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.

Nominations are now open for West Berkshire’s annual Learner Achievement Awards (LAA).

The LAA celebrate the outstanding achievements of adult learners in West Berkshire and cover apprenticeships, professional, academic and vocational courses and learning programmes to support families, communities and health and wellbeing.

Sponsored by Newbury College, West Berkshire Training Consortium, and the Newbury Community Resource Centre, the awards are part of the national Festival of Learning and are organised by West Berkshire Council on behalf of the West Berkshire Community Learning Partnership.

The LAA 2019 will be presented by local author and popular cartoonist Sam Davies in June at Shaw House, Newbury,  Sam is the talent behind the recently launched Hex Vet: Witches in Training children’s book.

To make a nomination and for further details on the 11 award categories go to www.westberks.gov.uk/laa2019. The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Friday, 3 May 2019.