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Almost one in six households in some rural parts are classed as fuel poor, according to the first ever heat map of England.

The research found as many as 14 per cent of families living in countryside communities are spending more than a tenth of their household income just on heating their homes.

In Leicestershire & Rutland it would appear that the main areas of fuel poverty occur around the Vale of Belvoir and in parts of North West Leicestershire, but there may be more people affected than have been so far identified.

RCC Leicestershire & Rutland are working on an initiative funded by Calor to help tackle fuel poverty and promote energy efficiency in off-gas grid communities. The project aims to highlight the complexities associated with living off mains gas in the county. The RCC will be working with fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) and Calor to offer independent information and advice to off-gas grid households and communities to help improve energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
If you live in a rural area that does not have mains gas and spend more than 10% of your income on fuel then the RCC would be interested to hear from you.

For more information contact Diana Cook dcook@ruralcc.org.uk 0116 2689706

The government is to cancel a £3.3m programme that was set up to help communities turn local pubs into cooperatives. The Labour government announced the Community-Owned Pubs Support Programme in March. It was set to provide grants, which would have been match-funded by loans from the social lender Co-operative and Community Finance, to help 50 communities take their pubs into cooperative ownership.

However, the new government has told the Plunkett Foundation, which was chosen to administer the fund, that the programme, funded by the Communities and Local Government department, will now be closed and replaced by guidance leaflets for communities facing pub closures.

Peter Couchman, chief executive of the foundation, said: "This is devastating news for each community that had hoped to save their local as a cooperative. The government has turned its back on communities that were looking to take more responsibility over their everyday lives."

The foundation said it would call an emergency summit to discuss other measures that could be used to help communities save their local pubs.

The Big Switch Off has launched its own Facebook page so people can keep up to date with this year’s energy saving campaign.

Bright sparks are being urged to log on to the social networking website to find out the most up-to-date information about the energy saving initiative that will take place from October 11-17 across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Bright sparks are being encouraged to switch on to switching off by taking part in the Big Switch Off 2010.
Various competitions and exciting initiatives which will be held before and during this year’s BSO will be announced in due course.
Community Groups are invited to join in - and if you have continued to switch off since last year, why not 'go the extra mile' and do something extra to save energy?
Although the BSO is a week long event, its simple messages can be used throughout the year to enable you and your family to save money and do your bit for the environment at the same time.
Click on the link above to find out more and to access resources or contact Diana Cook to find out how your group might join in. dcook@ruralcc.org.uk 0116 2689706

12 noon - 4pm, 10th June 2010 at The Gover Centre, Voluntary Action Rutland, Barleythorpe Road, Rutland LE15 6QH. If you think you could do with a bit of a helping hand in the maze of funding then this is the event for you, organised by VAR’s Mentoring Project.

Incudes information stalls, presentations, and general advice – everything that will help you to get ahead and grow your project. Seminars from The Big Lottery, Funding Central and Lloyds TSB (Booking required). Stalls from: Santander, Leicestershire and Rutland Funding Toolkit, Charity Bank, Comic Relief, Social Enterprise East Midlands, Direct Payments, Rutland Access to Services, Rutland Integrated Youth Service Team, EMRAF ,The Welland Enterprise Agency, Vinvolved and many more.

For more details please contact Nickie Philbin Tel: 01572 722622 email: mentoring@varutland.org.uk

The Rural Housing Enabler has a key role to play as the rural housing expert in support of the delivery of affordable housing across the county and in supporting the Lincolnshire Rural Affordable Housing Partnership in the delivery of its aims and objectives.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will have previous experience and understanding of the planning policies and processes for delivering affordable housing and creating rural communities.

The position is fixed term until 31st March 2012.

Follow the title link to find out more

2pm - 7pm at Whissendine Village Hall, Rutland. This event, the first of what is hoped to be one of many similar events in Rutland's villages, will feature regional organisations (such as the NHS, Leicestershire & Rutland Fire and Rescue, and the Police), local groups and voluntary organisations. The event is designed to: showcase particular community projects; increase awareness of the services available to Rutland communities; ensure that individuals know how to access these services. Free refreshments will be offered and everyone is welcome.

Organisations to attend include:Age Concern, The Parkinson's Society, The Citizen's Advice Bureau, Voluntary Action Rutland, The Rural Community Council, Home Start, The Energy Saving Trust, Vista blind, CLASP the carers centre, LAMP (regional mental health charity) as well as the Whissendine Women's Institute and other local groups.

Name and contact for more details : Sue Renton: 01572 720282

5.30pm for 6pm in the Council Chamber. Your chance to come and hear what's being done in Rutland to improve the quality of life for people in Rutland. Visit rutnet.co.uk/rutlandtogether for full details or contact the LSP Support Officer on 01572 720920.

A drop-in service is being set up to help men or women experiencing the psychological or physical effects of domestic abuse. In the Harborough district, police have recorded more than 1,000 incidents of domestic abuse in the past year, and, traditionally, domestic abuse remains one of the most under-reported crimes of all. The sessions allow people in an abusive relationship to talk through their options, in complete confidence, and make informed decisions about their future and how to seek help.

They will start on Friday, May 7, at a private meeting room in Harborough District Council’s reception, in Adam & Eve Street, from 10.30am to 12.30pm on the first Friday of every month. The Harborough District Domestic Abuse Forum, which includes members from Harborough District Council, Leicestershire Police, Women’s Aid Leicestershire Ltd and Voluntary Action South Leicestershire, has teamed up with solicitors Josiah Hincks to provide the service. If successful, the forum would like to see the sessions develop to include housing and debt advice workers.

Domestic Abuse can take place take place in heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender relationships and can also involve other family members, including children.

There is no need to book, just turn up for the sessions. For further information contact the Community Safety team at Harborough District Council on 01858 828282 or e-mail communitysafety@harborough.gov.uk

What was once a dream for a group of residents living in Ketton, is now a thriving community activity. One year ago, Caroline Longlands, the clubs coordinator, telephoned Rutland Community Spirit to ask for advice on setting up a regular lunch club for local people. The Rutland Community Spirit team was able to put Caroline in touch with other groups who had set up similar schemes in the county and also helped them to source funding to pay for essentials such as a heated hostess trolley and helping the volunteers to attain food hygiene certificates. One local fund to offer support to the project was the Whitbread Trust. As the lunch club moves in to its second year, it boasts a large team of dedicated supporters who share cooking duties and organise the booking of meals.

In a recent development, Sue Renton, Project Manager from Rutland Community Spirit contacted the plant manager from the Hanson Group who runs the local cement works in the village, to ask if they would be willing to donate some money towards new cutlery and tablecloths. Plant Manager, Kent Stuehmer was delighted to be able to help. Mr Stuehmer, Sue Renton and two representatives from the Whitbread Trust were invited to join locals at the lunch club to celebrate their first birthday celebration.