News and Events
From Norfolk RCC
CSV Make a Difference Day
This autumn, people across the country will be organising activities for CSV Make a Difference Day, the largest single day of volunteering in the UK! The date this year is October 25th, although activities can take place from October 18th until November 2nd. It's a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in your community! To find out more, or to register an activity and receive free resources, visit http://www.csv.org.uk/difference.
Grassroots Grants
Norfolk Community Foundation has £1.1m to distribute before 2011. If your community group or project needs money to meet a local community need, you can apply for up to £5,000. The only requirements are that the group must be largely volunteer led, have a formal constitution and bank account, been active for more than a year and have an income of less than £20,000 per year. For more information please telephone 01603 623958 or email info@norfolkfoundation.com or download an application form from http://www.norfolkfoundation.com
http://www.norfolkfoundation.com/grant/app_pack.htm
Free Adult Education Courses
Update your maths and english skills for free, gain confidence and a national qualification at level 1 or 2. Most courses are held in Adult Education Centres, village halls, community centres or other centres near you, offering daytime, evening and weekend courses.
Choose the skills you need to improve such as spelling, reading, form filling, fractions, decimals or handling money.
For further information or details of local courses please contact your local office or visit http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/adulteducation
Free Energy Audit Training
Norfolk RCC is teaming up with Community Action for Energy to hold a training event. Energy Auditing for Community Buildings will take place on September 17th at the offices of Norfolk Rural Community Council
To book a place contact Pauline High at Norfolk Rural Community Council office 01362 698216 or e-mail office@norfolkrcc.org.uk
For more information on CAfE link to http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Parish Plans get thumb's up from communities
A study into the effectiveness of parish and town plans in Broadland, carried out by Broadland District Council and Norfolk Rural Community Council, has shown the commitment and enthusiasm of Broadland’s communities for identifying and addressing their own needs.
However, the report also shows that there are certain aspects of producing a parish or town plan that need more forethought, resources and commitment from other organisations. Click here for more information.
Services2gether Feasibility Report Published
This ground braking initiative looking at multi-provider service outreach as a means of getting services to isolated rural communities has published the finding of its feasibility study. The aim is to now look at a wider roll-out of the scheme bringing benefit to thousands of people across the county.
Click here for more information
Community play and recreation guide launched
Many communities own or manage open green spaces for use by their residents for a whole range of activities such as sport, play or gardening. These recreation grounds provide a valuable resource for the community but impose demands on local volunteers regarding their management.
In order to help communities with their important work, the Rural Community Councils in the East of England(RCCs) have developed support workshops and information for managers of community play and recreation facilities.
The toolkit can be found on the Rural Action East website (the regional body for the RCCs in the Eastern Region) under the projects section.
Or by clicking here to look at the section on information for playing fields and playgrounds
Post Office Closures
March 26th was Decision day for the announcement of Post Office Closures across the County. NRCC has reacted with surprise at a number of the decisions that have taken place and has attended public meetings to explain what communities should be doing to make their case to save their Post Office. We have until June 2nd when the consultation period ends and closure decisions become final.
The NRCC is working with District Councils and the County Council to co-ordinate action.
If you feel that your Post Office should not be closed and wish to fight the decision, then contact Peter Smith 01362698216
1000 Days to the Next Round Of Closures The latest subsidy expires in 2011, NRCC outlines its fears for the future of our communities, unless we take action NOW Open Letter On The Future Of Post Offices In Norfolk
In Kind Direct
In kind direct redistributes products left over from business practices to those charities that can benefit from such items. They have recently announced that they will no longer require an annual registration fee meaning charities only pay the handling and transport costs of goods received. Therefore if you haven't before go to http://www.inkinddirect.org and save some money for your organisation.
Signpost
Norfolk Rural Community Council publishes a bi-monthly e-bulletin called 'signpost' which contain information and advice on rural issues. To view the most recent copy of signpost as well as back issues click here
Reports and Press Releases
Below are links to a number of recent reports and press releases detailed in pages on this site. A full list can be found by looking and the research and reports category on the community insight section of this website
- Community energy initiatives: Embedding sustainable technology at a local level: A study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, of community renewable energy projects in Britain has found that so far, projects are largely based in the countryside, some quite remote. click here for link to main report 15:23, 3 August 2007 (BST)
- Carnegie Commission Calls for New Agenda for Rural Assets and Services The Carnegie UK Trust's new report calls for more rural communities to take control of their own local assets and services. The Carnegie Commission for Rural Community Development’s report calls for assets ranging from housing, renewable energy supplies and sports clubs to be managed at a local level. The report also calls for a greater role for networks such as rural stress helplines, debt counselling and support groups for older people, which constitute ‘social’ assets.
- Migrants, integration and local neighbourhoods Three reports published 29th May by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have examined the effects of migration to Britain.
- Government Issues Response To Post Office Consultation Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has confirmed that 2,500 post offices in rural and urban areas will be closing. The NRCC aims to support communities who lose their Post Office, contact us for more information.
- The Quirk Review findings on community asset management and ownership was published on May 15th and basically blows away many resistances to the transfer of public assets to community ownership.
- The Commission for Rural Communities have published a report looking at the effects of cash purchases for housing in rural areas. This report strengthens the need to address the problems that local people are faced with regarding housing needs in rural areas. NRCC has a dedicated team of Affordable Housing Enablers contact us for more details.
