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June 2022

Congratulations Berkshire

Wow what a terrific effort by communities in Berkshire to come out and come together in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee! We LOVED seeing all the pictures and happy faces on social media. Well done to all the hundreds of volunteers that gave their time and energy to making these events such a memorable success - below is a photo montage of just a tiny slice of all the wonderful parties going on across our county…

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far in 2022…take a look at our Annual Review

Take a look at our quick highlights video of 2021-22 based on our annual review. Feel free to pause at any time and if you'd like to read the entire document click here: https://ccberks.org.uk/2022/06/20/just-out-our-highlights-for-2021-22/

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) welcome new grant scheme for improving Village Halls

Timed to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the government has committed to supporting over 100 rural community buildings with capital improvements. This follows in the footsteps of investments made in village halls as part of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (1897) and King George V‘s Silver Jubilee (1935).

There are over 10,000 village halls to be found in most rural communities across England, providing residents with what is quite often the only place to meet and socialise locally. They host a wide range of activities from exercises classes, playgroups to weddings and many accommodate vital services such as post offices, doctors’ surgeries and shops.

Member organisations affiliated to ACRE, like CCB, have a long history of supporting the volunteers who manage these buildings. They employ specialist advisers based in every county who are on hand to help make sure halls have effective governance procedures in place, comply with red tape and are welcoming spaces that everyone can enjoy. ACRE also administered the previous Village Halls Improvement Grant Scheme which ran between 2018 and 2021 worth £2.8 million sponsored by Defra. To read the rest of this article please click here.

For the last few months, ACRE Network members have been receiving cries for help from rural community organisations over banking services. The ‘presenting symptoms’ have been further closures of rural bank branches, sudden imposition of charges, difficulties changing signatories and problems resulting from trying to move to online banking.

It is often the case that rural areas experience the downside of economic and consumer trends before urban areas due to their smaller populations and reduced incentive for the market to offer choice. They can also be slower to receive the benefits of change for the same reason. Rural areas have recent experience of this in the commercially led roll-out of both broadband and mobile phone networks. However, in the case of access to banking services, rural community organisations have not been alone; many urban small charities are voicing similar concerns. To read the rest of this article click here.

To book click here

Other Training Opportunities

Showcasing Community-Led Housing Models. Monday July 4th 2022, online webinar. For further details click here.

An exciting opportunity to attend a FREE online training workshop examining successful community-led housing models & case studies.

About this event

Community led housing is an approach to housing delivery defined by three key principles:

• The community is integrally involved throughout the development process in the key decisions of what is provided, where and for whom

• There are clear benefits to the community and these are protected in perpetuity

• The community has a long-term interest in the stewardship, ownership or management of the homes

The community led housing group may deliver the homes themselves or work with a development partner. Community led housing delivers homes that the community wants and needs, and helps build thriving and sustainable communities. There are several models for community led housing which include:

• Community Land Trusts

• Cooperative Housing, Mutual Societies and Tenant Management Organisations

• Cohousing neighbourhoods

• Self-build, self-help and eco developments

Through case study examples, this event aims to illustrate the pros and cons of these models to help people better understand which model may be suitable for their community.

First Aid for Communities Webinar, FREE

Would you like to be the person that helps in an emergency situation? If confidence in your abilities is holding you back book our FREE webinar from the comfort of your own home/office. The session is very interactive and interesting and run by a terrific tutor from @britishredcross Make this month you learn essential first aid skills

30th June 2022, 10.30am. To book click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/first-aid-webinar-for-rural-communities-tickets-344147373057

Keep cool this summer

There is also advice available from the NHS on heatwaves and how to cope in hot weather. It includes a range of top tips, many of which are simple but can be easily overlooked. These include:

• closing curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors

• drinking plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol

• keeping out of the sun between 11am to 3pm

• walking in the shade, apply sunscreen regularly and wear a wide brimmed hat, if you have to go out in the heat

• making sure you take water with you, if you are travelling

If you're planning to go into open water to cool down, take care and follow any local safety advice. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service provides advice on how to stay safe in the water and what to do if you or someone else gets into trouble.

June Funding Opportunities

Please click on heading links for further information.

With thanks to Berkshire’s wonderful CVS’s for the information contained in this article; Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, Slough CVS, Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve and Reading Voluntary Action.

