population) cannot afford local rents or cannot find local properties to rent.  If you have a family, then size matters, and prices are of course higher for family size homes.

Inside Housing  recently reported on the release of HCA statistics showing  a drop of 19% in affordable housing starts in 2015/16 compared to the previous year.  Reflected in these figures is a raise in starts for shared ownership homes and a drop in starts of affordable rents (80% of open market rents).  Sadly development of homes for a 'social' rent are at an all time low, and given that these tenures are no longer supported with government grant are likely to be relegated to history.

We will shortly be getting the new Starter Homes regulations.  It is expected that Local Authorities will have to make provision for 20% of all development sites to be this new tenure, which provides homes for sale to first time buyers with an 20% discount on open market value.  This is a nice thing for potential first time buyers, but the 20% will come at the expense of other affordable housing thresholds on development sites, so we can expect fewer affordable homes being developed in the future.

To add to shortages in tenure types, the 1st of April 2016 also saw changes in Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit) to the under 35's.  (Considered to be 'younger' people) Housing Benefit.  Please remember most people who receive Housing Benefit work, but struggle to pay their rent.  However if you are childless and under 35 you ae now only eligible for 'shared accommodation rate'.  In other words, at 35 and under you are expected to live in a room in a shared house.  Otherwise known as a House in Multiple Occupancy of HMO.  There are not many of these in rural villages, and to be frank I am not sure they are very desirable.

In my surveys, the greatest need is always for rented accommodation, although many people aspire to home ownership, they often have unrealistic ideas of the income and savings required to access a home of your own.  Sadly the age of demand is increasing, but there are many so called 'younger' people who are desperate for a home of their own.

These are hard times and there can be no doubt that people must be realistic about their housing aspirations, but likewise we as a community must be prepared to provide realistic options to meet those needs.

Am I celebrating Rural Housing Week?  Sorry no, but I am still here and I am happy to help any community that wants information about how they can help local people into housing.  Contact me at CCB on 0118 9612000, or by email: arlene.kersley@ccberks.org.uk

We want to hear your training needs please!

Online training needs survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CCBTrainingNeeds

At CCB we provide many different community based and focused training events and workshops, most of which are free. The type of training we provide usually happens in village halls or community buildings and we try to tailor it to the needs of the local community.

During the past academic year alone we have provided training ranging from social media to neighbourhood planning from providing emergency accommodation in the event of a disaster to how to recruit and retain volunteers. We could not provide this training without our fantastic partners and our funders - West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning and Bracknell Forest Adult Community Learning. 

Now we would like to hear from communities, individuals, groups to make sure that we are suitably addressing your needs. What kind of training would you like to see happening in your village, parish or community? As we think about pulling together the next academic year's training plan now is the time to inform us. Please take a couple of minutes (that's literally all it will take) to inform us of your training needs by completing our online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CCBTrainingNeeds

Our last training event of the current academic year is taking place on Tuesday 12th July at Shaw House - Love Food Hate Waste, to read more about it and book your FREE place please click here: http://ccberkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/free-love-food-hate-waste-workshop.html

Keeping Up with 'The Challenge'(ing) world of Social Media

Jordan and Amy from The Challenge Society Bucks & Berks

On the evening of the 27th June (before England's dismal performance against Iceland!) a group of community minded folk gathered in the Calcot Learning Centre to hear more on how they can successfully use Social Media to promote news, events and galvanise their community. 

CCB invited Amy and Jordan from The Challenge Society - Bucks & Berks to provide the training. The Challenge is the UK’s leading charity for building a more integrated society, a society in which there is understanding and appreciation of each other’s differences. Jordan had been through the The Challenge's National Citizens Service programme (NCS) which helps young people build skills for work and life whilst taking on new challenges and meeting new friends. She had recently been through a Social Media training course and was keen to share her expertise.

The workshop looked at people's fears and hopes of using Social Media and gave an overview of the different platforms before the group was split into two. The first group wanted help with learning how to set up a page on Facebook/Twitter from scratch and the second looked at how to make the most out of the functionality of these sites.

The feedback from the training included 'it was good to have younger people doing the teaching and the tutors really seemed to know their subject.' This training was supported by West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning. CCB's next FREE training event is looking at Love Food, Hate Waste and how with a bit of re-education we can all save lots of ££ on our food shopping bill. To read more on this please click here.

Safety Kit Giveaway

Does your community group or charity work closely with vulnerable or elderly people that could benefit from home safety kits? Are you involved with a lunch club for the elderly or a group helping vulnerable people live independently?

CCB has stock from an old project which we are looking to gift to a group(s) or organisation(s) that can distribute them to the vulnerable and elderly. If you are involved with such a group please get in touch by e-mailing admin@ccberks.org.uk giving a description of your work and detailing which and how may items you would like.

