Although this opportunity is at a very local level for those living in Hungerford (or surrounding areas) we had to share this fantastic opportunity from Hungerford Environmental Action Team (HEAT).
HEAT is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a Lottery Community Fund “Together for our Planet” grant. The money will be used to help the community address the challenge of steeply rising home energy costs while reducing climate-damaging emissions.
The grant gives us a fantastic opportunity to assist households in Hungerford and the surrounding areas to work out their own tailored home-energy plans. The plans will have the dual goals of heating and running a home with lowered energy consumption and costs and, at the same time, making your home much more environmentally-friendly.
HEAT hopes that during 2022 many residents will become involved in and start feeling the benefits. We will be holding events over the coming months in the lead-up to an all-day exhibition taking place in Hungerford Town Hall on Saturday 24th September.
25 May – Insulation and draught proofing 9 June – Heating control and smart meters 23 June – Solar PV (photo voltaic) energy and batteries All being held in the Hungerford Hub (library) at 7pm.
You can help us now with this initiative in the following ways:- – If have already had success with your own household energy reduction and climate-friendly actions, HEAT would love to hear from you. We are looking for case studies to feature as part of the programme which illustrate the practical actions people have already taken whether its increased insulation, better heating controls or renewable energy heating. You will also be entered into our Hungerford Energy Hero Awards with the winners announced at the September event.
– If you work in or know about companies and organisations with relevant experience or knowledge which you can recommend, or who might be keen to participate in this initiative please let us know.
– What are the main concerns and questions you or people you know are facing with their household energy use and costs? We are keen to focus HEAT’s events on the most important topics.
– Are you able to help? This is an ambitious project for HEAT and we would really welcome your support, in any capacity. Whether you have relevant skills and knowledge or if you can lend a hand organising and/or promoting the events, we would love to hear from you.
Please email us about any of the above and/or if you are interested in starting on your own Home Energy Roadmap: heat_hungerford@yahoo.com
We have a variety of adult education courses on offer this term! There’s a mixture of online or in person courses, all are interactive and tutor led. Some courses are free and those courses that have a cost are free for anyone who is in receipt of Universal Credit (work related), Employment Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or are on low income and in receipt of Income support.
Please contact us with any queries as to eligibility.
Skills for work and life Apply for any of these skills for work and life courses here or contact us via email or call 07785 314603. Digital Skills for Beginners 26 April to 23 May, Tuesdays 2pm to 4pm, Wokingham Library Learn to make better use of your PC, laptop, iPad, tablet or smartphone. Gain confidence in using email, internet searching, online safety, online shopping or video calling. These sessions are suitable for absolute beginners and are free. Apply here. Building your confidence to get back into work or volunteering 3 May to 24 May, Tuesdays 1pm to 2.30pm, Online via Zoom Getting into work or volunteering after a break for any reason or for the first time in a new country can be daunting. This course will help you to identify all the strengths and qualities you have that employers want and look at ways to expand your experience through volunteering or further learning whilst building your confidence to take the next steps. Apply here. This is a free course. Excel for work 5 May to 26 May, Thursdays 10am to 12pm, Online via Zoom Learn and practice spreadsheet skills in Microsoft Excel. Improve your skills for the workplace in these interactive sessions. Learn how to create formulas and techniques for summarising and sorting data. Apply here. Course cost £30. Introduction to being a Teaching Assistant and Working in Schools 4 May to 15 June, Wednesdays 10am to 12pm, School Green Centre, Shinfield Find out more about different roles available in schools and gain an understanding of how to apply for roles. Explore your own strengths and weaknesses in your transferable skills and build your confidence to apply for roles in schools. Apply here. Course cost £45. IT Skills for Work 6 June to 27 June, Mondays 10am to 12pm, Wokingham Library Refresh or learn new IT skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint to help you at work or on your job seeking journey. Learners will practice file management and by the end of the course you will be able to use simple documents, email attachments and feel more confident with your IT skills. Apply here. Course cost £30. English for Speakers of Other Languages Online on Zoom or classroom based Improve your English in a small, supportive group. Build your confidence in speaking, writing, reading and listening and explore helpful topics such as health, work and education. We have a number of classes running, and assess new learner’s levels to place them in an appropriate class – with a choice or online or classroom learning. Apply here for an assessment. Course cost £45. Skills for life courses are free for those in receipt of Universal Credit (work related), Employment Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or are on low income – please contact us with any queries. Apply for any of these skills for work and life courses here or contact us via email or call 07785 314603.
