Information, Grants & Funding: More opportunities from April 2012

Buy Better Together Challenge: Co-operatives UK together with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have launched a new £60,000 Community Challenge prize for innovative and sustainable community buying ideas that help consumers to save money and get better quality.  It can cover anything from neighbourhood food co-operatives to heating oil clubs. Plus it doesn’t have to be a physical community – web and mobile developments have led to an increase in the number of ‘virtual’ community buying schemes online.  The deadline for applications is 15 May 2012. Click here for more.

Wiltshire World Changers – Promoting your activities toolkits: The common challenges smaller community groups face are often recruiting volunteers, promoting their activities and events to their wider community. It can be very frustrating when a lot of time and effort has been put into organising an event but very few people attend. Very often the solution is better publicity.  Click here for more information.

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation has three open grants programmes: Arts, Education and Learning, and Social Justice.  These are open for outline applications at any time.  All applications must focus on achieving innovation and change and meet the specific criteria of one of the three programmes.   For more, please click here.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trusts – See Rubbish in a new light. Resource materials have been written for youth groups in Wiltshire to help you to explore the problem of waste and to encourage everyone to reduce the amount they buy and throw away. A toolkit and resources for putting on a community ‘Trash to Treasure’ event as well as plans for ‘Upcycling’ activities. It provides information to help you set up youth group recycling collections as well as signposts for further advice and guidance.  Click here for more.

Nomine Trust – Social investment for social impact. Financial assistance is available for organisations to carry out UK-based or international projects to improve and encourage the safe use of the Internet for educational, inclusion and other charitable purposes.  Deadline May 1st.  Click here for more.

South West Wiltshire Area Board can now be followed on Twitter!  From Stephen Harris, Community Area Manager for South West Wiltshire: “Go to Twitter to sign up if you have not done so already, and follow @SW_Wiltshire by clicking here. Any updates will be sent out as they happen. For those not on Twitter please rest assured that this service does not replace other forms of communication already in use!  However, it is a great way of keeping up to date with what is happening in the area. Please also be aware that if you have anything you would like to be sent out via twitter or the newsletter about things that are happening in the community, or any requests for help etc, then I will do my best to accommodate this.”

The Concertina Charitable Trust. Grants are available to charitable organisations in England and Wales to improve the quality of life of elderly members of society, through cultural activities and related facilities. Deadlines are April 30th & October 31st.2012.  Click here for more.

Introduction to Project Management (Westbury). This course is an introduction to the principles and practice of project management. It is suitable for all managers or project team members who need to know how to manage and evaluate the performance of small to medium sized projects. We will explore how to plan, implement and close a project. Venue: Westbury, Date / Time: Tuesday 15th May 9.30am – 4.30pm For details click here.

The U3A provides Stimulation, Education and Recreation for mature people who no longer work but nevertheless don’t want to vegetate. There is a U3A in Salisbury, as well as other locations throughout Wiltshire – you can belong to more than one U3A if you wish. There are also local Walking Groups – For Planned Walks please see the Walking for Health website.

Information, Grants & Funding: Various opportunities from April 2012

WoodWatch: Protecting your local woods and trees from development. Why do the Woodland Trust need your help? In the UK they have recorded 1043 woods as under threat from development in the last ten years. With 680 in England alone. But is this all of them? Take part by letting us know about a wood under threat near you.  For more on this and other projects such as the Ancient Tree Hunt click here.

Friends of the Earth are launching a major new campaign to help save British bees. The campaign is a call to save one of our most important native insects. Wild honey bees are nearly extinct in Britain and solitary bees are declining in more than half study areas. It’s been estimated that it would cost the UK £1.8 billion every year to hand-pollinate crops without bees. For more information or to get involved with the campaign, please click here.

Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living – Wiltshire Self Funders Forum: On Tuesday 17^th April 2012 there will be a forum exploring the issues around employing care staff direct. People who fund their own care in Wiltshire & their family carers may be interested in attending this. More information is here or via the WCIL website. 

Watermark Award:  Are you looking for a grant to create a wildlife pond? Do you want to start an environmental project? Why not think about applying for a Wessex Watermark award? So if you’re representing a school, parish council or community organisation and you have an environmental project in mind you could apply for grants of up to £1,500 towards it. And every three months a special project receives the Wessex Watermark gold award worth £2,500. More information is at this link.  