The stock includes the following amount of items, below is a brief description of what the products function is:

30 x Selecta DNA Kits: The SelectaDNA Home Kit doesn’t just help recover your items in the event of theft. It helps prevent theft from ever taking place. Imagine a thief has broken into your home – they will target your most valuable items first – laptops, tablets, smartphones, jewellery – anything they can sell on quickly. However, if each valuable item they come across is marked with SelectaDNA – a unique formula of DNA, UV tracer and microdots - and is displaying a warning sticker, then the chances of the thief stealing it drops dramatically. Criminals don’t want to steal marked items because they have almost no resale value and can instantly link them to the crime if stopped by the police. By prominently displaying the window stickers enclosed in this kit thieves won’t even want to break into your home in the first place.

40 x Defender Wrist Alarms: The Defender Wrist Alarm is ideal for visually impaired, elderly and runners as it is an easy to use Velcro strap which is always at hand if the user needs to activate the alarm. Uses a one size fits all black strap with heavy duty Velcro fasteners. The alarm features panic button activation, silence button and 130+ dBs siren. Tough ABS Housing, batteries supplied and pre-fitted.

29 x Defender All Purpose Alarms: Independent torch and panic functions

Bag attachment suitable for handbags, laptops, briefcases and backpacks

Belt clip for convenience, 130+dBs siren, traditional ripcord or keyring activated. Batteries supplied and pre-fitted

38 x Memo minder:  plays back a pre-recorded message of up to 20 seconds, when motion is detected nearby. This can be used to remind someone to take medication or leave the chain on the door before opening. Adjustable wall mounting bracket included. Requires 4 x AA batteries (included).

38 x Door Wedge: The Door Wedge Alarm is an ideal portable alarm to protect internal or external doors from intruders. It allows you to ventilate your home during the hot weather, dry clothes or air rooms whilst cooking yet still keeps your home secure. The alarm is used as a normal door wedge and keeps a door open at a closed angle to allow a room to be aired but not enough to allow entry. If someone was to force the door open the wedge will be activated and will release powerful 120 decibels alarm.

170 x Window Alarms: The Defender Window Shock Alarm has two sensitivity settings (high and low). It can also be used on glass door panels. The high sensitivity setting is for larger windows or door panels and the low setting is more suitable for smaller windows. If someone tries to force or break the window, the 110 decibel alarm will sound to shock and deter the intruder. 

70 (ish) x UV Marker Pens: Pens you can mark individual items with that only show up under UV light. Helps Police recognise stolen items and reunite items with their owners.

FREE LOVE Food HATE Waste Workshop

Do you want to save money on your food bills? Do you want to help others save money by preventing unnecessary food waste? Do you want to spread the message to your family, community, school, staff, volunteers, workplace, customers or clients? Love Food Hate Waste is a national initiative to try and address the issue of food waste. Not only is it a waste of money, it is also an unnecessary waste of energy and natural resources. 

This training is for everyone, who wishes to take an active role in reducing food waste in their homes, organizations and communities. Suitable for local authorities, businesses, schools and community groups.  It could also contribute towards your organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Come and Join Emma Barnett from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) for a very informative morning on Tuesday 12th July 9.30am until 12.30pm at Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2DR . Refreshments will be provided.

If you would like to book a place on this FREE workshop, please click on the link below. 

https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/xzpcmtc1037f3k/

The training covers the background and issues around food waste; the key behaviours to help reduce food waste; and support on engaging with others/passing the messages on. There will also be plenty of practical tips on a range of food-saving measures, from planning to food portioning, and from better food storage to using up leftovers. 

CCB have booked Emma Barnet from WRAP to deliver this training at Shaw House in Newbury. Shaw house is a lovely venue which will be enjoyable to learn in and Emma Barnet is a very experienced trainer. If you wish to know more about the training please call Emma on 07904 528186 or email: emma.barnett@wrap.org.uk.

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

FREE Social Media Training for Community Groups

CCB is organising FREE training for community groups or community minded individuals to help them effectively use Social Media Tools. This training is supported by West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning.

When:  Monday 27th June from 17.30 until 19.30, there will be a comfort break for refreshments during the session.

Where:  The Calcot Community Learning Centre RG31 7SA. Located above Sainsbury’s on the first floor in Calcot,  just off J12 of the M4.

The training will be delivered by young people from 'The Challenge'.  There will be a purely practical element to the training as well as a theoretical one on how to use Facebook and Twitter more effectively. The practical element is for people who have heard about the benefits of Social Media but who really need to know how to get started. 

‘The Challenge’ are an organisation which ‘brings together people from all ages, ethnicities and walks of life ’.  Please see their website to find out more about them:  http://the-challenge.org/    

The young people have been trained to deliver this session which will help community groups to market themselves through social media.  

After the initial presentation on how Facebook  and Twitter can help charities and community groups to market themselves better, giving example of charities that use social media well, you will be able to choose out of two options:    

1. A more practical session on how to set up  a Facebook page and a Twitter account and how to  making status’s, add photos, use hastags, create Events and Groups.

 2. A more theoretical session about using Facebook and Twitter more effectively for those who are using social media already but want to put it to better use. 

If you are interested and wish to book please click on this link: 
https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/x1vjz4pk1ujk1l5/

For further information about this event please e-mail Tessa.Hall@ccberks.org.uk or call 0118 9612000.