Melksham Area Board - 6 June 2012

The agenda has now been published. Please click here for more details. Agenda items include:

11 to 19 Commissioning Strategy Update (Youth Advisory Groups, Volunteers and Income Generation).

Paths Improvement Grant Scheme.

Helping People to live safely in their own homes.

Bath HGV Restrictions – Cleveland Bridge Weight Restrictions.

Community Area Grants and Small Grants Scheme.

Informal Adult Education.

Community Budgets Pilot.

Street based youth work

Melksham Campus 

Tackling financial exclusion

Problems with lorries parking overnight in Hampton Park industrial estate.

Calling all Volunteers to Join Us Celebrating VOLUNTEERS’ WEEK 2012 at the Devizes Jubilee Big Lunch

The Volunteer Centre Wiltshire team will be joining in the festivities at the Devizes Jubilee Big Lunch on Sunday 3^rd June to promote Volunteers Week and the exciting volunteering opportunities open to members of the public.

One of GROW’s services, Volunteer Centre Wiltshire, will be celebrating National Volunteer’s Week at the Devizes Jubilee Big Lunch as Volunteers Week this year coincides with the Jubilee celebrations.

Volunteers Week is an annual event which celebrates the fantastic contribution that millions of volunteers make across the UK, and takes place from the 1st - 7th June. The Week plays a huge part in raising the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society, while inspiring others to get involved too.  Individuals are actively encouraged to use this week to find out more about volunteering and the tremendous benefits it contributes to individuals and our society.

Joining the Volunteer Centre Team will be the Community Development Team, another service from GROW, they will be offering information and guidance to voluntary organisations and community groups as well as discussing local volunteering opportunities that suit your interests. Both teams will be there between 12-5pm at The Green in Devizes.
Speaking about last year’s event one of Volunteer Centre Wiltshire’s regular volunteers Catherine Beale from Chippenham said; “I help out with tasks like keeping the office supplies replenished, getting mail outs ready and general office support. I enjoy volunteering as it enables me to get out and meet people and it makes me feel useful. If I didn’t volunteer I would miss the company and being a member of society.”

Volunteer Centre Wiltshire currently have over 800 volunteering opportunities waiting to be filled across Wiltshire, there are lots of things to get involved with for example you could volunteer to cook for homeless people, support people with learning difficulties, work with animals, be a Witness Support Worker or even be a Wildlife Watch Leader supporting 8 -13 year olds to get hands on experience of nature.

“Volunteers’ Week is a fantastic opportunity for people to find out what volunteering is all about and the benefits that it provides. We hope to speak to as many people as possible to raise awareness about volunteering and the huge variety of opportunities we have available” said Simone Lord, Volunteer Centre Manager. 

For more information and to find out how you can get involved and make a difference phone our dedicated volunteering support line “Call-IT!” now on 0845 521 6224. Or visit our website: www.volunteercentrewiltshire.org.uk. 

Take the opportunity to come and meet the Volunteer Centre team on the 3^rd June at The Green in Devizes to find out more, with more volunteering opportunities being added every day, there’s something for everyone!

Find out more about fostering

Could you make a difference to a child’s life?  Do you have the time to care?

Wiltshire Council provides:

  

• ·         Placements to suit your skills and family circumstances
• ·         A generous allowance
• ·         Excellent on-going training
• ·         Your own support worker and access to 24 hour help

Contact the council at fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk or ring 0800 169 6321. The team will be happy to talk through any questions you have.

What's Replacing DLA?

Disability Living Allowance is set to finish on April 2013 onwards, both the mobility and care components. All of us as disabled people under 65 will have to apply for Personal Independence Plan Funding instead. How much do you know about the changes which became Law under the Welfare Reform Act 2012? Will you be eligible for PIP? How will it be assessed? How can you prepare?

Come and hear our Specialist Speaker, Robbie Spence, from Disability Rights UK in London and discuss together how you can influence it.

Mon 11 June 2012
10.30 - 12.30
Devizes Sports Club

Email info@wiltshirecil.org.uk or telephone 01380 725400 to book a place.

Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forums

GROW are running two Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forums (VSF’s) with the key theme of Rurality.

What is a VSF?

A Wiltshire wide network of Voluntary Sector Forums that add value to the existing voice, consultation and representation structures for the voluntary and community sector.

It’s Generalist

In the specific sense of being able to discuss cross cutting issues that affect all voluntary and community groups across Wiltshire

It’s Local

In the sense of groups being able to look at those cross cutting issues in the context of their own particular part of the overall geographic patch and being able to raise and discuss other locally specific issues that may/may not be experienced in other parts of Wiltshire. Additionally it will allow groups to network at meetings with other groups from their own locality.

