Leicestershire Rural Partnership Big Society Rural Advice Service
Big Society: Rural Advice
The Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Community Council (RCC) is delighted to have been chosen to deliver the Leicestershire Rural Partnership (LRP) Rural Advice Service.
Funded by Leicestershire County Council the service will provide the following support to help progress Big Society initiatives in rural areas:
• Advice and guidance to communities on a range of rural issues
• Specialist advice on community consultation, action planning and project development activity
• Signposting to other organisations and support services that may be able to provide further support and advice in specialist areas
4 Ways to Warmth
The 4 Ways to Warmth scheme is now well underway across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Supported by a range of partners the scheme will provide advice and guidance to frontline workers and volunteers on:
• insulation, energy saving and measures to keep homes warm and enable vulnerable people to live healthily
• advice on getting the best deal from your energy supplier including priority register for vulnerable people
• accessing handyperson schemes and small grant schemes to fund loft clearance for those eligible for free loft insulation
• support available through First Contact
• recruitment, training and support for a network of volunteer energy Champions
• links to Good Neighbours/nominated neighbours schemes
• provision of information on Fuel Poverty to frontline workers and volunteers.
• support through the First Contact Scheme from statutory agencies and partners
The scheme will also fund the purchase of emergency heating/hot water and winter warmer packs which will be available to vulnerable people across the area.
For more information of awareness events please see the above link or for more information contact dcook@ruralcc.org.uk 0116 2689706
Latest News
We need your opinion:
The Rural Community Council (RCC) for (Leicestershire & Rutland) is undertaking a public consultation exercise on behalf of Melton Borough Council to gain an understanding from people living in rural areas of Melton Borough as to their opinion on the delivery of and equitable access to Melton Borough Council services currently delivered.
The consultation will be in the form of an Online questionnaire which will be anonymous and in addition to this, a number of interviews will be undertaken targeting particular geographic areas and groups.
The consultation period runs from Monday 14th May until Friday 1st June.
How to view and submit the questionnaire:
The questionnaire can be found at the following address:
www.ruralcc.org.uk/questionnaires
Once the Online questionnaire has been completed, click on submit and your questionnaire will be registered.
What happens next:
All the responses we receive will be analysed and form part of a final research report for Melton Borough Council.
We welcome your opinion:
Your views are important to us, so please take the time to complete and submit the questionnaire and encourage other members of your community to take part as well.
Thank You in anticipation.
If you have any queries about the questionnaire, or require any further information, please contact John Preston Community Development Officer at the RCC by email: jpreston@ruralcc.org.uk or by Telephone: 0116 2689707
The Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Parish Council celebrated their first year in office on Rogation Day, Sunday 13th May 2012.
A church service was held at St John the Baptist Church Hugglescote at 10am and this was followed by a walk of the Parish boundaries, attended by approximately 30 people. Rogation Day traditionally was a solemn procession to invoke God's mercy; the faithful typically observed the Rogation days by fasting in preparation to celebrate the Ascension, and farmers often had their crops blessed by a priest at this time. Last Sunday’s event was a light hearted occasion and everyone was grateful of the warm and sunny morning, the event included the blessing of prominent features including the Hugglescote Bear and Donington le Heath Manor House!
This was followed by an open event at 2pm which was held at the Hugglescote Community Centre, the focal point of this event was the ‘Planning for Real®’ model, a 3D scaled map of the Parish that had been created by the Year 4 children at Hugglescote Community Primary School. The event attracted 74 residents, who were able to chat informally to the Parish Councillors about their aspirations for the Parish. Attendees were also given the opportunity to place cards with their ideas on the model. The ‘Planning for Real®’ map is a great non-confrontational way for residents to express their views and engage hands-on with issues that affect them.
The cards placed by residents will be sorted and prioritised to establish an action plan for the Parish Council.
Refreshments, including cream teas, were served all afternoon by members of the 1188 Squadron Coalville Air Cadets. Other community groups were also given the opportunity to provide displays.
The open event was closed by the cutting of the Parish Council’s ‘1st Birthday’ cake, prior to the start of the Annual Parish Meeting at 4pm.
The popular Rural Action Seminar will take place in the Council Chamber at Leicestershire County Council May 3rd from 5.45.pm when the buffet will be available.
Speakers will include Corin Birchall from Kerching Retail services who will be speaking about the free advice service for Rural Shops funded through the Leicestershire Rural Partnership, Community members from Shepshed introducing their successful Community projects following a community led plan, Katherine Lightbown who can offer free support from professionals such as architects, lawyers surveyers through Pro Help, Polly Rolfe presenting the work of the Community Foundation. The RCC will be updating everyone on the Rural Community Broadband Fund, 4 Ways to Warmth project Energy best Deal and Neighbourhood planning There will be a wealth of information available on sevices that are of interest to the community. Everyone is welcome. To book a place email dcook@ruralcc.org.uk or call 0116 2689706