The fund is available to a variety of organisations acting on behalf of their local community including social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, community trusts, charities and private businesses (non-communications providers). Communities interested in applying are advised to consider how they could work closely with their local authorities and must link with their Local Broadband Plan to demonstrate that their project falls in the 10% area. Local Authorities (including Parish and District Councils) can apply on behalf of communities, or act as the managing authority for an application.

All Expressions of Interest will be based on a robust business plan and will need to be able to demonstrate widespread local engagement, evidencing need and support for the proposed project.

For more information about the fund please visit the RDPE website by clicking here.

If you would like to discuss the application process, or would like advice about filling in the forms, please contact Chris Cowcher at GRCC on 01452 528491 or christopherc@grcc.org.uk. Alternatively you can contact the RDPE Delivery Team – please click here to find your local contact.

Please note that this fund is separate from the GFirst (Gloucestershire First, the Local Enterprise Partnership) led ‘Borders Broadband Project’ however it is complementary and so it is important that you ultimately engage with GFirst as part of your application. Please contact Chris Cowcher for further advice, in this regard. 

The Lord Lieutenant is formally opening the stones in June. This has been a real community effort by Ebrington, and each of the surrounding parishes have linked in to this. This Battlebridge stone is on the boundary of Campden.

Matt is pictured left with Tony on the right below

To have a look at their pages and find out how the Accelerator Project can help you, click here.

To take a look at what other parish councils are doing follow these links;

Hawling Parish Meeting on Facebook

Bisley-with-Lypiatt Parish Council on Facebook

Chalford Parish Council on Facebook

Cam Parish Council on Twitter

Alkington Parish Council on Twitter

Littledean Parish Council on Twitter

This year’s competition is sponsored by GRCC, Cotswold District Council, Stroud District Council and  includes a new category “Most Hospitable and Inclusive Community”, kindly sponsored by Barnwood Trust. The other categories are “Best community project / initiative”; “Healthy and active community” and “Most resilient community”.

For further details and to download an electronic copy of the form click here

All entries must be submitted to Naomi McMahon by email at naomim@grcc.org.uk or in hard copy to GRCC at Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ by Monday 28th May 2012 at 5pm.

These events aim to explore the possibilities for community led solutions to reducing traffic speed and to help communities move these forward. There will be:

These events are open to people from your community, including councillors and interested residents. Members of the Road Safety Partnership, including Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire Highways, will also attend the events.

We invite you to send us, in advance, your community’s scenarios so that we can use real examples in the workshop sessions.

We also invite communities to let us know if they want a specific element to be covered at the events and to send in examples of their own initiatives to be displayed at the events or included in the delegates’ pack. Please speak to Helen Richards at GRCC (see below).

To book your place, please contact Helen Richards at GRCC helenr@grcc.org.uk 01452 528491. Please give your name, community, email, telephone contact and state which event you will be attending. Numbers are initially restricted to two per community, but a reserve list will be kept. 

Attendees are welcome to arrive at the events from 5:15pm when a Ploughman’s Supper will be served.

If you can spare a few hours, live in one of the following areas and would like to find out more about how you can make a difference to an older person, we would love to hear from you.

• Lydney
• Coleford
• Nailsworth
• Gloucester area
• Tewkesbury area

 Please contact Holly Mills at GRCC on 01452 528491 or email hollym@grcc.org.uk

For more information about Connect, click here to visit our web page

During 2011-12 157 new affordable homes have been built, are under construction or have been granted planning consent in twelve small towns (under 3000 population) and villages across Gloucestershire. Including Upper Rissington, near Bourton-on-the-Water which has planning consent for another 118 new affordable homes, the grand total comes to 275 new affordable homes.    

 Residents in Southrop celebrate the completion of four newly built affordable homes for rent with representatives of Cirencester Housing Society and Cotswold District Council with the planting of a tree.  The energy supply to these homes is supplemented by photovoltaic cells (on the rear elevation, hence out of view) which provides free electricity, and even a small income to the occupier from any surplus electricity!

NEW - The Live Music Act 2012 will give community buildings the opportunity to host live music events without the need for a Premises License or Temporary Event Notice providing that the capacity does not exceed 200 people.

NEW - The HMRC has also abolished the current reduced VAT rate of 5% on energy saving building products used to update/ refurbish charitable buildings. Halls will now have to pay the full 20% rate on energy saving building materials once the charge is introduced in the Finance Bill due to come into force soon.

This meeting is important to see if this is how you want to continue in the light of the Cotswold Conversation which has begun. How do you want to proceed?

There is more information and ideas with regard to Localism too, so you might want to join us for that. We will meet at the hall at 5.45pm ending up at the village hall for tea, coffee and discussion/information exchange on arrival.  Please see the agenda here for more detail.

If you would like more information or book a place please contact Marilyn Cox (marilync@grcc.org.uk) or Chris  Cowcher (christopherc@grcc.org.uk) at GRCC (01452 528491)

Click here for the meeting agenda

Click here for directions to the venue

 Monday 14th May 2012:  5:45 to 8:15pm at the Eastington Community Centre

or

Monday 21st May 2012: 5:45 to 8:15pm at Abbey Fields Community Centre, Winchcombe

Traffic speed is one of the most important topics for communities across Gloucestershire. However with funding cuts affecting Gloucestershire Highways’ ability to fund non priority schemes and police capacity to enforce speed limits, communities are looking at measures they can put in place to reduce traffic speed.