Courses for parents or carersUnderstanding Primary Education in England 25 April to 23 May, Mondays 10am to 12pm, Wokingham Library 3 May to 24 May, Tuesdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Loddon School 4 May to 25 May, Wednesdays 12.45pm to 2.45pm, Highwood School These courses are aimed at parents who would like to gain a greater understanding of the different stages of primary education, and how they can support their child to flourish. Parents will gain an understanding of the curriculum and assessments as well as how support systems work in schools. The course is suitable for parents new to education in England and will also look at events schools celebrate as well as trips and residentials. Apply here. Cost £30. Helping your child with English 7 June to 12 July, Tuesdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Loddon School 8 June to 13 July, Wednesdays 12.45pm to 2.45pm, Highwood School Helping your child with English courses are ideal for helping you gain an understanding of how your child will learn at primary school and how you can encourage and support learning at home through simple activities. Apply here. Cost £45. Family Matters Course 9 May to 13 June, Mondays 10am to 12 pm, Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Aimed at parents and carers of children with autism or associated conditions (including dyslexia, dyspraxia, OCD, anxiety, PDA, ADHD). The course will help with skills around with relationships, financial understanding & to improve mental wellbeing. To book a place on this free course contact ASD Family Help or text/phone: 07733 601755
Support for community groups Connecting Communities in Berkshire offers a wide range of training courses for adults, designed to support community groups and the voluntary sector places can be booked via CCB. Low carbon village halls and community buildings 11 May, 10.30am to 12.30pm, online Is your community hall looking to migrate to renewable power and renewable energy systems? The Berkshire Project Officer from the Low Carbon Workplaces grant scheme will help you look at the options available as no two halls are the same. The sessions will also cover energy saving options and smart energy management. Course cost £12.
Wellbeing in Mind courses Run by Activate Learning for Wokingham Adult Education, Wellbeing in Mind courses are designed for people aged 19+ with issues such as stress, low mood, and mild to moderate mental health issues. Places can be booked on these courses by emailing Wellbeing in Mind. or call 01344 766654. Six Steps To Better Mental Health 25 April to 6 June, Mondays 12pm to 2pm, Woodley Hill House In times of profound stress and uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to protect our mental wellbeing. The course starts with some gentle inward focus and over the 6 weeks gradually works toward how we interact with the world and others. Sessions cover topics such as compassion & acceptance, self-care & low mood and mindfulness. Free course. Mindfulness Seasonal Nature Walk 23 May, Monday 10.30am to 12pm, Woodley Hill House 18 July, Monday 10.30am to 12pm, Woodley Hill House Do you feel lost and disconnected from the world around you? Scientific trials have shown that spending quality time in nature brings great benefits to our health and wellbeing. This includes quietening our busy minds, improving sleep, reducing blood pressure and boosting the immune system. Take some time out to slow down and relax, on an immersive, sensory walk in woodlands and green spaces around Woodley Hill House. These are free courses. Yoga For Wellbeing 6 June to 11 July, Mondays 7pm to 9pm, Woodley Hill House Yoga is a practice of postures and sequences, breathing techniques, concentration and relaxation. It allows you to develop strength and flexibility, self-awareness and balance of body and mind. This is a free course. Relax with Ceramics 10 June to 1 July, Fridays 10am to 12pm, Woodley Hill House Learn a variety of basic pottery and wellbeing techniques exploring themes of strength and fragility. Inspirations come from botanical structures, movement in rural spaces, daylight and a response to Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a free course.
