2025 AGM & Risk Management Training

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This month, our Annual General Meeting is on Thursday, January 30th, 2025. All are welcome, but if you would like to attend, please advise Gemma.Pearce@ccberks.org.uk by Friday, January 24th, for catering purposes.

Following the AGM we have organised some important Risk Assessment training for our Berkshire community halls in collaboration with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Our Community Buildings Advisor, Kate, has identified the top risks that village hall management committees and trustees should know (below).


Please take a look, and if you’d like to book on the training please click here.

21st Century Community Halls: End of Year 2 of this five year project

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The 21st Century Community Halls project has made significant progress, conducting initial consultations with halls and increasingly focusing on follow-up reviews. With the recent addition of a new Project Development Officer, David, the project has gained momentum and has introduced initiatives to address common themes shared by many halls.

The Initial Consultation: We have completed 13 further 21st Century Community Hall initial reviews during this period. Each review is completed during a visit to the facility with additional information provided before and after. The review includes over 120 questions divided into 7 parts:

  • The Building and the Organisation
  • Sustainability
  • Environment
  • The Fabric of the Building
  • Energy
  • Accessibility
  • After the consultation a comprehensive report is prepared for the Hall’s management team
    with a pack of suitable supporting information. After considering the contents, comments, and actions, we ask Trustees to draw up an action plan for the key issues they want to address. CCB then assist with advice for the resulting actions and projects that these form into.

The Follow-Up Reviews: CCB seeks a follow-up with the management committee approximately every 6 months via a call, or a visit depending on the needs of the
committee and on the activity and challenges. To date we have completed 22 formal follow-up reviews of halls we have consulted with.

Learning Partner Selection: We have now selected a Learning Partner to help us evaluate the project, and will begin working with them in January 2025.


One-to-One Support: During this period, in-depth one-to-one support has been given to halls for their development actions:

  • Providing best practices and examples for Business Planning to 15 Trustees from 14 different Village Halls in Berkshire.
  • Writing, reviewing and successfully obtaining funding from The Platinum Jubilee Fund.
  • Developing Fundraising plans with three separate committees and delivering Fundraising training around ‘evidencing need’ to 8 trustees from 6 different Village
    Halls.
  • Designing, conducting and analysing Community Consultations with three separate committees.
  • Risk review and support with one new member.
  • Supporting a member hall in updating its governing document.
  • Supporting a Village Hall to review plans for a complete rebuild in favour of a major refurbishment (due to financial restrictions and community feedback)
  • Renegotiation of a lease for one Community Hall.

    If you would like your hall to participate in the 21st Century Village Halls project, please email me. kate.meads@ccberks.org.uk and we can arrange a time for a consultation.

New Year Funding Opportunities

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BHF’s Community Defibrillator Funding Programme

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has recently reopened their Community Defibrillator Funding Programme.

This scheme allows local community groups to apply and potentially receive a free defibrillator and cabinet which must then be made accessible for use within the local community.

In areas where health inequalities exist, survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest are reduced, so this scheme may be of significant assistance to these areas. Follow the link below to see if your group is eligible.

BHF expect to close applications by 5pm on Friday 28th February 2025. They may close applications earlier depending on the volume received, so groups are advised to apply early.

Royal Countryside Fund

About Us: The UK-wide Supporting Rural Communities grant programme launches on Friday 10th January 2025. This funding will support transformative, community-led initiatives, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in rural communities. Their aim is to support innovative solutions that will “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy.
Criteria: Not for Profit organisations (excluding Town and Parish Councils) can apply for grants to deliver activities along the themes of:
* Keeping young people in the countryside
* Powering up rural communities
* Increasing environmental sustainability
* Building emergency resilience in rural areas.
Grant Size: of up to £25,000 over a period of 24 months.
Deadline for applications: Deadline for expressions of interest is 21st February 2025

Berkshire Community Foundation Vital for Berkshire Fund

About Us: The fund aims to support charities, community groups and projects that work to tackle the most salient and pressing issues within Berkshire’s communities at any given time.
Criteria: We invite applications for grants from charities, community groups and projects that support vital needs in Berkshire, such as (but not limited to):

  • physical and mental health
  • supporting young and vulnerable people or groups
  • combating isolation, tackling poverty and disadvantage
  • offering equal opportunities for all
    Grant Size: up to £5,000
    Deadline for applications: 10am on 16th January 2025

Greenham Trust – Peter Baker Grants

Grants are distributed in line with the original intentions of Peter Baker; for charitable purposes within a 20-mile radius of Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire.

