LitterHeros Ambassadors

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Keep Britain Tidy is seeking new #LitterHeroes Ambassadors to join their volunteer programme and they need your help!

During your work you may meet members of the public who want to volunteer and have a real passion for community engagement and keeping public spaces clean. We’d love you to encourage them to apply to join our enthusiastic #LitterHeroes Ambassadors in becoming community activators across the UK.

The #LitterHeroes Ambassador programme is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and aims to support community cohesion, improve public spaces and help benefit mental and physical wellbeing.

All people need to do is; apply directly online via https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LHAapply2019

Applications close on Monday 6th May 2019.
Successful applicants will be notified of next steps during the week commencing 6th May.

Tribute to former Patron of CCB Mary Bayliss

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TRIBUTES have been paid to former Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire Mary Bayliss, who died last week.

Mrs Bayliss was involved with many local charities and was Connecting Communities in Berkshire’s Patron from 2008-2015.

Chief Officer of CCB, Tim Parry, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of The Honourable Mrs Mary Bayliss. During her time as our Patron she supported many of our community focused events. We are very grateful for the kindness and support she showed CCB through her patronage. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with her family at this sad time.”

Save money on heating your home with oil this year, join our club

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For those that are off the gas grid and heat your homes with oil CCB promotes the use of oil clubs to come together with your community and use your bulk purchasing power to reduce the cost of ordering oil, as well as the amount of tankers that are on our roads delivering it.

For those homes that don’t have a local oil club we launched the CCB Oil Club in partnership with Oil Fuel Poverty Scheme (OFPS) in 2012 so that all homes in Berkshire can benefit from group buying. In the last financial year (April 2018 – March 2019) we saved our members over £8660 in total on their orders, compared to average pence per litre prices.

All you need to do to take advantage of the scheme is to pay an annual membership fee, from as little as £24, which will cover as many orders as you need during the year. The membership charge goes towards covering the administrative costs of running the project. Any surplus from the CCB Oil Club will go directly towards supporting CCB’s charitable work.

For further details, including recent prices obtained please click here.

Win £1,000 for a Berkshire Charity!

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Three £1,000 prizes are up for grabs as Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) launches its 2019 Vital Signs survey. BCF is asking people in Berkshire to spend five minutes giving their opinion of life in the county. As a thank you, they can nominate a charity to win one of the £1,000 prizes. Please consider nominating Connecting Communities in Berkshire!

To take the survey and help those in need in Berkshire go to: http://www.berkshirecf.org/vital-signs-survey

Last year three local groups, Autism Berkshire, Family Friends Windsor and Maidenhead and Interakt, each received one of the £1,000 prizes.

Now in its sixth year, Vital Signs uses the views of the local community, along with other research, to enable BCF to produce a community ‘health-check’ report. This report reveals priorities, needs and opportunities for action by measuring the quality of life in local areas. 

The results drive BCFs fundraising. Last year’s Vital Signs reported that a safe home, good health and secure employment are all linked and underpin wellbeing so BCF launched Vital for Berkshire – homes, Health and Work. This campaign has already funded over 20 local groups that provide vital support including counselling, assessable transport, crisis support, education or training, health coaching, supporting people back into back into employment and tackling homelessness.

Gerry Lejeune, Chief Executive of BCF said “This is a fantastic opportunity for local people, with local knowledge to influence our fundraising for the next year.”

Coverage of Rural Issues for Young People

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Recently our national network Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) worked with the BBC and gained powerful coverage of issues for young people in rural areas.

Transport and Digital connectivity issues were discussed on a BBC 5 Live programme which Flick Humphrey, ACRE Public Affairs and Communications Manager co-hosted with presenter Nihal Arthanayake.

Also on the show was Rural Services Network CEO Graham Biggs and Wheels to Work user from Shropshire RCC Jamie Yale. The show was a result of a film Flick put together which you can watch below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-47787888/rural-transport-how-long