Thames Water offers a Priority Service to customers who find themselves in vulnerable circumstances. By registering for this service Thames Water aim to provide free support in the unlikely event you have no water, by prioritising the most vulnerable first.

Thames Water will tailor their communication to meet your needs, giving you peace of mind at a time when you need it most. The Carers’ Hub is working with Thames Water to encourage our members to register by filling in the form and sending it back free of charge.

For more information visit: www.thameswater.co.uk/priorityservices or call the Extra care Team on 0800 0093652 option 3. You can also email ecs@thameswater.co.uk. Financial support is also available to you, for more information search ‘help paying your bill’ on the Thames Water website.

Last week (Thursday 16^th May) CCB were invited to attend Berkshire Community Foundation’s (BCF) Celebrating Impact: Showcase Event held at Ascot Racecourse.

The Celebrating Impact: Showcase Event took place at Ascot Racecourse, in their stunning On5 Suite. It was hosted by Ady Williams, BBC Radio Berkshire Sports Presenter, on Thursday 16^th May at 6.30pm.

Over 80 guests, including Helen Dean and Tim Parry from CCB, were welcomed and treated to a range of delicious canapes. Once seated, guests were welcomed by Ady and Chris Dodson OBE DL, Chair of Trustees at BCF, and shown a video of the highlights BCF have had over the year.

Six groups were selected for the awards, those in particular who have made an impression in the community helping individuals that are in need or disadvantaged. CCB received a grant from Surviving Winter which allowed Project Co-ordinator Helen Dean to help individuals to reduce their energy bills, when they are struggling.

The six groups; Aik Saath, Building for the Future, Mustard Tree, Parents and Children Together, Connecting Communities in Berkshire and Mock Trials were then individually presented with certificates.

Helen said: “I was thrilled that our Family Home Energy Education & Advice project was recognised in this way. It has been a wonderful evening and lovely to hear from the wide range of groups that BCF support. CCB are so grateful to BCF for this recognition and their continued backing.”

To view the video that BCF kindly made about our Family Home Energy Education & Advice Project and its impact please click above.

Links to the other groups that were recognised this way can be found below:

Mock Trials

Mustard Tree

PACT

Aik Saath

Building for the Future

Friday 21^st June, 10am – 4pm, Woolhampton Village Hall. FREE

This FREE training is aimed at anyone that is passionate about their local area and planning for its future. It introduces the basics of community organising and how to organise the community to enact a Neighbourhood Plan and enable positive built development which meets the needs of the community.

We run a course with Community Organisers Ltd in May and during sum up at the end of the day words used to describe the learning experience included: “Fabulous, enlightening, thought provoking, engaging, humanising, educational, insightful, non-judgmental, confidence building.”

Participants will develop their understanding of how, through community organising, we can reach out and build consensus for change around a positive vision for the future of the community. We will analyse where power lies in the planning and development of housing and infrastructure, and start to learn how to use a Neighbourhood Plan to mobilise the community, build power and take action to get the development the community needs. Places MUST be booked: https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/planning-for-change-through-community-organising/

During the course you will explore:

• What community organising is
• The importance of listening to build relationships and uncover issues
• The power in your community and why it matters when applied to neighbourhood planning
• How to motivate people to engage with change and neighbourhood plans
• How to take your next steps in your neighbourhood plan

The Rural Economy inquiry report was published on 27 April 2019, in it the Committee have called for a comprehensive national-level rural economic strategy, to be delivered locally via communities, councils and businesses.

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy was appointed on 17 May 2018 to consider the rural economy, and while there have been studies of particular aspects of the rural economy, such as agriculture, and digital connectivity, the ad hoc inquiry sought to bring these issues together, considering the rural economy as a whole.

In July 2018 the Committee began taking written and oral evidence; CCB’s national body Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) was a contributing organization. They have today released a statement saying “ACRE and the ACRE Network warmly welcome and support the House of Lords Rural Economy Committee in their call for an England Rural Strategy and their commitment to ensuring that no resident or business should be disadvantaged unreasonably by their rural location. It’s imperative that Government respond quickly so the action to which they agree can be factored into the Comprehensive Spending Review currently being carried out by the Treasury.”

The Lords’ call is the latest in a clamour for an equal approach to public services in rural areas.  ACRE, the Rural Services Network, the Rural Coalition and many other organisations have already signed up to an online campaign calling for a Rural Strategy for England.

ACRE Chair David Emerson CBE said, “We are delighted that the House of Lords Rural Economy Committee has made the call for a Rural Strategy for England central to its report.  This adds great weight to the calls of the many rural bodies who see an urgent need for a more joined up approach to policy in rural areas.  The acid test will be not only be in Government’s response to their Lordships’ recommendations, but in achieving positive change for rural people who feel all too often that central Government doesn’t understand them.”

All eyes will now be on the Government who must respond to the recommendations made by the Committee. It is the hope of many that Government will rise to the challenge of an England Rural Strategy and unlock the sleeping giant of potential that rests in our rural areas.