Application deadline: 13th January 2025

Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation

Grants are available for UK registered charities undertaking projects to support those in need of a safe and secure home.

Application deadline: 10th February 2025

Imperial Polythene Community Impact Fund

About Us: Imperial Polythene is proud to announce the launch of the Imperial Community Impact Fund; a new initiative designed to support local community groups and charities committed to making a positive difference.
Criteria: To encourage and empower local organisations working in the fields of environment, sustainability, creativity, and addressing local problems.
Grant Size: Up to £1,000 per project
Deadline for applications: Thursday 20 March 2025

Youth Music Trailblazer Fund

About Us: Youth Music’s Trailblazer Fund aims to support young people who want to change their lives through music but cannot because of who they are, where they are from or what they are going through.
Criteria: Funding is available for projects for children and young people (aged 25 or under) to make music activity more inclusive and foster learning, creation and employment opportunities.The fund provides grants for organisations that want to trial work or test a new way of working, sustain a grassroots programme or disrupt the status quo (or all three). Priority is given to small organisations with limited resources, those supporting children and young people facing barriers, and established groups seeking to innovate.
Grant Size: Two levels of grants are available:
• Grants of £2,000 to £15,000 are available to organisations of less than one year old.
• Grants of £2,000 to £30,000 are available to organisations of more than one year old.
Deadline for applications: 5pm on 11th April 2025

National Archives Engagement Grants

About Us: The Engagement Grants Programme offers grants for organisations to conduct outreach and engagement projects that will connect archives with their communities in places across England and Wales.
Criteria: Public sector bodies, not-for-profit organisations including registered charities and business archives can apply for grants. This year’s theme is ‘Community’. Projects can either reach out to new audiences or connect with old audiences in new ways.
Grant Size: up to £3,000
Deadline for applications: 5pm on 17th January 2025

Idlewild Trust

About Us: We support learning programmes that provide opportunities for professional musicians, dancers, actors, writers, artists and those involved creatively in the arts at an early stage in their career. We also support the conservation of nationally/internationally important works of art and historic objects.
Criteria: The Trust offers grants to registered charities working in the following two areas:
• Arts Grants: Nurturing Early-Stage Professionals – grants support training opportunities for emerging professionals, working creatively and backstage, within the performing and visual arts, post-training, and at an early stage in their career.
• Conservation Grants: Objects and Works of Art – grants support the conservation of cultural heritage of recognised national and international importance in museums, libraries, galleries, historic buildings, or landscapes accessible to the public (also available to museums that are exempt charities).
Grant Size: up to £7,000
Deadline for applications: noon on 14th February 2025

The Kelly Family Charitable Trust

The Kelly Family Charitable Trust is a grant-giving body founded in 2004 by members of the Kelly family.

We’re interested in funding charities whose activities involve all or most family members, where possible, in initiatives that seek to tackle problems facing one or more of its members. We’ve funded charities working in fields including early intervention, mediation, prison services and services for families affected by sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence, among others.

We generally offer grants worth up to £5,000 – though trustees will consider requests for higher amounts. We’re happy to fund charities’ core costs and we encourage applications from relatively new charities to help them become established.

The trustees take a close interest in the progress of the charities they support, and projects shortlisted for grants will be contacted by the trust’s grants administrator Stuart Armstrong, or a trustee. The Trust only make grants to organisations whose activities take place within the UK.

Deadline: Grants are awarded twice a year. Applications must be submitted by 1st March and 1st September. The trustees will ask for more details from those charities that pass the initial screening and may visit them.

