A report this month published in the Rural Services Network detailed the response from the government to the EFRA (Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs) Committee report which was published in May. 

Despite the EFRA Report finding worrying conclusions as a result of its research, the Government has found that the specific mental health needs of rural communities ‘do not require targeted action and consider that existing provisions are sufficient to safeguard rural mental health.’ Do you agree?

Key findings of the EFRA Inquiry and recommendations are:

• Rural Communities’ needs are not fully reflected in mental health policy and services and national NHS planning.
• NHS mental health services are often not fairly accessible for rural communities, with services largely centred in towns and cities creating barriers to access, compounded by the limitations and weaknesses of rural public transport and digital connectivity.
• Far too much avoidable demand ends up at the door of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in rural areas because of a fundamental lack of social infrastructure and youth services.

To read the full article from RSN Online click here.

At CCB we know the importance of having local spaces and accessible places for the community to socialise in and make those important connections that improve our mental health and make us feel less isolated. That is why we are busy putting together a two-year project to deliver more Warm & Welcoming Places in our rural communities, where residents can spend time with others in comfortable surroundings with access to refreshments and activities of interest. If you’d like to know more about the ambitions of our project you can read more (and possibly donate) on The Good Exchange. Click here.

Congratulations to the two Berkshire groups that have been awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service 2023!

My Cancer My Choices, based in Wokingham.

My Cancer My Choices (MCMC) provides complementary therapies and support, to empower cancer patients, in Berkshire, to make active choices to improve their well-being, as they come to terms with their diagnosis. Specialists volunteer their time to offer a range of one-to-one and group therapies, which help manage the side-effects of conventional treatment and improve the mental health of patients. Uniquely, these choices are offered to people from the time of first diagnosis, and are not restricted by individual’s finances
nor are they confined to those in the advanced stages of cancer.

The Ceremonial Wardens, based in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Ceremonial Wardens were established to support Thames Valley Police with event management at the Guard Change in Windsor, with particular reference to the supervision
of the crowds who attend these events. Guard Change occurs at least three times a week, and there are many other significant public events in and around Windsor at which
members of the royal family are present; often there are also local, national and international dignitaries. The Wardens provide an invaluable service, both assisting the
police with general supervision and providing a non police presence to manage the crowds and provide local information to the visitors. Their presence ensures increased security for
every event, reducing the risk of threat to the public.

There are 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups receiving this prestigious award in 2023. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK.

Berkshire based rural charity seeking volunteer Trustees

We are an independent charity with over 50 years’ of experience in community development work, originally founded in 1973 as a Rural Community Council. CCB’s vision is for all communities in Berkshire to be strong, resilient, sustainable, and able to take control of their own futures.

Our purpose is to inspire action at a community level that improves people’s quality of life. We work across Berkshire, with a particular focus on rural areas. We run projects that provide advice, support and training that improve rural health & well-being, reduces poverty & rural disadvantage and increase digital inclusion & social connectedness. To find out more about us please take a look round our website.

We are seeking enthusiastic individuals who have an interest in working to improve community life in Berkshire to join our Board of Trustees. This is a non-remunerated post however out of pocket expenses are payable. We are particularly interested to hear from people who have a background in human resources, experience working on a parish/town council, or someone who is a great communicator and loves attending events/networking on behalf of our charity.

The benefits of becoming a Trustee on our board include an opportunity to learn about the most important issues affecting people living in rural communities, experiencing great teamwork with a stable staff and trustee team working together, ensuring good governance of the charity and developing connections & confidence. If you’d like to be sent details of the posts please email admin@ccberks.org.uk

Damp and mould can be caused by structural, design or disrepair problems although there may be things that those of us living in homes affected can do to lessen or reduce the issue.

What is mould and damp?

Mould is a fungus that grows in areas where damp air condenses on cold surfaces. Damp is when an area of the property doesn’t seem to dry out, usually because it’s cold – it can be caused by structural issues like bad insulation or a leaking roof.

What can you do to limit damp and mould problems?

• Keep the property reasonably warm, if possible
• Open windows to let steam out after showering/bath or cooking.
• Keep bathroom doors/kitchen doors closed when bathing/cooking.
• Only dry clothes on radiators if you have adequate ventilation like an open window nearby.
• Leave windows/vents open when drying washing indoors.
• Check trickle vents are open and not blocked.
• Repair and check extractor/ventilation fans
• Pull wardrobes and furniture away from the walls and keep tops of wardrobes clear to allow to circulate.
• If possible, use a dehumidifier if problems persist, these extract moisture from the air. Electric dehumidifiers can be very effective when drying washing indoors, and cheap to run (but you do have the cost of purchase to consider).
• Wipe down surfaces affected by condensation regularly to prevent mould growth.
• If you do see mould on your walls or ceiling clean it off – one effective, way is to clean off the mould with a spray containing bleach, this can be followed by an anti-fungal wash (be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consider wearing a face mask)

If you are looking for tips on how to save money on your energy bills click here.

Sources; centre for sustainable energy, citizens advice