Grant Funding, Community Resilience, Community Buildings Subscription Service, 75th Anniversary Awards and Farewell to Helen

Hello and welcome to the last full week of October 2023!

We enjoyed a wonderful Conference 2023 last week at The Gateway in Aylesbury.  Our theme was Community Enrichment and we had invited Town and Parish Councils from the whole county to come forward and tell us what they were doing and how they had done it.  I now know, that many of our councils are shy and didn’t feel that they wanted to boast about the many projects that I know, take place, I’m hoping that after the success of Tuesday, you feel all a little braver coming forward next time.  The power and inspiration generated by hearing about our neighbours experiences, easily exceeds that of text book “how to” guides and whilst we can’t do without our tutors, we need the real deal too!  Thank you everyone who took part in making the day a success.

One of the items on Tuesday covered Grant Funding with Mike Deegan,  every great idea needs at least some seed funding.  Thank you to Clerk Claire Power for spotting this link to the Rural Services Network website who a have monthly funding digest with available funding opportunities including a summary of each fund, amount available, deadline and who is eligible.

We also spent time talking about Community Resilience, flooding not surprisingly, on many peoples’ minds!  Our unitary councils both have excellent information and guides and are pleased to talk directly to Town and Parish Councils.

For BC

• Create an emergency plan for your community
• Preparing for Emergencies: Guide for Communities
• Community Emergency Plan Toolkit
• Community Emergency Plan Template
• Resilience in society: infrastructure, communities and businesses

Milton Keynes City Council like BC, link in to the  Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum (TVLRF) and they all meet regularly to assess and share current risks, local information and plans.  Risk information for the Thames Valley area can be viewed on the TVLRF risk register. 

Further on communities, the Rural Community Council for Buckinghamshire and member of ACRE, run the Community Buildings Subscription Service to support management committees around the county in their work running village halls and community buildings.  The subscription costs £65 for the year and benefits range from regular bulletins, a quarterly Zoom meeting, a light touch advice and information service, to support from our expert adviser on more complex issues.   You can find out more about the Service, including a full list of the 2023-2024 benefits, by visiting the Buckinghamshire Community Buildings webpage. If you would like to talk to one of the team, please contact Frankie on frankie@communityimpactbucks.org.uk.

Since 2010, The Woodland Trust has given away 13 million free trees to schools and communities across the UK.  They are currently accepting applications for free trees from local councils, town councils and parish councils, as well as from schools and community groups in their area, and we would like to ask for your support in getting the message out.  Eligible groups can apply for up to 420 free saplings per application window, with our deliveries taking place every year in March and November. Applications processed now will receive their saplings in March 2024, just in time for planting season!

Tomorrow we enjoy Finance Training in the company of Kevin Rose whilst I join our Chair Cllr Smith and NALC rep Cllr Harvey at the remote NALC AGM.  On Thursday I shall look forward to seeing our CiLCA 23 cohort as there visits to us draw to a close. A number are already well underway in submitting their portfolio’s and I enjoy the challenging questions they come armed with!

On Wednesday 1^st November 2023 have our AGM and 75^th Celebration.  Remember this is a ticket only event regardless of whether or not you are joining us in person or over Zoom.  Follow the link below to book now!

Finally news from the BMKALC team to close on, Helen will be leaving the team after the 1^st of November 2023, Helen has been providing support both on our advice front and in our training, both development and delivery thereof and will be missed!  I know you will join Lorraine and me, in wishing her the very best of  luck and wonderful adventures as she heads off on her travels.

We look forward to speaking to you soon…

Kind regards

Mel, Helen and Lorraine

AGM & 75th Anniversary Celebration & Awards Event – November 1st at 5pm