Barchester’s Charitable Trust

Barchester’s Charitable Foundation is a registered charity that helps older people and adults with a disability across England, Scotland, Wales and Jersey. Our focus is about connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community, and we support applications that combat loneliness and enable people to be active and engaged.

Our aim is to enrich lives and encourage an active lifestyle through arts, music, sports and culture for older people or adults living with a disability or mental health problems.

We are particularly keen to provide grants that enable groups and individuals to mix and join in social activities and reduce their danger of isolation and loneliness.

We help small community groups and local charities with activities, outings, equipment and materials for members/service users. Our grants range from £100 up to £2,500. Before starting the application, make sure to have a cost breakdown/budget and your latest annual accounts ready to upload.

Deadline: Rolling

Arnold Clark Community Fund: Cost of Living

What is the Cost-of-Living Support?
With the rising cost of living, more people than ever before are facing severe challenges and financial hardship. Our Cost-of-Living Support fund is available to organisations whose work directly supports those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, such as foodbanks, accommodation or poverty relief, and any other organisation which falls into our eligibility criteria.

Applications for the Arnold Clark Community Fund Cost-of-Living Support are only eligible if the organisation falls in one of the following categories: foodbank, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment. Applications are also only eligible if they’re made by an organisation that are based/operates solely in the UK and are located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch.

Most organisations are eligible to apply, and we particularly welcome applications from smaller voluntary and community organisations who are working with those most affected and vulnerable to the increased cost of living. Please ensure you read and understand the below eligibility criteria before submitting an application.

We welcome applications from:

UK-registered charities
Local community groups
Social enterprises
Community interest companies
Groups of organisations that are community or voluntary-led.
Charitable incorporated organisations
Cost of Living Support | Arnold Clark Community Fund

Deadline: Rolling

The Wolfson Foundation

We have a wide range of funding programmes and activities. Our fundamental aim is to improve the civic health of society, mainly through education and research. More specifically, we support excellence in the fields of education, science & medicine, health & disability, and heritage, humanities & the arts.

Grants of between £15,000 and £150,000 are available to UK performing arts organisations for new build projects, refurbishment and major and specialist equipment to improve performance and training facilities.

Who Can Apply:

Charities working with disability * Charities working in mental health
Charities working with older people * Historic buildings & landscapes
Hospices & palliative care organisations * Places of worship
Libraries & archives * Museums & galleries
Performing arts organisations * Public engagement with science organisations funding
Secondary schools & sixth form colleges * Special needs schools & colleges
Universities & research institutions

Funding for places
About 85% of our funding is for capital infrastructure – buildings (new build or refurbishments) and equipment. These awards support excellence across education, science & medicine, heritage, humanities & the arts and health & disability.

Funding for people
A smaller proportion of our funding (about 15%) is for people, through scholarships or fellowships. We do not accept unsolicited applications under these programmes. We generally work with partner organisations who identify individuals for support.
Deadline: Rolling

Warburtons Families Matter Community Grants Programme

Small grants are available for local projects, activities and organisations that have charitable aims and that will be of real direct benefit to families.

Application deadline: 3rd February 2024

The Moto Foundation

Grants are available for community organisations and schools operating within a 15-mile radius of a Moto site for projects and activities that deliver benefits to local communities.

Application deadline: N/A

With thanks to Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve and Slough CVS for the information contained within this article.

Affordable Housing Initiative in Beenham

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Since April our Rural Housing Enabler Maria has been working with Beenham Parish Council to help them identify affordable housing need in Beenham and look at options for developing affordable homes for local people in the Parish.

A Housing Needs Survey was completed in September 2024, and the results were presented to Beenham residents at a public meeting on the 29th October at the Victory Hall. This meeting was also an opportunity for residents to share stories about the impact of insufficient affordable housing in the village on individuals and the community as a whole, and ask questions about what happens next, once housing need has been identified.

David Hancock, Parish Councillor, described succinctly how the cost of housing was affecting the community. He said:

“As young adults having families, many of us had the benefit of becoming house owners or having affordable rents because property prices were cheaper relevant to income. In Beenham today the cheapest house is 7 times annual income. Previously, we were able to choose where we lived, so we were able to grow up with family near us in a community we knew, if we wanted to. Communities could sustain local schools and some amenities. As people moved on from running the community’s clubs and associations we had their successors, young people rooted in the community. Today that is being lost in Beenham. We can change this and that is why we started this initiative with the full backing of the Parish Council and the indispensable support of CCB.”