Employment Outreach Support Wokingham Borough Council is making the employment support it offers to residents more accessible through a dedicated phone and email line, and by having an outreach team in place that is visible in local communities. Anyone who needs some help with their career can now contact the council’s employment outreach team by phoning 0118 977 8650, Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. Alternatively you can email them on employmentoutreach@wokingham.gov.uk. The team will either direct callers to a local service or invite them to either a face-to-face, or online/phone appointment to discuss their situation further and ensure they receive the right advice and support. For further information on support in the borough please visit the Local Support Hub on the council’s website: https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/local-support-hub
Eligibility You need to: Live or work within the Wokingham Borough, or have a child attending a Wokingham school, AND be over 19 years old (as of 31st August 2021) AND have ordinarily been resident in the UK or EEA for at least 3 years. If you are an EEA National, you need to have obtained either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. All Ukrainian adults and their family members supported through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme are immediately eligible for courses and are exempt from the 3-year residency requirement. Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders in the UK, are eligible to attend all courses except ESOL courses until 30/06/22. There are a number of other exemptions including those for some asylum seekers or refugees. Please contact us on or 0778 5314 603 if you wish to discuss any exemptions further.
Top tips on cutting your energy costs – small savings add up
Turn your thermostat down.
This is one of the easiest things to do. For each degree you cut the thermostat, expect to cut bills by 4%-ish, or about £65 a year on average for a typical home. So consider popping on a jumper at home and seeing what temperature your household is comfortable at.
Use LED light bulbs, and turn lights off when you leave a room
LED uses about half the energy of the bigger fluorescent spiral ‘energy-saving bulbs’.
Some worry that constantly turning lights on and off wastes energy but, according to the Energy Saving Trust, you’re better turning lights off when you leave the room, no matter how long for. It reckons you could save £14 a year doing this.
Deal with draughts
Walk around your home spotting window and door draughts. Decent draught-proofing can cut 2% off energy bills, so about £30 a year on average for a typical home. This applies to chimneys too, where you can get a 1.5%-ish further reduction.
Don’t leave your devices on standby
Switching off your devices is better than leaving them on standby, of course, as otherwise, you’re using energy for something you’re not making use of. The Energy Saving Trust has stated you could save as much as £40 a year doing this.
Wash more clothes less, and try not to use the tumble drier
Full loads are much more cost-effective than half loads or washing a few items. The savings aren’t huge, around £10 a year for modern machines, but can be much more with old ones. You could also try doing your washing in a cooler setting – if you reduce your washing temperatures from 40 to 30 degrees, you could cut £12 off your bills a year.
Only boil the water you need in the kettle
The more water you boil, the more energy you use. Be conscious about this when filling the kettle, so you don’t overfill. Simple, but effective, with a saving of £8 a year possible.
CCB will be partnering with the Collaborative Housing Hub to deliver a training event for communities interested in addressing the chronic shortage of affordable homes in Berkshire. This event, taking place in June, will enable communities to explore the many options they have to take control of the whole process, from understanding local need to owning and managing their own homes.
The term community-led housing means homes built by a community with their own needs at heart. It means the community play a leading role in deciding where homes are built, who they are built for and how they will be managed. Community-led housing is genuinely affordable, meets the need of people with a demonstrable connection to the community and will remain in community ownership in perpetuity, meaning it can’t be sold on for a profit. The West Berkshire Vision 2036 includes ambitions for “a housing mix with something for everyone”. It recognises that the population is ageing rapidly, that local children are being priced out of the areas where they grow up and recognises a need for more affordable housing. Community-led solutions will be critical to addressing these issues and achieving the ambitions in the Vision.