BTCV Communities:  We work with local community groups to create sustained environmental change in a safe, enjoyable and effective way. The help available from each BTCV office will vary, depending on the funding and resources available in the locality, and what each community group needs. We provide additional and cost-saving services through the BTCV Community Network. Click here for more info.  

Fundraising Ideas from the Trussell Trust: Our fundraising pack gives lots of great ideas as well as hints and tips on how to run a successful fundraising event.  Click here for more info.  

The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon -Small Grants Fund: Grants of up to £500 are available to small projects that have an annual income of no more than £10,000pa. This is a fast track programme and applications can be turned around within a month. More details are available via this link.

Small Charities Fundraising: The three year project supports small and localised organisations at grassroots level with an annual income of £1 million or less. The project also works with groups supporting marginalised, vulnerable and socially excluded individuals to support them develop their fundraising career. Our programme of activity includes face to face training, online learning, mentoring, career coaching, consultancy and a toolkit. Click here for more information.

Thanks to Dawn from WFCAP & Stephen, our Community Area Manager, for highlighting most of these.

Salisbury Cycle Network Consultation; Plus Temporary Road Closures in Fovant, Compton Chamberlayne & other areas in May 2012

Salisbury Cycle Network Consultation

Wiltshire Council’s Transportation team is looking for feedback on the Salisbury Cycle Network, which includes Wilton & the surrounding area. Wiltshire Council is working with communities to develop Town Cycle Networks, which show the key cycling routes that exist and the priorities for improvement. These routes link to important destinations, such as large employment sites, schools or shopping areas.

As local residents & cyclists have a great deal of knowledge about the cycle routes already used in our area & routes that could be made into new cycle links, the Transportation team are keen to hear your suggestions. These might include: quiet residential streets that are already suitable for cyclists; footpaths which could be made suitable for use by cyclists as well as pedestrians; roads where cycle lanes or traffic calming measures might encourage more cyclists; or footpaths or bridleways that are marked as potential links that you do not think should be improved – if so, what alternative routes are there for cyclists? Please click here for more information, maps & to send a comment. Update: Any comments should be made to the Transportation team by 27 April 2012. (Not 13 April 2012 as originally stated on the Wiltshire Council website.)

Temporary Closure of Various Roads in Compton Chamberlayne, Fovant, Mere & Maiden Bradley in May 2012

For details of temporary road closures in these areas to enable Wiltshire Council to carry out carriageway patching and storm water drainage surveying, please click here.

Next WilCAP meeting on 19th March 2012 – Plus South West Wiltshire Area Board Update

Burcombe Village Hall

Our next WilCAP meeting will be held on Monday 19^th March 2012, 7:00pm at Burcombe Village Hall. All are welcome! This is a special additional meeting following the Community Planning event on 5th March 2012 (see February 2012 archives for more details – post of 3/2/2012). 

WilCAP will be looking at the various ideas produced by attendees of the event, who discussed the Joint Strategic Assessment data in themed groups. These covered a wide range of topics: transport; housing; environment; children & young people; arts, culture & leisure; community safety; health & well-being; economy, jobs & skills. Our discussion will be with a view to how WilCAP could help with, or contribute to, any future projects addressing the various issues & suggested solutions for the Wilton Community Area. 

Please also note the new meeting time of 7pm & change of venue – WilCAP are delighted to be holding meetings within the parishes it represents. Our full agenda will be on the ‘Meetings’ page shortly (thanks, Ivan) & we hope to see you there.

South West Wiltshire Area Board Update – Meetings on 22^nd March & 11^th April 2012

Please click for the March 2012 edition of ‘Just a Minute’. It has details of the mobile library route review (the consultation will run until 11th May); community grants; proposed changes to household recycling centres; a new £60 million grant scheme to boost the rural economy; the Community Payback scheme & more.

There are also details of the extra-ordinary Area Board meeting which is being held on 22nd March 2012, where young people will be presenting their proposals for youth projects. Plus details about the next full Area Board meeting on 11th April 2012 at Charlton Remembrance Hall, when it’s planned that the information gathered at the recent Community Planning Event on 5 March will be fed back & discussed.

Wiltshire Core Strategy – Consultation closes 2nd April 2012

The Wiltshire Core Strategy document will form the framework for spacial planning up to 2026: “The Wiltshire Core Strategy is the most important part of the Local Development Framework (LDF), a suite of planning policy documents that will eventually replace the four local plans covering Wiltshire.”

