Signpost January 2008
From Norfolk RCC
Happy New Year From everyone at the NRCC
Local Network Fund’s Farewell Lunch
The LNF fund has helped many thousands of Norfolk youngsters over the last seven years by giving £2.9m in grants to over 600 projects. Sadly the scheme has now come to an end.
Norfolk RCC organised a special lunch on the 8th November to mark the end of the scheme and celebrate its success.
About with Friends, who have received funding from the LNF, helped the celebrations along by providing the lunch. Helen Dalton-Hare, who runs the group which provides social opportunities for people with learning difficulties, said “The money we have received from LNF has been invaluable because it has enabled me to spend more time developing the group and training volunteers.”
LNF Project Manager, Jo Maddocks, and NRCC Chairman, Peter Medhurst, cut the specially commissioned LNF cake for the guests. Peter thanked all those involved for their work in making the scheme such a success and said the NRCC must stress to government how important funds like this are.
NRCC Council Meeting – Post Office Closures
NRCC is holding a Council meeting, open to the public, on 26th March 2008; the day on which the announcement of post offices closures will be made. Together with a representative from Post Office Ltd, Norfolk RCC will be focusing on ways of supporting communities who are facing cuts.
The meeting is from 7pm – 9pm, in Aylsham Town Hall, refreshments will be available from 6.30pm. Please book your free place early by calling 01362 698216 or e-mail claire@norfolkrcc.org.uk by 20th March 2008. Please feel free to bring a guest.
Harleston Groups benefit from NRCC’s Grant Schemes
Norfolk Rural Community Council distributed funding of over £15,000 to a variety of Voluntary and Community groups in Harleston and South Norfolk in 2007.
Groups that benefited included the Jay’s Green Exercise Referral Group who received £1500 from the Rural Projects Fund to purchase exercise equipment. Instructor Mary Kirk said “This will enable the group to benefit from a wider range of equipment and enable us to attract more clients”
The Local Network Fund for Children and Young people brought smiles to the 1st Harleston Scout group when they were awarded a grant of £5700 for equipment and a trip to the Centenary Scout Camp at Watton in May. In August Harleston Players received a grant of £1250 for a theatre project for young people. Two other groups also benefited from the same fund - Exchange 2 received £1152 for a youth worker to develop a project to help young people achieve Norfolk Youth Awards and finally First Friends Harleston Parent & Toddlers received a grant of just over £600 for equipment and first aid courses.
Meanwhile, Broads and Rivers Leader+ Community Chest gave out grants to Harleston Museum of £2886 for a series of temporary exhibitions and to Harleston Players of £2500 for a production of The Merchant of Venice.
The variety of projects supported across the town illustrates the difference that small pots of money can make to community life.
Reaching Out Project
Reaching Out provides advice and skilled volunteers to black and minority ethnic, refugee and migrant, rural and faith groups. Through Reaching Out, your organisation can gain new skills and progress its aims more effectively.
How does the project work? You complete a short questionnaire, which helps to identify your needs. We provide advice and guidance on your volunteer requirements. We then find you a REACH volunteer who has the appropriate career skills. Visit http://www.reach-online.org.uk/projects/reachingout.htm for more info and read about organisations that have already benefited.
To join the project, send an email to Gerard Omasta-Milsom, Project Manager at: reachingout@reach-online.org.uk or telephone 020 7840 5663. Contact us soon - the project is funded until the end of March 2008.
Reaching Out is funded by Capacitybuilders
Last Chance For Broads & Rivers Community Chest Funding
The Broads & Rivers LEADER+ Community Chest only has a short while to run. The application deadline is Thursday 21 February, with £20,000 left to distribute. All schemes must be completed by July 2008.
The Fund is available to rural parishes in an area to the east and south of Norwich, stretching from Bacton on the North Norfolk coast to Bressingham in South Norfolk. It will support local communities, including parish and town councils, in developing projects that improve the local environment and benefit the local economy by encouraging sustainable tourism. Grants of up to 50% can be given – a maximum of £5,000 to projects which total up to £10,000. Most grants are in the region of £2,500.
To date, the Community Chest has helped 90 voluntary groups achieve their aims. It has distributed over £200,000 in grants, which in turn has attracted £230,000 in matched funds from public and private sources. So, if you know of a scheme that could benefit, please get in touch with Sara Muldoon at the RCC or email community.chest@norfolkrcc.org.uk
Village Hall Loan Fund
The Village Hall Loan Fund originated in the 1930s and continues to play a significant role in funding village halls, enabling building, renovation and refurbishment work that may otherwise fall by the wayside. The new Information Pack provides clear and detailed information on the benefits, criteria and the application process.
Managed by ACRE and funded by DEFRA it provides help and assistance for village halls that need extra funding for a variety of projects such as completing a new hall; emergency funds for a new roof; providing access ramps; or simply filling a gap whilst other sources of funding are drawn down or the results of a funding bid are awaited.
Loans are available over five or eight years, there are no security or guarantee requirements and no penalties when making extra payments or if a sudden windfall enables the loan to be paid off early. For further information contact Veronica Savage at Norfolk Rural Community Council or ACRE on 01285 653477
Field Days
Coming in March are two linked training events for all those at community level involved with play, play facilities and playing fields in Norfolk. Funded regionally through Capacity Builders, NRCC will be delivering two afternoon sessions aimed at equipping participants with knowledge and information on issues such as health and safety, maintenance, planning projects, consultation, funding - all in a friendly and interactive way. Further details will be available soon on our website www.norfolkrcc.org.uk and fliers will be sent out over the next week or so. Places will be limited so get your place booked early. The training is free but there is a returnable booking fee of £5 for the two sessions.
Green Buildings: Energy Efficiency
Community halls, especially village halls and churches, are usually old, cold and draughty and expensive to heat. In helping to save the environment, the global problem of climate change needs to be addressed by all and community halls in rural areas are no exception. Church buildings, especially those that provide space for community activities, would be able to provide a low-cost greener, warmer environment under initiatives launched by some church organisations. • The Church of England has launched a campaign, ‘Shrinking the Footprint’ in an effort to address the problems and issues related to climate change. The objective of the campaign is to reduce carbon emissions to 40% of the current levels by 2050 in their churches. http://www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/path.php • Operation Noah is a project of the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah Their ‘Cool Church Toolkit’ outlines measures that churches could use to make a difference by reducing gas emission. • Eco-congregation - Eco-congregation is an ecumenical programme helping churches make the link between environmental issues and Christian faith, and respond in practical action in the church and in the local and global community. www.ecocongregation.org There is support, advice and funding available to assist community halls to become more energy efficient and reduce emissions as well as make savings. It is becoming more common for funders to give grants for projects that address the issue of climate change. Community hall managers should consider this aspect especially when undertaking renovation work, extensions or building new halls.