CCB’s Rural Housing Enabler project led to three community-led housing schemes being built in West Berkshire: Chaddleworth, Hungerford and Woolhampton. In these examples, homes were built for local people and will only ever be available to people with a local connection. These rural exception site developments were made possible by the community demonstrating a need for homes for local people, and finding a plot of land which wouldn’t normally be available for housing, meaning that it could be purchased at a very low price. The homes are managed by Registered Providers and are let at affordable rates.
Community-led housing is more than just rural exception site developments. Community Land Trusts, cooperative housing, co-housing, community self-build and tenancy self-management are typical examples of community-led housing. All these models will be explored at this training event, helping attendees to develop a broader awareness of the options they have to increase the availability of genuinely affordable homes for people in Berkshire. For more information, please contact Tim Parry at tim.parry@ccberks.org.uk
Support existing or emerging specialist services. Focus is on the most vulnerable who may struggle to access support elsewhere, such as counselling or similar therapeutic services which could be delivered in-person, online, or by phone.
Enable Christian organisations to train, equip, and resource churches and Christian charities to provide:
Enhanced mental health awareness and/or mental health first aid.
Appropriate mental health and wellbeing support groups and services.
Support personal mental health and wellbeing of clergy and other church leaders/workers who may be suffering, particularly post-pandemic.
Grants of up to £2,500 to not-for-profit organisations and community groups to deliver projects that support Card Factory colleagues and communities where Card Factory stores operate.
Proposed projects and activities must meet one or more of the following priorities:
Provide support, financial or otherwise, towards hardship caused by life-changing events.
Provide support, financial or otherwise, to projects that improve lives.
Community projects that take place for Card Factory colleagues and/or communities where Card Factory stores operate.
Funding is for costs that are directly related to and essential for carrying out project activities.
BCF have reopened two funding strands: • Vital For Berkshire Fund We invite applications 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, and more. • Funds For Older People BCF manages a number of funds which aim to support projects tackling issues affecting older people, such as isolation, disability or disadvantage. Beneficiaries must be aged 65 and over. Grants will be awarded to groups, projects and programmes that: • Improve health and wellbeing • Improve access to facilities, advice and training • Overcome problems such as illness, injury, disability, bereavement or financial difficulty Grants of to a maximum of £5,000 will be considered for both funding streams.
Deadline: Applications are now open from 21st March 2022 till 14th April 2022.
Newly Re-opened: Arnold Clark Community Fund
The Arnold Clark Community Fund is open to all UK-registered charities and local community groups who fall into our eligibility criteria. The fund is also open to community interest companies, charitable incorporated organisations and social enterprises.
Applications to The Arnold Clark Community Fund are only eligible if people and communities in the UK are the primary focus of investment and if they’re made by organisations that are incorporated in the UK. The funding must also provide immediate relief for the organisation as we cannot commit to providing funding for a future date. We can accept 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 Successful applicants will receive up to £1,000 in financial aid.
Magic Little Grants 2022 has now launched, with applications taking just 10 minutes to fill out and submit! This year we will be funding more organisations than we ever have before and we will still be spreading this funding out far and wide across the country. Last year we expanded our eligibility criteria which will remain this year. In previous years, funding had to go towards projects that were delivering sports or physical activities. But this year funding can go towards any of the following projects: • Improving mental wellbeing • Enabling community participation in the arts • Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty • Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality • Improving biodiversity and green spaces • Enabling participation in physical activity • Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability • Increasing community access to outdoor space If your organisation is carrying out a project within these themes, make sure to get your application in once the programme launches on 16th March 2022. The application process is short and simple, taking ten minutes to complete. Each organisation may only apply once in 2022.
Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000. Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work. Magic Little Grants | Localgiving
Deadline: Rolling
Newly Opened: Let’s Move Together Fund
The Together Fund has been set up to: • Help reduce the long-term impact and aid recovery from COVID-19. • The widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity. • This fund will support specific activities to increase availability of exercise opportunities in local communities. The Together Fund will continue to evolve in line with our approach to date, building on ways in which we can continue to narrow the gap for communities that need our support. When we started out on this journey, COVID-19 was in its relative infancy, we were all coming to terms with what it meant and trying to understand how we could best support community sport and physical activity.
We knew it was having a significant impact on communities and there was a need for an immediate response. We are finding out more as we go and starting to move from an immediate critical response to one looking at recovery, the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and emergence from, rather than reaction to. We particularly welcome applications from organisations who support people with long-term health conditions, people from lower socio-economic groups, culturally diverse communities and disabled people to get physically active.
Grants between £1,000 and £5,000 are being offered as part of the fund. Additional funding may be available above the £5,000 but you will need to discuss this with a member of the Versus Arthritis team before submitting the application.
Deadline: We expect all funds to be awarded by 30th September 2022.
Re-opening Tomorrow: Postcode Society Trust
Funding priorities remain: • Improving mental wellbeing • Enabling community participation in the arts • Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty • Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality Improving biodiversity & green spaces • Enabling participation in physical activity • Responding to the climate emergency & promoting sustainability • Increasing community access to outdoor space. We have been listening to feedback from previous applicants and to the need in the third sector as the pandemic continues. We are delighted to offer an increase in the value of grants this year. The higher level of grant available (£25,000) is now open to Community Interest Companies and community benefit societies for the first time. The amount available to other types of non profit organisations has also grown to £2,500. Organisations now have a longer period in which to deliver activities – 18 months from payment of the grant. In order to better serve good causes we are also challenging ourselves to deliver funding within two months of an application. Finally, 2022 is the year in which we venture into unrestricted funding for smaller charities and good causes. Organisations that undertake activities that we do not fund (Funding Guide) are still able to apply for project-based funding. Apply for a grant | Postcode Society Trust
Nationwide Building Society Community Grants
Grants of £10,000 – £50,000 for housing-focused charities, community land trusts and housing co-operatives to find local solutions to tackle the housing crisis.
Projects should meet one of three social priorities:
Preventing people from losing their home – helping those who are at risk of losing their home.
Helping people into a home – helping those who are homeless to find accommodation, or those in temporary or inappropriate accommodation to find a place to call home.
Supporting people to thrive within the home environment – helping those who were previously homeless or at risk of losing their homes to take the next steps towards rebuilding their lives. These projects often offer holistic support to end the cycle of homelessness. We are particularly interested in projects with a focus on households impacted by the fuel / cost of living crisis.
Deadline for applications is 27 May 2022, but applications are assessed regionally, and they may decide to close earlier if a lot of bids are in, so check the website.
Grants up to £5,000 for groups to raise awareness of illegal money lending.
Local residents’ groups, charities, private companies, social enterprises, community and voluntary groups, schools and statutory agencies can now apply for grants from a £160,000 funding pot which has come from the proceeds of crime taken from convicted illegal money lenders.
Projects should:
Contribute to raising awareness of the dangers of using loan sharks.
Prevent crime and disorder and makes a difference in local communities.
Promote the work of the Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) in communities.
Encourage reporting of loan sharks and signposts victims to the team.
IMLT actively encourages projects and initiatives that are different from the rest and will leave a legacy in the communities in which they are delivered.
Historic England – Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Heritage Deadline: 23 May 2022 Grants are available to community and heritage organisations in England for projects which improve understanding and awareness of overlooked historic places and celebrate working class histories.
Homes for Ukraine Scheme Deadline: N/A Monthly payments are available for individuals, charities, faith groups, local community groups and businesses in the UK to volunteer accommodation to Ukrainians and their family members who are escaping their homeland due to the Russian invasion.
Sport England – Storm Relief Funding Deadline: N/A Grants are available to local not-for-profit organisations and public bodies to repair any damage to community sport facilities incurred during the recent storms in England.
