This fun, energetic, FREE course introduces you to Community Organising – the work of bring people together to take action around their common concerns and overcome social injustice. Community Organisers reach out and listen, connect and motivate people to build their collective power.

Date: Thursday 28th February, 10am to 4pm. Venue: Calcot Community Centre, RG31 4XD

Refreshments and sandwich lunch will be provided.

This whole day training event is facilitated by independent charity CCB and run by Community Organisers. It is supported by West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANISING?
When communities work together, the possibilities for positive change are endless. Community organising is the work of bringing people together to take action around their common concerns and overcome social injustice. Community organisers reach out and listen, connect and motivate people to build their collective power. When people are organised, communities get heard and power begins to shift creating real change for good.

WHAT DOES THE COURSE COVER?

This one-day course is an introduction to community organising as a process which can reach out and bring people together to form stronger relationships and develop community activities together. Community organisers do not do things on behalf of people but motivate and facilitate people to make small and powerful changes locally and for wider social change.

During this course you will explore:

• What community organising is
• The importance of listening to build relationships and uncover issues
• Power in communities and why it matters
• How to motivate people to take action
• How to take your next steps in community organising & social action

RECOMMENDATIONS

Learners at Intro to Community Organising @Beech Hill

CCB facilitated this course in June 2018 and learners there had a really positive experience. Comments included:

‘It was a really welcoming environment. I enjoyed the interaction and participatory way of learning and it gave me a fresh perspective.’

‘I really enjoyed finding out about the structure of community organising and the concept of listening at different levels.’

BOOKING

This course is FREE to attend but places are limited so we will charge a £10 administration fee if you fail to attend the course. To book your place please complete this form: https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/introduction-to-community-organisers-zllx7xo0dv1jeh/

Members representing communities from across Berkshire gathered on the morning of 8^th November  at The Barn in Purley on Thames to attend our 2018 Annual General Meeting.

With the Barn adorned with poppies in celebration of the 1^st World War centenary, attendees gathered to hear Ralph Godbold, CCB Chair, run proceedings.

At this year’s AGM a special resolution was put to our membership asking them to vote on whether we could change our name. All members present voted to accept the proposed name change and agreed that the charity’s name could be changed to Connecting Communities in Berkshire, though we will still be known as the abbreviated version: CCB.

Tim Parry, Chief Officer, presented the 2017-18 Annual Review and used the opportunity to highlight CCB’s ongoing projects, namely;

• The Energy & Fuel Poverty Advice Project delivered by Helen Dean, Project Co-ordinator. Tim explained that if everyone that Helen had spoken to in the course of a year saved the average amount by switching supplier, between them they could have saved in excess of £80,000.
• Our adult community learning programme which Gemma Matthews, CCB’s Office Manager coordinates, provided training for over 150 people and we have already published a comprehensive training schedule aimed at supporting communities in 2018-19.
• Kate Meads, Community Buildings Advisor, joined the team in March 2018 and has done a fantastic job supporting community buildings and village halls in Berkshire, taking over the reins from Wendy Dacey who retired in March.
• Loneliness & Isolation – CCB are currently focusing on rural loneliness and Tim is researching data on the subject, making sure people know about existing groups and, where there are gaps, working to help fill them.

Tim expressly thanked the Trustees of CCB for volunteering their time and skills to ensure we stay on the straight and narrow, and our funders, without whom we could not deliver our projects.

After the official business of the AGM concluded, Graham Barker High Sheriff of Berkshire gave a short and impassioned talk. Graham spoke about the history of high sheriffs in England, his powers and the three themes he selected for his tenure as High Sheriff: community, compassion and culture.

Sunday 18th November

10.00am – 7.00pm – What’s on guide and timings attached

Whether you are starting your Christmas shopping, or even finishing it Douai Christmas Market is the place to come for all those wonderful gifts!

We have so many different stalls that you are sure to find what you are looking for.

But don’t come just to shop we have:-

Santa’s Grotto for the children and lots of games with great prizes to win!

You can also buy your tree.

We have a fully Licensed Bar with Mulled wine and hot drinks and a great variety of food stalls selling hot scrumptious food.

Best of all we have musical performances throughout the day.

Sing along to Christmas Carols with Pangbourne Brass Band, or rock away with the Rock Choir. Woolhampton Primary School will be performing some of their and your favourite songs and then we have Emily Craig taking us into the early evening singing classics from the 60’s to current day.

Emily recently performed at Ronnie Scott’s in London!!

What more could you want for a great day out and to get you in the festive spirit?