In order to accommodate for geographical areas we are running an event aimed at organisations located in the South and East of Wiltshire on Wednesday 16^th May in Devizes and another event for North and West organisations on Wednesday 4^th July in Trowbridge. These events are running from 9:45am - 12:30pm.

In order to book your place please contact Sarah – sarah@growwiltshire.org.uk or call 0845 0345250 stating which event you like to attend. Spaces for the VSF in Devizes are quickly filling up so book now!

Have you got working smoke alarms?

The national Fire Kills campaign is focusing on the importance of working smoke alarms throughout May.

A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you time to escape from your home. They are cheap, easy to get hold of and easy to fit.

Station Manager Kathy Collis, from Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety department, said: “You are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven't got a working smoke alarm. The more alarms you have, the safer you'll be - as long as they are working - so make sure you test them weekly. You should have a minimum of one alarm on each floor. However, if you have only one alarm and two floors, put it somewhere you’ll be able to hear it when you're asleep.”

It usually takes a few minutes to install your smoke alarm yourself - just follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with it. The best place for your smoke alarm is on the ceiling, near or at the middle of the room or hall. The alarm should be at least 30cm (one foot) away from a wall or light.

To keep your smoke alarm in good working order, you should:

• test it once a week, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds
• change the battery on the low warning signal or once a year (unless it’s a ten-year alarm)
• replace the whole unit every ten years

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service can fit smoke alarms free of charge in households that meet certain criteria. To see if you qualify for a home fire safety check, call 0800 389 7849 or visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk

Melksham makes its mark at Queen's Salisbury visit

The sun shone brightly as thousands of people, who had braved the morning’s rain, welcomed Her Majesty The Queen to Salisbury on 1 May, 2012.

The Queen visited the historic city with His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour around the country.  People from across the county and further afield came to the event which was held at Salisbury Cathedral Close from 10am-5.30pm.

Council leader, Jane Scott, said:

“It was an exceptional day and some huge crowds enjoyed the historic visit of Her Majesty. It was wonderful to see Wiltshire coming together to celebrate and showcase all that we do so well. Many memories will have been made, and it will form part of our legacy for many years to come. I really hope everybody who came had a great time.”

The Diamond Jubilee event celebrated Wiltshire’s heritage with medieval-themed activities, including 18 community-inspired jousting tents, music, performances, re-enactments and Morris dancing.

The Melksham area celebrated its industrial and social history through the jubilee tent. There was a timeline depicting significant and interesting events in the area including historic photos, news cuttings and artefacts such as an original earth closet and Avon tyre. Our very own makers of traditional English longbows were also onsite fascinating children and adults alike with fascinating craft.   The public came to have fun at the Melksham tent with samples from Moles Brewery and a variety of performers dressed in traditional costume to impress and entertain: Melksham Rock n Roll, Melksham Pearlies and Melksham Town Crier. 

Wiltshire Council’s Shine 4 Wiltshire winners, The Salisbury Plain Military Wives Choir, performed along with the Prince of Wales Marching Band.


The Cathedral Close also played host to a number of activities with performances from actors in period costume and a display of falconry.  An armed services band performed and they also hosted an inflatable assault course for families to enjoy.

Wiltshire Cultural Events Programme 2012

An exciting range of participatory projects, themed events, performances and exhibitions are planned throughout 2012 across the county. The Wiltshire Council arts service is supporting these events and organisations and has collated this programme for Wiltshire communities. Please help us spread the word by sharing this information through your networks and organisations.

You can download the Wiltshire cultural events programme 2012 176kb or you can visit the arts service website for full details.

For other events and activities, or to register your own event please visit the council What’s On page.

Lloyds Banking Group Social Entrepreneurs Programme: Applications now open!

Applications for this fully funded training course with a £4k Start Up grant are now open to all budding social entrepreneurs in Bristol and the South West.

The programme will support 150 social entrepreneurs each year, for

five years, with comprehensive support from the SSE through its

innovative 'action learning' programmes, plus grants of £4,000 and £15,000 and an annual £25,000 award:

130 'Start Up' awards: grants of £4,000, and a place on a Start Up

SSE learning programme delivered in Bristol and seven other UK locations.

20 'Scale Up' awards: grants of £15,000 and a place on a Scale Up

SSE learning programme delivered at SSE headquarters in London.

1 'Lloyds Banking Group Social Entrepreneur of the Year' award,

given to a Scale Up applicant who demonstrates outstanding potential and who

will receive a total package of £25,000 to scale their organisation.

More information see online:

http://www.the-sse.org/schools/26/lloyds-banking-group-social-entrepreneurs-programme