Signpost September 2007
From Norfolk RCC
The Impact of Climate Change on Norfolk
NRCC invites you to explore the impact of climate change on Norfolk on Wednesday 17th October 2007 at 7pm – 9pm at the NRCC, Dereham. Our speakers for the evening will be: Dominic Allen – Sustainability Manager, Norfolk County Council who will give a presentation on the County Council’s approach to dealing with climate change, including the establishment of a task force. A Representative from the University of East Anglia Discussing their work in monitoring and predicting the impact climate change will have on Norfolk. Refreshments will be available from 6.30pm. Please feel free to bring a guest. RSVP by Friday 12th October. Tel 01362 698216 or email claire@norfolkrcc.org.uk
Children & Young People’s ART Competition – Deadline Extended.
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. The closing date is now 31st October 2007. Winners will be notified by 8th November 2007. For an application form visit our website or telephone the RCC.
No Change to Licensing Requirements for Voluntary Car Schemes
In response to rumours going around Norfolk about imminent changes to the exempt status for voluntary drivers transporting passengers against pre-payment and not-for-profit, we can assure everybody supplying or using such a service that they will not be affected by the repeal of the contract exempt rule. They will continue to operate, as now, outside the PSV and PHV licensing regime. Further details can be found on our website under Community Insight, Transport.
Climate Change
Can you make a difference? Yes you can! Norfolk RCC is encouraging all organisations and groups, big or small, to take simple practical steps to improve their local environment and create a cleaner, greener, fairer and safer future by taking part in the Every Action Counts ( EAC ) programme. EAC is engaging local voluntary and community sector organisations in work to protect and improve our environment and to deliver sustainable development solutions. The programme focuses on five key areas: • Save Energy • Travel Wisely • Shop Ethically • Save Resources • Care for Your Area. The project provides support and resources for all groups who want to get involved. For further details and to register follow the link below: www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/en/members/register.asp.
Media Trust Days
Introduction to Web Design
31st October 1400-1700
NRCC Offices
This excellent half day course delivered by the Media Trust is designed to give small community groups and charities a foundation in how to set up and choose an appropriate online presence for their organisation. It is pitched at an introductory level with the ‘non-techie' in mind and covers the basics of how to develop and manage a website as well as how to optimise your search ranking.
Introduction to Media
29th November 1400-1700
NRCC Offices
Is your organisation achieving loads but nobody knows about it? This half day course delivered by the Media Trust aims to help small community groups and charities with questions such as this. It covers the basics from deciding on your audience to how to write a press release and deal with journalists.
For more information or to book your place, please contact: Improving Reach Team, Media Trust, 3-7 Euston Centre, Regent’s Place, London NW1 3JG; Tel: 020 7874 7657/7653; email: improvingreach@mediatrust.org
New Staff Member
Welcome to Wayne Pearson who has joined the RCC as Access4Life Project Officer. Best wishes to Carol Kearns who has left to study Art.
Good News for Community Groups – another £50,000 to give away!
During the past four years the Broads & Rivers Community Chest has distributed over £210,000 to more than 80 voluntary and community groups in the Broads & Rivers area and we now have another £50,000 to give away. Charities and community groups (including parish councils) are eligible to apply if they have a project which encourages tourism or improves the local environment. Applicants can claim up to £5,000 for schemes totaling up to £10,000. The deadlines for applications are 31st October and 24th December 2007 and 29th February 2008. Schemes must be completed by July 2008. For further information and a simple application form please contact Sara Muldoon, at the RCC or email: community.chest@norfolkrcc.org.uk
Post Office Closures
Important information for Parish Councils Post Office Limited has now commenced its closure programme in various parts of the UK. NRCC believe that it is important for us to update you on the current situation with regard to Norfolk and any action that you can take.
The public consultation held at the beginning of the year resulted in a paper issued by the DTI in May - http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39479.pdf This paper states that: • out of the current network of around 14,500 post offices, 2,500 will be closed in BOTH rural and urban areas • 95% of the total rural population across the UK to be within 3 miles of their nearest post office outlet • In applying these criteria, Post Office Limited will be required to take into account obstacles such as rivers to avoid undue hardship • Post Office Limited will also consider the availability of public transport and alternative access to key services, local demographics and the impact on local economies.
In July, District Councils were invited to a meeting in Cambridge when the Post Office and Postwatch outlined the process for dealing with closures. In Norfolk the area planning starts in January 08 with the development of the plan, a 10 week investigation period and engagement with Sub Post Masters. Public consultation starts at the end of March 2008. The period up to January will be the important ‘pre consultation’ period when District Councils should be liaising with both Post Office Limited and Postwatch, highlighting facts about post offices where the above criteria need to be taken into account.
If your parish council or your parishioners are concerned that criteria may be overlooked for your local post office, it is essential that you ensure your District Council is made aware of the facts and that they make the case to Post Office Limited & Postwatch. If you are unsure of any of the above please feel free to contact Peter at the RCC email peter@norfolkrcc.org.uk
NRCC’s 20 minute webpage challenge
Win a computer!!!!! Want a web presence for your organisation? No money to pay for one? Not a techie?
NRCC is offering you FREE one to one assistance to get a community webpage on our site up and running in 20 minutes. No experience necessary and you’ll be able to continue changing and updating it yourself. The website currently receives an average of 13,000 visits a month so it’s a great way to publicise what your community is doing.
All community pages created in November will enter our “Best Page Competition” to win a computer (donated by Cloud 10 Limited, ICT Support).
The RCC is running 4 workshops to help you set up your page in 20 minutes.
NRCC Offices 13th November 4pm – 7pm Bacton Village Hall 15th November 4pm – 7pm Hempnall Village Hall 20th November 4pm – 7pm Magdalen Village Hall 27th November 3pm – 6pm
Ring the RCC or email claire@norfolkrcc.org.uk to book your place