Don’t miss out on our great Raffle prizes – who wouldn’t want a dinner voucher for £100 from the Royal Oak in Yattendon or a personally signed England Rugby piece of kit from Brad Shields? Not to mention a golf lesson from Bishops wood Pro. Golfer – Steve Ward and lots more!!!!

Free admission and parking

Visit douaipark.org.uk for further details Listen out for us on Breeze radio

In October, Helen provided a training session on all aspects of reducing home energy costs, to Community Engagement Officers in Wokingham.  They estimated they would be able to cascade the information to over 500 members of the community that they support in the next six months.

Deana Humphries, Manager of Wokingham Community Engagement Team said “The training provided was really helpful and informative. We work with customers who can be isolated and vulnerable, and who quite often have debt issues. Having the knowledge and confidence in providing them with the right advice to help them get not only cheaper gas and electricity, but also discounts grants, and also teach them ways of reducing their costs, will prove invaluable in extending the services we provide.”

Helen is putting on a training session for professionals who work with low-income and vulnerable groups on January 23^rd 2019. This will cover signposting and advising clients on ways they can reduce their home energy costs, and making significant cost savings, including claiming The Warm Home Discount of £140. To Book please use this link: https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/energy-advice-fuel-poverty-workshop/

The event is organised by Newbury Rotary Club Volunteers assisted and sponsored by Newbury Bid. The object is to have fun and to raise money for worthy causes. Entries fees after payment of costs, which are kept to an absolute minimum, will be donated to Naomi House & Jacksplace, the West Berkshire Therapy Centre and other Rotary Club supported charities. Runners are invited to raise money for their own good causes using this event.

Please read all the information on this page before registering at the bottom as this will constitute acceptance of the terms and conditions.

Download a map of all the routes here.

Date: Sunday 2nd of December 2018

Place: The Market Place, Newbury RG14 5AA

Times:

9:30 Event opens and Runners book in and receive official vest label with runner number.

10:45 Pre-Fun Run Warm Up.

11:00 Race Starts.

12:30 Event Ends.

Entry Fee: Adults £15, Under 18’s £10, under 8’s £7

All runners will receive a Santa Suit (available in various sizes and styles). Suits to be collected with proof of registration from collection points in Newbury or on the day. Instructions how to collect suits will be emailed following registration. Those that complete the Run will receive an engraved medal.

Start from Market Place, Northbrook Street, Parkway, Victoria Park, back to Market  Place (Children’s route finishes here), Northcroft, Speen, back to finish at Market Square. Distance = 5Km, childrens’ route 1Km.

Registration and Payment:

This is to be done via the Newbury Rotary Club Website via the link on this page. Suits will be available for collection from Saturday 17th November. You are encouraged to collect your Santa Suits from the Newbury collection sites. Suits can also be collected from the Market Place from 10 am on the day of the event.

Terms and Conditions:

This is a Fun Run which is not timed so is not a race. Runners can walk as much as they like. The route goes through public areas (streets, shopping areas etc.) and the public, bystanders and supporters should be treated with respect and given priority. Be aware, the public will be of all ages – old, young, fit and not so fit and may have pets in tow.

There will be qualified First Aiders present, but participants are responsible for their own safety, including their fitness to do the event.

Young Runners – Children (5-12 yrs.), Young People (13-17 yrs.)

Ages are considered at 1 December 2018. All Young People (13-17) and Children (5-12) can only compete with the permission of their parent or guardian who are responsible for their safe conduct and behaviour throughout the event. Children from 5-12 must be accompanied by the responsible adult throughout the event. Children from 5-7 must only do the short (1 km) route.

Road Crossings:

A good deal of the route is in the Newbury Town centre pedestrian area. However, some crossings of roads and driveways are necessary and there is a section of road (Speen Lane) with no footway. Although Marshals will be assisting at key points, Runners will be crossing or running along live roads at their own risk and must obey the Highway Code. Those who are responsible for Young People (13-17) must ensure that the Young People understand and will abide by these conditions.

If you have read and agree to the above conditions, please click on the Link below to register and pay for your entry. Have an enjoyable and worthwhile day. Please contact edward.webb@newburyrotary.org or ring 01635 42027 if you have any questions. The allowed entry numbers are limited so please register early to avoid disappointment.

Photography:

Some photographs will be taken for publicity purposes which Newbury Rotary and Visit Newbury may want to use on their websites. If you should not want photographs taken of individuals in your group, please let us know at registration. We will provide a tag so as to make every effort to exclude them from photos taken under our control.

Click here to register