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Community Action Northumberland
Reg. Charity No. 224798
'CANNY NEWS' bulletins are sent each month, between the quarterly hard copies of CAN News.
As always, if any of the information included might be of interest to your colleagues and friends, please forward this bulletin to them.
We also always welcome any feedback so feel free to contact us.
If the hyperlinks in the Contents are not working please click here to open a new version
Contents
Spring Conference
Countywide Oil Buying Scheme
Young People in Our Communities Conference
Planning Training
Funding Success
Rates Relief Review - Update
BOSS Website for Community Buildings
Northumberland's VCS Assembly Consultation
Funding to Reduce Energy Bills
Thermal Imaging Community Exchange
Co-operative Community Energy Challenge
Community Enterprise Mentors
Attendance Allowance Awareness
Job Vacancy: East Bedlington Assistant Parish Clerk
Forum Focus
Spring Conference
CAN’s Spring Conference will be taking place in Swarland Village Hall on the afternoon of 3 May 2012 and will be hosted by our President, the Duke of Northumberland. The theme will be on communities and voluntary organisations in the digital age.
The programme is still being developed but it will cover the new Superfast Broadband Strategy, opportunities for telecare, social networking, local councils’ ICT….. and much more.
Invitations will follow shortly, but do please put the date in your diary.
Countywide Oil Buying Scheme
CAN will be launching a countywide oil buying scheme in early March based on a scheme developed by Oxfordshire RCC and duplicated across many areas of rural England.
Experience from Oxfordshire has already shown that it’s possible to get a discount of between £50 and £120 on a single 1000 litre order. There are other benefits too – reduced carbon footprint (yes, really), a move towards renewable energy sources and a contribution to funds to support Community Action Northumberland.
The key to making this work will be having a network of community co-ordinators who are willing to collate local members’ monthly oil orders and pass them on to us, and who will then let the local members know the cost per litre and the delivery date. That’s pretty much it. No negotiating oil prices, no handling money. For doing this, you will get FREE membership of the scheme – an annual saving of £20.
Annual membership will be open to individuals (£20), community organisations (£30) and businesses (£100).
If you think this could be of interest to you or your community, get in touch with us at info@ca-north.org.uk or telephone 01670 517178.
Full details will be available soon.
Young People in our Communities Conference
REMINDER - 23 February, at Stannington Village Hall
Please check out the details of a conference being organised jointly by CAN and Northumberland Clubs for Young People. Full information on our website.
If you wish to attend, please send your completed booking form to caroldavison@ca-north.org.uk
Planning Training
A series of events is in progress in Northumberland to help people understand about the planning system, and to prepare for the new opportunities offered by the Localism Act 2011. Full details here.
The events are being sponsored by the Government, via the DCLG Supporting Communities and Neighbourhoods in Planning initiative, which is being administered by CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) and NALC (National Association of Local Councils).
The events are free of charge, and are open to a wide range of interested participants: parish councils, community groups, CPRE members, charities…. and so on.
Each event is running from 6.30pm—9pm, with a light buffet served from 6.15pm.
Although the Act was only passed in November, the Government has already begun to ‘add flesh to the bones’, so this event will cover the new ‘community rights’, neighbourhood planning and the future planning system:
DATES AND VENUES
All events will run from 6.30pm to 9pm
- Tuesday 13 March - Stannington Village Hall, Stannington, Morpeth, NE61 6EL
- Wednesday 14 March - Hexham Community Centre, Gilesgate, Hexham, NE46 3NP
- Monday 19 March - Corn Exchange, Town Hall, Newgate Street, Morpeth, NE61 1LZ
- Tuesday 20th March - William Elder Building, 56-58 Castlegate, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1JT
- Wednesday 21 March - Lindisfarne Annexe, Lindisfarne, Alnwick, NE66 1AX
If you are interested in attending, please complete and return the booking form.
Alternatively, you can contact us by email on caroldavison@ca-north.org.uk.
If you have already booked your place, this is just a general reminder. If, however, you are still thinking about joining us, please get in touch to book.
We have developed a new Planning Information section of our website, which contains the presentation from the first round of events.
Funding Success
Natural Ability, based in Allenheads, has been awarded £330,000 over a 5 year period from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.
The charity supports people with learning disabilities, using traditional agricultural methods to teach vulnerable young adults life skills. Supported by volunteers, the young adults help out at local farms and in gardens, taking part in pastoral activities and do construction work.
The charity – which is a member of our West Northumberland Community Development Network - has also been supported by the Social Enterprise Investment Fund, The Northern Rock Foundation, Baily Thomas Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston and Allendale Parish Council.
See their website at www.naturalability.org
At their full council meeting on 22 February, the County Council will be considering the adoption of a revised policy and procedure for giving rates relief. In brief, the headlines include:
- little or no change in discretionary rates relief for local voluntary bodies
- a simplified process for community centres, village halls, youth premises and leisure centres
- enhanced relief for small rural businesses (in line with Government support)
- cessation (in 12 months time) of discretionary relief for academies and certain other schools.
A policy is being introduced re asset transfers from the County Council to the voluntary sector, to enable community facilities to receive discretionary relief, while controlling the relief on administrative premises.
