The Community Education Fund is now open for funding applications to support education based projects in the 2019/20 academic year. The fund focuses on developing opportunities for adults (19+) and families in West Berkshire with specific emphasis on: • Re-connecting with learning • Gaining new skills and qualifications • Improving health and wellbeing • Developing employment opportunities • Supporting families to develop their children’s learning and development. • Developing local communities
To apply please download the CEF33 bid form and guidance notes on the Council website and send the completed form to aclteam@westberks.gov.uk by 5pm, Monday, 10th June 2019. For further information please contact a member of the Community Learning team on email aclteam@westberks.gov.uk or telephone 01635 519060.
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 16th 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 16th 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:
Friday 21st 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
Becoming a member of CCB is an effective and rewarding route to building connections, accessing information and support, and helping to ensure communities like yours are strong, successful and well represented.
How Membership Helps Us
Help protect and enhance village halls, community buildings and other vital facilities.
Research and improve work to reduce rural isolation and loneliness.
Support 405 families with advice and guidance on avoiding fuel poverty and trained 33 front-line workers on how to support their clients with energy advice.
Deliver a range of adult community learning training for those living and working in Berkshire on a range of topics that bought benefits communities likes yours. Topics included data protection, social media, emergency lifesaving skills, community organising, energy advice and trusteeship.
Continue to write and produce our monthly e-bulletin packed full of funding opportunities and other news articles of interest to Berkshire communities.
Act as a credible voice to represent the needs and priorities of rural communities to policy makers including local authorities and national government.
Benefits of Membership
Specific
membership benefits you can expect to receive include:
Free or discounted training opportunities at our range of courses focused that ultimately focus on strengthening communities.
The opportunity to become a CCB Trustee and to nominate and elect members to our Board.
An invitation to attend our training conference and Annual General Meeting (1 vote per membership)
Monthly e-bulletins and updates on our work including services, events and training opportunities that may be of benefit to you or your community.
The opportunity to market your community events, news or local facilities via our e-bulletin and website.
Prompt access to the CCB team who will be available to discuss issues affecting your community.
If you decide to support us and our core work – to help Berkshire communities thrive by identifying, raising awareness of and helping tackle local issues and priorities cost of membership is £32 for parish councils and voluntary organisations of £16 for individuals.To become a member today please complete this form: https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/ccb-membership-form/