These events aim to explore the possibilities for community led solutions to reducing traffic speed and to help communities move these forward. There will be:

We invite you to send us, in advance, your community’s scenarios so that we can use real examples in the workshop sessions.

We also invite communities to let us know if they want a specific element to be covered at the events and to send in examples of their own initiatives to be displayed at the events or included in the delegates’ pack. Please speak to Helen Richards at GRCC (see contact details below).

These events are open to people from your community, including councillors and interested residents. Members of the Road Safety Partnership, including Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire Highways, will also attend the events.

To book your place, please contact Helen Richards at GRCC helenr@grcc.org.uk 01452 528491. Please give your name, community, email, telephone contact and state which event you will be attending. Numbers are initially restricted to two per community, but a reserve list will be kept.

Attendees are welcome to arrive at the events from 5:15pm when a Ploughman’s Supper will be served.

If you would like a coplour information leaflet for the event click here

You will have the opportunity to sign up to have a thermal image of your home taken using a state of the art thermal imaging camera. They will also be offering advice on how to improve the efficiency of your home.

For full details visit Transition Cleeve

If you have any requests for topics for discussion at these events please contact Barbara Pond on 01452 528491.

This year’s competition is sponsored by GRCC, Cotswold District Council, Stroud District Council and  includes a new category “Most Hospitable and Inclusive Community”, kindly sponsored by Barnwood Trust. The other categories are “Best community project / initiative”; “Healthy and active community” and “Most resilient community”.

 For further details and to download an electronic copy of the form click here

All entries must be submitted to Naomi McMahon by email at naomim@grcc.org.uk or in hard copy to GRCC at Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ by Monday 28th May 2012 at 5pm.

Store is the Core training seminars are FREE to attend and tailored for village retailers. There are two themed events designed to help retailers better analyse their business through a combination of presentations from an expert in the field and group discussions. For this round of seminars the two themes to choose from are: Marketing & Market Research (Reaching and Understanding Your Customers) and Effective Selling Space (Range Layout & Merchandising). Each Seminar lasts for 4 hours with plenty of opportunity for retailers to network and discuss current issues.

For more information contact or to book your place please contact Tim Coomer, Rural Enterprise Adviser, Community First Wiltshire 

Visit: www.communityfirst.org.uk 

Email tcoomer@communityfirst.org.uk or

Tel: 01380 732812

 Timetable

County

Catchment

Theme

Date (2012)

Venue

Cornwall 

Helston

1

28th March

The Godolphin Club,Wendron Street,Helston,TR13 8PS

Cornwall 

Bodmin

2

29th March

Dragon Leisure Centre,,Lostwithiel Road,Bodmin,  PL31 1DE

Cornwall

Callington

1

9th May

Ginsters,Tavistock Road,Callington, PL17 7XG

Devon

Totnes

2

18th April

Royal Oak,Station Road, SouthBrent,TQ10 9BE

Devon

South Molton

1

17th April

GeorgeHotel,Broad Street, SouthMolton,EX36 3AB

Dorset

Blandford

2

23rd May

Crown Hotel, Blandford Forum,WestStreet, DT11 7AJ

Glouc

Cheltenham

1

30th March

Brockworth Community Centre, Court Road,Brockworth,GL3 4ET

Somerset

Shepton Mallet

2

2nd May

Pilton Village Hall, St Mary’s Lane,Pilton,BA4 4BB

Somerset

Wiveliscombe

2

3rd May

Bishops Lydeard Village Hall,Mount Street, BishopsLydeard, TA4 3LH

Somerset

Yeovil

1

18th June

Mudford Memorial Hall,Mudford,BA21 5TE

Wiltshire

Wilton

1

29th May

LangfordLakesEd.Centre,     SteepleLangford,SP3 4NH

Wiltshire

Marlborough

2

14th June

St Mary’s Church Hall,Silverless Street,Marlborough,SN8 1JQ

The leaflet provides information on things you need to consider when setting up a commuinty market. You can find the leaflet here.

For more information on the community market event and other past events carried out by the Accelerator project click here.

Wednesday 28th March 2012

Tewkesbury Town Hall (Corn Hall)

High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5LA

10.30am-12.30pm

Free refreshments

For more information call Holly Mills or Barbara Piranty on

01452 528491

Help with transport may be available

Have you been made redundant?

Do you need more information and advice?

FREE Information event for the over 50s looking

to return to work or start their own business

Come and find out more!

Talks and stands on barriers and opportunities, carer support, training, volunteering,

confidence building, pensions and benefits.

Free refreshments

Limited places book now!

call Holly Mills or Barbara Piranty on

  01452 528491

GLOUCESTERSHIRE VILLAGE & COMMUNITY AGENTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE

10 HOURS PER WEEK

GRCC is looking to recruit Village & Community Agents for each of the following areas:

Village & Community Agents provide older people with easier access to information and services.

If you:

Live in or close to one of the areas above

Have the use of a reliable car

Are committed to helping older people in Gloucestershire

Please contact Gloucestershire Rural Community Council on 01452 528491 for more information and an application form. Application packs are available to download here

Closing date Friday 16th March

Interview Date Thursday 29th March

Interviews will be held on 6th March.

We have left the application pack information online for those who are interested in finding out more about these roles. Click here for more information.