Sovereign Thriving Communities (with Crowdfunding) Deadline: N/A Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations and community groups who can raise their initial funding through a crowdfunding campaign to support projects that benefit Sovereign communities and residents.
Sport England (with Crowdfunding) – Return to Play: Active Together Deadline: N/A Grants are available for new or existing community businesses in England who can raise their initial funding through a crowdfunding campaign to deliver a wide range of community-led projects, in particular supporting marginalised communities, less affluent areas, projects led by younger people, climate crisis and digital transformation.
Barclays Community Football Fund Deadline: N/A Grants are available to community groups in the UK to a make playing football more accessible at the grassroots level, and in particular encourage girls and young people from lower socio-economic and under-represented groups, including culturally diverse communities, young people with disabilities, and young people from the LGBTQ+ community to take part.
Sport England – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund Deadline: N/A Grants are available to local not-for-profit groups across England in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee for projects which bring communities together and provide opportunities for people who may be less physically active.
KFC Foundation Community Grants Programme Deadline: N/A Grants are available to support grassroots organisations providing safe social spaces, mentoring, work, or social skills for young people aged 11 to 25 years old in the UK.
England Woodland Creation Partnerships (WCP) Grants Deadline: N/A Grants, incentives and other support are available for woodland creation by farmers, landowners/managers and community groups, as part of the England Woodland Creation Partnerships.
Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) Deadline: N/A Public, private and third sector organisations in England can access capital funding to help new and existing heat networks move to low and zero carbon technologies, such as heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy.
Shanly Foundation COVID Deadline: N/A Registered charities, sports and social clubs and community organisations that help individuals and benefit the local community, including support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the homeless, those with mental health issues and people with physical disabilities, injury or life limiting illness in Bucks, Herts, Surrey and Berks.
National Heritage Memorial Fund Deadline: N/A Funding for charities, not-for-profit organisations and public bodies to help with the cost of acquiring historic land, buildings, works of fine and decorative art and other objects of interest which are important to national heritage.
Visit Britain – Domestic Support Fund Deadline: N/A Grants are available for UK not-for-profit organisations, including associations and charities, to hold business events and to showcase that the UK has adapted to new ways of meeting in a COVID-19 secure environment.
Let’s Get Active Fund Deadline: N/A A fund to improve access to physical activities in West Berkshire is now open to applications as part of the district’s recovery from COVID-19. West Berkshire Council have partnered with Greenham Trust to offer the Let’s Get Active Fund (LGAF). The £33,660.00 LGAF pot is available to community groups, organisations, social enterprises, charities, profit-with-purpose businesses and schools in West Berkshire.
Poundland Foundation Deadline: N/A Grants are available for local charities and organisations across the UK working to make a difference in their communities.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund – Barclays 100x100UK Covid-19 Community Relief Fund Deadline: N/A Funding for farming and rural communities to cope with the impact of Covid-19, to expand on new services that have emerged to support the local community during this time and to build future resilience.
Matthew Good Foundation – Grants for Good Fund Deadline: N/A Grants are available for local community groups, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises in the UK for projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, or the environment.
The Gerald Palmer Eling Trust Company The Trustees meet three times a year to consider applications for donations to charities. Applications are generally considered where they meet all of the following criteria: ~ The grant should relate to activities in West Berkshire or neighbouring counties ~ Grants for projects rather than general running costs are favoured ~ Grants should fit into one or more of the following categories: ~ The advancement of Christianity, particularly the Greek/Russian Orthodox ~ Medical Research or Facilities ~ Community or Education Facilities ~ Social & Welfare Support & Therapy Applications should be made in writing, including the latest charity accounts, to: The Gerald Palmer Eling Trust, Eling Estate Office, Wellhouse Lane, Hermitage, Newbury, Berkshire, RG18 9UF.
Thank you to our fantastic CVS’s for the information contained in this article – Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre & Slough CVS.
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 