The Core Strategy will outline a sustainable spatial strategy for future development in the County and include: key principles of development; the location of strategic sites for new housing and employment development; policies with which planning applications will be assessed; a key diagram displaying the spatial aspects of the Core Strategy.

Between 20 February 2012 and 2 April 2012 comments are invited on the ‘soundness’ of the draft plan and whether the correct legal processes have been followed. To be sound, policies should be based on clear, robust, up-to-date information. It’s obviously in the interests of each community area & its parishes to review this document.

Please visit the Wiltshire Core Strategy webpage where there is more information, details of how you can make your comments & also a list of exhibitions by area at the bottom of the page. Click on these links for the Wilton Community Area exhibition & for the Salisbury Community Area exhibition – which includes Wilton town & the plans for the UKLF site in Wilton, Fugglestone Red & also the former Imerys Quarry site.

Wilton Eco Park – An Update & Forthcoming ‘Great Green Challenge’ Events

The Wilton Eco Park Development Community Association (WEPDCA) held a public meeting on the 18th February 2012, which was attended by over 100 people. A summary of the meeting can be found here on the Eco Park website.

I was at the meeting & thought I’d say a little more about some points which I found interesting or noteworthy. It was explained that the actual plans for the development & the amount WEPDCA & their partner, ‘Our Enterprise’, planned to bid for the former UKLF site, could not be revealed at this pre-bid stage. This was due to the confidential nature of the bid, as there are potentially other rival bidders. Whilst this seemed disappointing to some attendees, who had hoped to be given more substantial details of what they were essentially supporting at this meeting, WEPDCA & ‘Our Enterprise’ did give assurances to the public that the wider community would be consulted & involved should the bid be successful. It was suggested that as the UKLF site will inevitably be bought & developed by someone, this bid probably gave the local community the best possible chance of influencing the subsequent development.

With WEPDCA, I understand this will be done via the creation of a ‘Wilton and Surrounding Area Community Land Trust’, which will be: “the vehicle to represent the public’s interest in the Eco Park and other community projects in the long term.” So even if this bid were unsuccessful, the Wilton and Surrounding Area Community Land Trust would continue to exist; if other land became available for sale in the Wilton area in the future, its purchase could be considered on behalf of the community. For more information about Community Land Trusts, please visit the main Wiltshire Community Land Trust website. People at the meeting were invited to put their names forward to join the Wilton and Surrounding Area Community Land Trust as members and/or Board members – please contact WEPDCA if you’d be interested & were not at the meeting. A leaflet from the meeting explaining more about WEPDCA, their vision, aims & what the Community Trust can deliver as a partner, is here.    

WEPDCA’s partner, ‘Our Enterprise’, is a Community Interest company. They described how they develop sites so they are not just commercially viable, but also beneficial to the community & reflect what the community wishes to see. The architectural team did a presentation to give a feel of how they would aim to link the site into Wilton, referencing the variety of local architecture & building materials, as well as the challenges of connecting the green spaces, plus rail, road & river links within Wilton. They advised they were taking a sustainable, innovative & holistic approach.

On a practical level, John Glen MP confirmed that he fully supported the project & would do all he could to help when the bid is considered by the MOD. Also, to reinforce the importance of this bid being what the local community wishes for. There was some animated discussion around the need for the MOD to get the best possible price for the site, but John Glen advised that he looked at the wider picture. As I understood the view he expressed, if this bid happened to be close to, but not quite the highest bidder, the MOD should still seriously consider this bid. This is due to what this development could deliver to the local community in terms of real, practical benefits, so creating savings to the taxpayer in other areas in the long term. He felt that the bid stacks up, based on the financial probity of the application with the opportunity to do things differently, a vision to create jobs around environmental themes, promoting environmentally friendly initiatives & the fact that this bid is owned by the local community.

I understand that since the meeting, the submission of bids for the UKLF site has been delayed again by the MOD/Wiltshire Council. So the deadline for bids has been changed from 9^th March 2012 & is now likely to be around the end of March 2012. If WEPDCA’s bid is successful, there will be consultation with the public prior to any planning application being made. 

The Great Green Challenge – dates for your diary!