Acting Headmistress of the local school, Sophie McBean, made a statement about the problems facing the school due a to lack of accordable homes in the parish:

“Beenham has very little housing that is affordable for young families. When applying for school places, families fall in the catchment of the school they live closest to, so making the village more accessible for young families will help to increase pupil numbers in the school. Pupil numbers are vital for every school but make a particular impact on small schools such as Beenham Primary School. School funding is allocated per child, so in simple terms, the more children in school equates to more money to spend on providing an excellent education for all of our pupils.”

With around 50 people in attendance there was lively discussion about housing issues and potential sites for new homes, and with a wide range of views in the community about new developments, past housing initiatives, infrastructure, and the importance of local connections criteria, the Parish Council did an excellent job of allowing everyone to speak and be heard.

As affordable housing need HAS been identified in Beenham, the next step will be to visit potential locations for homes with a local planning officer to assess site viability and start to approach relevant landowners. As with any community, there will be supporters and those with concerns or objections at every stage of the process. Beenham Parish Council have taken great care to keep the community informed and use local social media sites to share information and answer residents questions. This is just the beginning of the process for Beenham, having an active and engaged parish council who listen to and inform residents has been key to the projects success so far.

If you’d like to know more about our Rural Affordable Housing project please click here.

West Berkshire: Have your say on main changes to the Local Plan Review

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West Berkshire Council public consultation on the main changes to the district’s Local Plan 2022- 2039 is now live.

The Local Plan sets out planned development for West Berkshire and guides decisions on future development proposals in line with the needs of the district.

The Public Examination stage began earlier this year with a number of public hearings – the last of which took place on 3 October 2024. During this process, the Planning Inspector required additional sites to be identified to address a shortfall in the number of houses to be delivered within the next five years. Consequently the Council put forward the following amendments and additions to the plan:

  • An increase in the number of homes in North East Thatcham from 1,500 to 2,500, including a masterplan Supplementary Planning Document 
  • Additional sites proposed for housing at: 
  • Henwick Park, Bowling Green Rd Thatcham – approximately 225 homes 
  • East of Regency Park Hotel Thatcham – approximately 45 homes 
  • Pincents Lane, Calcot – approximately 138 homes 
  • Land north of Pangbourne Hill Pangbourne – approximately 25 homes. 

These sites achieve the enhanced housing numbers the inspector expected to have in the Local Plan. 

The Government requires every Local Plan to be reviewed at least once every five years. West Berkshire’s current Local Plan sets out our planning policies up to 2026, and this latest review, if approved, will take them up to 2041.

Regularly reviewing the Local Plan ensures the Council will meet both the current and emerging housing needs of the district. It sets the strategy for distributing development and policies for protecting, conserving, and enhancing the natural built and historic environment.

Speaking about the Local Plan Review, Councillor Denise Gaines, Deputy Leader, and West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Planning said, 

“We have now reached the next key milestone in the Local Plan process after a long and difficult journey. The council has been put in the most challenging position of being told to progress this plan by Central Government. We were ready to vote to withdraw the plan, but we were directed to proceed to examination by the Secretary of State. The sites identified in the main modifications are extremely contentious with many residents in West Berkshire, but we are in the invidious position of having to proceed to consultation.

 “If we do not continue to work with the Inspector then there is a very high probability that the development of the Plan will be taken over by Central Government and the Council will lose any influence and control over the process at considerable cost to our residents. 

“The Inspector now requires that we carry out a full public consultation on the main modifications which will give you, our communities, another opportunity to highlight your views and concerns to the Inspector.” 

The consultation runs until Friday 31 January 2025 and we’re encouraging residents to have their say.

Following the consultation the Council will be able to make a brief written response to any submissions received. All submissions and the Council’s response will then be sent to the Inspector so that he can prepare his final report. Click here for more.