BOSS Website for Community Buildings
Does your village hall or community building need a basic website that is easy to maintain and free?
As part of the Back Office Services Support (BOSS) Project we will be trialling a training package to help small organisations develop a web presence.
A pilot training session is being planned for the 7th March 10am until 2pm; venue TBC.
If you are interested in taking part in this pilot please contact marcjohnson@ca-north.org.uk.
Northumberland's VCS Assembly Consultation
c4c are proposing that Northumberland VCS Assembly aims to be an inclusive, independent and an influential voice for the VCS in Northumberland. It will inform, engage with, co-ordinate and champion the views of the VCS and be a mechanism for better engagement and influence with local strategic partnerships and the public sector partners.
When is the consultation happening?
The consultation starts on Tuesday 24th January and will run until 31st March.
How can I get involved?
If you would like to take part, you can get involved by:
- On-line forum (You will need to be registered to receive access to C4C forums. Register)
- Completing the survey & returning the form electronically or by freepost
- Picking up information at one of the roadshow points
- Calling into one of the information drop-in sessions
- Or just send in to c4c any thoughts you may have. Contact C4C.
Funding to Reduce Energy Bills
The Rothley Trustees want to help small charities and voluntary groups operating in the north east, to reduce their energy bills.
They are setting aside £20,000 in their budget for 2012/13 for small energy saving items e.g. roof insulation, radiator thermostats, blinds and curtains, energy efficient equipment, double glazing, timer switches etc. (It is not for large projects such as solar panels and wind turbines.)
Grants of between £100 and £1000 will be awarded at their quarterly meetings in May, August, November and February.
The Rothley Trust existing eligibility criteria applies. View their website at www.rothleytrust.org.uk
Hard copy appeal letter to be sent with latest accounts to: Mrs Diane Lennon, Trust Secretary, The Rothley Trust, Ellison Place, Newcastle, NE1 8XS
Thermal Imaging Community Exchange
Free access to thermal imaging cameras, and free training in how to use them and analyse the results, so that groups can survey buildings in their area.
This information can then be shared with the wider community to highlight where energy efficiency measures might be applied.
All of the support, training and equipment is provided free; you give your time and enthusiasm!
Find out more on our forum
Co-operative Community Energy Challenge
The Centre for Sustainable Energy and The Co-operative have jointly launched a new initiative called the Co-operative Community Energy Challenge.
The Challenge will provide 12-18 months of enterprise development, mentoring, technical advice and community facilitation for six to eight communities, enabling them to initiate co-operative renewable energy projects at a significant scale (e.g. valued at £1m to £3m and/or rated in excess of 500kW).
There is a two-stage competitive application process for groups to become part of the Challenge with the deadline for Stage 1 - Expressions of Interest - on 29 February 2012.
Support is also being offered during the application process to help communities develop strong bids, even from a standing start so that lack of technical know-how does not present a barrier to applying.
Full details on our Forum webpage
Community Enterprise Mentors
Get Mentoring is an initiative to unlock, train and support a community of enterprise mentors across the
Events are being held across the north east over the next few weeks – with one at Lynemouth Community Centre next week.
See our forum for more details.
Attendance Allowance Awareness
Age UK Northumberland is undertaking a project to increase awareness of Attendance Allowance (AA) within the County. The number of people claiming this benefit in Northumberland is lower than the national average.
If you are in a group you may like to book a talk by our Age UK Northumberland representatives. We will give a 30 minute presentation explaining the criteria to qualify for AA, how to claim and what advice/support is available. The talk is aimed at anyone who comes into contact with older people (65+) in their community – whether as a friend, neighbour, relative or carer. If you would like a longer talk we can also explain about Age UK Northumberland services in general.
Age UK Northumberland has produced a poster which is being displayed in halls, libraries, sports centres etc. throughout the County so look out for it.
If you would like to book a talk or any further information, please contact Pat Wilson or Angela Clough at Age UK Northumberland, tel: 01665 511564 or e-mail patricia.wilson@ageuk-alnwick.org.uk
Job Vacancy: East Bedlington Assistant Parish Clerk
Applications are invited for the above post situated at:
16,
Closing Date for Applications: Noon on the 27th February
Full details on the CAN Website
Forum Focus
The CAN Online Forum contains a wealth of information and is regularly updated, see the latest posts here. Anyone can view the forums but you have to be registered to post.
Coastal Communities Fund
£23.7m in 2012/13 to support the sustainable economic development of coastal communities in the UK.
Comic Relief Interim Older People's Grant
Grants for projects that help older people build their knowledge and skills in order to manage their money more effectively.
John Laing Fund
Grants to support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Sustainable Funding: A Guide for Trustees
Guidance for Trustees on financial sustainability of their charity including outlining their responsibility for funding in their organisation.
Tax-Effective Giving
The Institute of Fundraising's microsite on tax-effective giving has had a revamp and is worth a look.
We also produce a Newsletter aimed towards local councils.
You can subscribe to NALC E-news here.
You can link to ezines from CVABV and Wansbeck CVS via their logos
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