The ‘Great Green Challenge’ is a separate part of the Wilton Eco Park Project. You may have found this as confusing as I did! The £50,000 award made to WEPDCA by the Dept of Energy & Climate Change’s, Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF), has enabled a series of energy & environmental events to start this month. Its findings & work are intended to inform the Wilton and Surrounding Area Community Land Trust. For more details of all the events happening in March & how to get involved in them, please click for the Great Green Challenge calendar & information. This includes a “Save energy, save money” event at Wilton Community Centre on Wednesday 14th March 2012 from 2-4pm, two youth workshops, the opportunity to visit eco buildings & projects in the South West & an “Ecology day/ family fun day” on Saturday 24^th March 2012.

The Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) Strategy – Wiltshire Council Consultation & Salisbury Workshop on 17th April 2012

The full draft VCS strategy document is available to view here. Plus you can have your say on the draft strategy by completing this online survey.

“Wiltshire Council regards the VCS as a key partner in delivering its vision for stronger, more resilient communities in Wiltshire. As such the council believes it is strategically important to develop a positive relationship with the VCS. This draft VCS strategy sets out the council’s corporate approach to working with and supporting the VCS, in a way that is consistent with the Wiltshire Compact. We are now seeking views from a wide range of VCS organisations and other partners. The consultation period is open for a period of 12 weeks and will close on Friday 11 May 2012. After this date, we will assess the responses and take these into account in the preparation of the final version of the strategy. It is intended that the strategy is presented to Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet for formal adoption.”

GROW, the VCS infrastructure support service funded by Wiltshire Council, will be running two consultation events in order to collate a collective response to the draft strategy from voluntary and community groups. These will take place on April 17th in Salisbury for South & East groups and April 19th in Chippenham for North & West groups. For more details, please click here.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Event for local businesses – Salisbury City Hall – 20th March 2012

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is working with Wiltshire Council to run a series of drop-in events for local businesses, one of which will be held at Salisbury City Hall on Tuesday 20th March 2012 from 9am to 3pm. The aim is to provide a free ‘one stop shop’ for businesses to gather information and guidance on how to comply with the various pieces of legislation that apply to them. All businesses are welcome to attend; however, the various agencies are especially keen to talk to members of the licensed trade such as pub/club, restaurant and takeaway owners.

Is your business safe? Do you know your requirements regarding: fire; associated accommodation; food hygiene; alcohol licensing; health & safety; family safety?

Group Manager Julian Parsons said: “There is a large amount of safety and hygiene legislation to comply with, and it can be particularly challenging for small and medium sized businesses to understand what is required of them. They are often unsure who to talk to and carry on hoping that they are compliant until they are inspected. This is a great opportunity for businesses to gather information and guidance from all of the enforcing agencies in one place. We are especially keen to engage with business leaders to provide this information, and to see how the current economic climate is affecting them with regards the on-going maintenance of standards”.

Although the event is aimed primarily at business, members of the public are also welcome to attend for free home fire safety, general food hygiene and safety advice. For further information, please click here.

Awards, Workshops & Funding – Various opportunities from March 2012

Please click here for details of awards, workshops & funding opportunities from March 2012 that you, or groups you know, may benefit from. These are from organisations such as Wiltshire & Swindon Funding Network, Department for Business Innovation & Skills, Action for Market Towns, Wiltshire Council Arts Project Grant Scheme, Ci3 South & West, LSIS & The Learning Curve. For more information about the workshops with Community First, please click here. Thanks to Dawn from WFCAP for highlighting these.

Help with keeping warm this winter & Free business expertise available from BT

Wiltshire Council was successful in their recent bid to the Department of Health for funding to help reduce fuel poverty in Wiltshire. This Winter Warmth Flyer promotes the scheme to all householders & advises how & where to seek information about saving money on your heating bills, plus how to make your home warmer & how to access grants.

If you are a professional working face to face with vulnerable people who may be eligible for a grant, this Sign Posting Guide advises where to seek information to combat fuel poverty; access grants; get benefit advice; find the best energy tariff & payment method; plus information on insulation & heating.

Volunteer Centre Wiltshire is working in partnership with Volunteering England & BT on an initiative to support community groups. They are currently looking for suitable local organisations that could really benefit from using BT’s business expertise. What’s involved? BT’s Troubleshooter project is part of their commitment to give something back to the communities in which they operate. They are hoping to help a few local charities address key problems or challenges they are facing. For example, you could be looking to develop a funding or income strategy, introduce new services, or develop a strategic plan etc. There is no cost for taking part. A limited number of groups will attend one of two events in March and May. A small team of BT staff will apply their skills and knowledge and propose some solutions. To find out more, click here.

