Signpost July 2007

From Norfolk RCC

Contents 1 21st Century Village Challenge 1.1 Children's and Young People's Art Competition 1.2 NRCC Signs-Up to CRED 1.3 Green Toolkit for Communities 2 The Impact of Climate Change on Norfolk 3 Training offered by NRCC – book now! 4 Community Groups Network in West Norfolk 5 Calling all Community Champions! 6 Can you help to save the planet? 7 COMMA - funding 8 AGM Update 9 NRCC needs an Honorary Treasurer!

21st Century Village Challenge

What will life be like in a 21st century Norfolk village?

Norfolk RCC is taking part in a national initiative to raise awareness, stimulate ideas and help implement actions by individuals and communities to make their town or village a better place in which to live.

At our Annual General Meeting on 16th July we launched 3 projects to celebrate this challenge:-

Children's and Young People's Art Competition

This competition is organised by The Local Network Fund for Children & Young People to celebrate seven years of giving grants to children's groups across Norfolk. Voluntary groups working with children & young people are asked to send in their ideas of what a village will be like in 2050. There are three age ranges and £350 to be won in equipment for each category. Art work can be in different mediums, for example, photos, collage, painting but is limited to A1 size. For an application form visit our website or telephone the RCC.

NRCC Signs-Up to CRED

Norfolk Rural Community Council has publicly signed up to CRED (Carbon Reduction Programme) to make a 60% saving in emissions.

Green Toolkit for Communities

The NRCC is developing an Environment Toolkit to enable communities to become familiar with, and influence, environmental issues including landscape, greenspace, recreation, the “green economy” and climate change. Funded by the Sustainable Development Fund and the Rural Social and Community Programme, when completed the toolkit will be offered as a web-based, downloadable resource housed on NRCC’s website and be produced as a document in limited quantity. Watch Signpost to keep updated on progress.

The Impact of Climate Change on Norfolk

The RCC Council Meeting on the evening of Wednesday 12th September will be highlighting the impact of climate change on rural Norfolk. This will be an opportunity for members and non-members to discuss their views and concerns and share ideas on ways of reducing any negative impact. Further details will be sent to all members shortly.

Training offered by NRCC – book now!

Norfolk Rural Community Council is pleased to offer a programme of workshops designed to share information and best practice relating to the management of community buildings. The workshops will be held at the offices of Norfolk Rural Community Council in Dereham. Each session is partially subsidised, which means we can offer places for a charge of just £5 per person per workshop. Workshops cover the following areas:-

• Governance and Committee Meetings
• Marketing, Promotion and Communication
• Licenses and Legal Permissions
• Project Planning and Management
• Managing Risk
• Financial Planning and Control

If you would like to book a place/places please download the booking form from the website or telephone the RCC and return the form with your cheque for the appropriate amount, made payable to NRCC to: NRCC, Ambassador Way, Greens Road, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 3TL by 28 September 2007

Community Groups Network in West Norfolk

For the latest news on funding and training events etc, anyone involved in their local community as a volunteer or paid worker is invited to find out more about what is happening in their area by going to:

Walpole Cross Keys Village Hall Thursday 27th September 4pm – 6pm

Wimbotsham Village Hall Thursday 13th December 4pm – 6pm

For more information contact:

• Vicki Howling on 07981 642171 or vicki@norfolkrcc.org.uk
• Jackie Squires on 01553 616657 or jackie.squires@west-norfolk.gov.uk
• Maxine Fiander on 01553 760568 or maxine@westnorfolkvca.org.uk

Calling all Community Champions!

Do you have an idea that will benefit your community? In need of a little financial support to help make it happen? Do you want the opportunity to develop your skills and achieve your own personal goals?

The Community Champions Fund is a small grants scheme seeking new champions right now. All we ask is that you are an unpaid individual or volunteer associated with a group. Within the East of England priority will be given to projects that will benefit the following people:

• Black and ethnic minority
• Disabled
• Youth (16-25 years old)
• Others facing disadvantage
• Living in a deprived or isolated rural area

The fund support projects up to the value of £2,000 or up to £500 for a fast track application and is open to anyone over the age of 16. Funding is subject to references and CRB clearance (if required).

If you would like to know more please contact: Nominated RCC Officer, Clare Nagle at Rural Action East 01473 242541, or COVER on 01799 532883. For an application form go to: http://www.cover-east.org and click on the Community Champions Logo.

Can you help to save the planet?

Are you keen to take action against the effects of climate change? Would you like to help others to reduce their demands on the planet and create a better future for everyone? If so, you could become an Every Action Counts Community Champion.

As part of Defra’s Every Action Counts initiative funding is provided to train volunteers to help groups in their community to plan simple actions to help reduce the effects of climate change by saving energy, travelling wisely, shopping ethically, saving resources and caring for their area.

A FREE and accredited two-day course run by trained RCC staff is available to anyone over 18, to show you how to use the Community Champions toolkit and to help develop the skills you will need to support community groups to take small actions which could make a BIG difference.

To register your interest in becoming a Community Champion or for more information contact: Carrie-Anne Rowley from Bedfordshire RCC on 01234 838771.

COMMA - funding

Application deadline – 1st September 2007! COMMA – The Community Aggregates Fund was officially launched at the Rural Life Conference.

Full details can be found on the ACRE website and application forms can be downloaded http://www.acre.org.uk/COMMA.htm .

To be eligible to apply to COMMA:

1. Projects have to be within10km of an aggregate site
2. Maximum grant £20,000
3. Closing date for applications is 1st September 2007
4. The project will need to be completed by 1st March 2008
5. If the grant requested is not 100% of the project costs all other funding must have been applied for and be secured in time to complete the project by 1st March 2008
6. Permissions including planning need to be in place when applying

Because of these tight timelines this fund will probably best suit projects that are some way forward in their planning. To find out if your project is within 10km of an aggregate site visit our website for full details of locations covered.

AGM Update

Following our Annual General Meeting on 16th July 2007 the NRCC Board of Trustees was duly elected as follows:-

• Peter Medhurst – Chair
• Trevor Bevan – Vice Chair
• Tony Yates – Treasurer (Interim)
• Gordon Dawes – NAVH representative
• Abraham Eshetu
• Margaret Holmes
• Brian Landale – NPFA representative
• James Langstaff
• Emily Millington-Smith
• Tony Nash – NCAPTC representative
• Jim Page
• John Perry-Warnes – NCC representative
• Ray Philpott
• Jean Wilson
• Not yet appointed – Local Government Association Representative.

NRCC needs an Honorary Treasurer!

Would you like to join an experienced, dedicated and active volunteer team of Trustees who oversee the work of Norfolk Rural Community Council (NRCC) which has an annual turnover of over £1.7 million.

We are looking for a Treasurer able to give key strategic guidance to the Board on the best use of our financial resources:

• To provide the drive for the financial strategy.
• To meet our charitable objectives.
• To ensure compliance with regulations and the law.
• To ensure the long term viability of NRCC.

The participation of Trustees is voluntary, however incurred expenses are reimbursed.

Contact Mary Codling, Resources Manager for a role description. Tel: 01362 698216, e-mail mary@norfolkrcc.org.uk. To express an interest please send in brief details of your relevant experience and qualifications.

NRCC is always looking to recruit individuals with a keen interest and expertise in any of the following areas: financial management, business planning, marketing and public relations, human resources, legal knowledge, rural regeneration and health and safety.