Aviva Community Fund

Aviva has launched the next round of its Community Fund. Aviva has teamed up with the fundraising platform Crowdfunder to offer funding of up to £50,000 to small charities, schools and community interest groups in the UK with innovative ideas that benefit their community.

Woodward Charitable Trust

Grants up to £3,000 (but mostly below £1,000) for core funding for smaller registered charities with an income below £200,000. They support work with isolated children and young people, disadvantaged families, and prisoners and ex-offenders in the UK.Deadline for applications is noon on 29 July 2022

Thames Valley Community Fund

The Community Fund (previously known as the Police Property Act Fund) is intended to support voluntary and community groups that help to prevent crime and keep communities safe. Community Fund are pleased to share details of when the next round is due to open for applications (subject to change):

Great Western Railway Community Fund

Grants are available for small and medium not-for-profit projects that have a community benefit or address an area of social need across the GWR network and can be completed within one year.

Funding to Combat Loneliness Among Older People and Adults with Disabilities Across Great Britain

Grants are available for small groups and charities across England, Scotland, and Wales to support older people and adults with physical, learning, and mental disabilities to get active, connect with people, and engage with their local community.

Asda Foundation – U18 Better Starts Grant

Not-for-profit organisations working to benefit children and young people under 18 years of age can apply for funding of £500 – £1,500 for a range of activities in the summer.

The Barrack Charitable Trust

The purpose for which the trust is established are as for the advancement of the arts, heritage and culture, the provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational facilities, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities are primarily intended, and, the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health and disability.

The February Foundation

We makes grants to a range of charities and charitable activities in accordance with its grant making policy which is set out in our annual report and accounts. The Foundation supports project or core or capital costs.

The Volant Charitable Trust Covid-19 Response Fund – deadline on 31 July 2022

The Volant Trust accepts applications from charities in the UK and internationally that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Wakenham Trust

We have been established since 1975, and in 2020 we are still supporting many of the same sorts of micro-scale community projects we helped back then, though we have added education (in its broadest sense) to our list of priorities. Our core goal is to help small groups of people who are getting together to make a difference in their communities.

Newly Reopened: Music for All – Community Project Funding

Are you working in groups and educational organisations within your community? We support projects and initiatives bringing music to communities.

Don’t Fall Victim To Opportunist Burglars This Summer!

You can greatly reduce the risk of burglary by taking a few simple security measures to help make your property less attractive to thieves. Most burglars are opportunists and target homes, garages, or outbuildings that offer the least risk of being caught. If you’re going to be out of your home for a few hours or going away for a few days, you should take steps to ensure your home looks occupied and ensure you leave it secure:

• Shut and secure all doors and accessible windows

• Ensure gates leading to rear gardens are secure

• Don’t leave valuables, tools or cycles out in view

• Secure and lock sheds and outbuildings

• Use timer switches to turn lamps on in your
  house if you’re going to be out as it gets dark

• Ask a trusted neighbour to watch over your home

For more information on how to protect your home and belongings, visit the Thames Valley Police website.

Help us continue our work by becoming a member!

Consider becoming a member of our organisation in 2022 and pledge support for our local charity.

Membership is open to anyone who share our aims and would like to further the work of our charity.

The cost of membership for 2022 is £42 for parish/town councils and voluntary or community organisations or £20 for individuals. In order to join our service you can click here to complete the online form and then arrange payment; https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/sc2hujw0st0kk9/

Becoming a member of CCB is an effective and rewarding route to building connections, accessing information, training and support, and helping to ensure communities like yours are strong, successful and well represented.

As we face increasing demands on our resources, our members support helps us to continue to deliver and develop projects that help people and groups that need us most in your community.

Our members are really important to us and are always at the core of what we do and why we do it. Benefits to members are outlined below:

Benefits of Membership

• Free or discounted training opportunities at our range of courses that ultimately all focus on strengthening communities.

• An invitation to attend focus groups and have an important say in our future priorities and work.

• The opportunity to become a CCB Trustee and to nominate and elect members to our Board.

• An invitation to attend our annual training workshop and Annual General Meeting (1 vote per membership)

• Monthly e-bulletins and updates on our work including services, funding opportunities, events and training workshops that may be of benefit to you, your colleagues and community.

• The opportunity to market your community events, news or local facilities via our e-bulletin and website.

• Prompt access to the CCB team who will be available to discuss issues affecting your community.

Any questions? Get in contact with us at admin@ccberks.org.uk