Aged 13-19? Live in Barford St Martin or Dinton? Interested in attending Wilton Development Centre for Young People?

Wilton Development Centre for Young People

Are you aged 13-19 and live in Barford St Martin or Dinton? Would you like to attend Wilton Development Centre for Young People? They provide free activities which range from art to sport. From Monday 26th Feb 2012 they are providing free transport to Wilton Development Centre for Young People with pickups and drop offs in both Dinton and Barford St Martin. To find out more contact Jenni Bertram, Youth Development Co-ordinator on 07833722132 or email jenni.bertram@wiltshire.gov.uk you can also visit www.sparksite.co.uk

Wilton Eco Park – Public meeting on Saturday 18th February 2012

The old UKLF site in Wilton

The Wilton Eco Park Development Community Association (WEPDCA) is holding a public meeting at the Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton on Saturday 18th February 2012 from 11am to 12.30pm. I understand this follow-up public meeting (to the one held on 14th January 2012) is planned to: “….provide feedback on progress and discuss the way forward, including the formation of a Community Land Trust to carry forward community interests.” There will also be feedback on WEPDCA’s meeting with the development company, as discussed at the previous public meeting. As well as being an opportunity for people to find out more about the project & volunteer to be involved in an environmental audit of the buildings in Wilton & Quidhampton. A huge boost has been given to the project due to WEPDCA being awarded more than £50,000 of funding from the government. For more information, please visit the Eco Park website. Poster now also available here .

Wilton Development Centre for Young People – Official Opening – Monday 20th February 2012

On Monday 20^th February 2012 from 6pm, it’s the official opening of the brand new Wilton Development Centre for Young People, in The Hollows, Wilton. The leader of Wiltshire Council, Jane Scott OBE, will be the guest of honour.

It’s a great opportunity to go along, find out what’s happening in this exciting new youth centre & meet the young people who use it.  The plan for the evening is:     

6.00pm   Arrivals and introductions

6.15pm   Tour of the youth centre and video presentation by the young people

6.30pm   Refreshments and a chance for questions

6.45pm   Youth centre opens to all the young people and it is your chance to speak to the young people and experience a normal night in a youth centre.

9.00pm   Youth centre closes

 

 

South Wiltshire Core Strategy Development Plan Document – Adopted February 2012

On 7^th February 2012, Wiltshire Council adopted the South Wiltshire Core Strategy Development Plan Document, which is part of the Council’s Local Development Framework.  As WilCAP blogged back on 22/5/2011, this will guide all development in South Wiltshire to 2026, including new housing development on sites local to Wilton such as Fugglestone Red & the former UKLF site, as well as the wider Wilton Community Area. It sets out the Council’s: “Spatial vision, key objectives and overall principles for development in the area of the former Salisbury District Council… This will include the location of strategic sites for new housing and employment development, as well as policies with which planning applications will be judged”. The adopted Core Strategy & associated documents are online here & copies are also available at Salisbury, Wilton & Tisbury libraries, as well as the main Council offices in Salisbury (27-29 Milford Street).

Funding opportunities for Youth Projects & also from the Community Foundation in February 2012. Free Workshop opportunities with Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living.

Youth Projects – The January 2012 newsletter for the South West Wiltshire Community Area (see post of 27/1/2012) advised that our Area Board has £12,000 of funding set aside for youth projects (all children and young people up to the age of 21). As detailed in this poster, an event is being held on 29^th February 2012, before the next area board meeting, where young people and adults can find out more about what to bid for and ask any questions they may have. So if there is a project / organisation in your area that you think would benefit, the deadline for applications is 9 March 2012.

Community Foundation in association with Wiltshire Police – Funding is available to local groups to address crime & anti-social behaviour, & improve personal & community security – Community Foundation – Funding Information. The closing date for applications is Friday 16th February 2012.

Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living (CIL) is an organisation managed by disabled people & is committed to supporting all disabled people to achieve choice, control and equal rights by: campaigning for individuals rights; advising; informing; training, advocacy & peer support. Please click for their latest Jan 2012 Newsletter. Wiltshire CIL have received national funding from the Office of Disability Issues to run a series of free workshops & practice sessions, starting in March 2012. For more information & to find out workshop topics, please see this Wiltshire CIL flyer. Transport costs & access needs will also be met.