Tree-Mendous Day for Pupils
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Issue 16 Spring 2013 Tel: 01259 450000 email: [email protected] Tree-mendous day for pupils Thickets of native trees and shrubs have been planted along the Devon Way in Alloa by Sunnyside Primary School pupils. The urban tree project has been funded Activity Campus Planned for Alloa by a £10,000 grant from the Central Scotland Green Network Development Clackmannanshire Council is developing a The Council will develop programmes for the The launch of the campus will be held Fund. The project will enhance the Community Learning and Activity Campus in whole community including adult learning on the weekend of 28th – 30th June with environment along the popular leisure the Alloa south area. classes, physical activity programmes, the family fun day Buzz Event, which will creative programmes, music and multimedia include competitions, live music and sports route between Sunnyside Court and The community campus will make maximum programmes. activities. Greenside Street. use of the facilities available at the Bowmar During National Tree Week, in the Centre, Alloa Academy, Alloa Family Centre The consultation process will begin in the More information and ways to give autumn Primary 5/6 from Sunnyside and other local facilities. spring when local residents and users of the feedback can be found on our website facilities will be asked what they would like www.clacksweb.org.uk. planted standard trees along the There is already a lot of activity taking place to see developed. Consultation with the local route. These have now been joined in these buildings and the new campus will If you would like to get involved in this community is vital and we will be recruiting by hundreds of small rooted plants co‑ordinate these activities and fill in gaps. exciting development please come along to local volunteers who will be provided including hazel, oak , holly, birch, alder, New activities will be identified by the local an open meeting on Thursday 16th May at with support and training to facilitate this hawthorn, elderberry, guilder, dog rose community during the consultation period. 7pm at the Bowmar Centre. and blackthorn. process. Food waste p3 Electric vehicles p4 Clacks awards p6 & 7 What’s on p7 Clackmannanshire VIEW Spring 2013 Welfare Reform in Clackmannanshire You may have heard the term ‘Welfare Universal Credit will be introduced from for new customers in April 2013 and then be Reform’ being discussed in the media but October 2013 to 2017. This will see customers’ rolled out to existing customers over the next what does it mean for local people? different benefits being replaced by a single 3 years. monthly payment. Here’s a summary of some of the reforms If you need more information or advice Not for along with an explanation of the actions Personal Independence Allowance (PIP) to regarding these changes please contact the Council is taking to support affected replace existing Disability Living Allowance Clackmannanshire Council on 450000 or see profit, not residents. ClacksWeb for more details. Changes to Welfare Benefits include: for charity, Council Tax Reduction Scheme replacing How the Council can help the existing Council Tax Benefit scheme. All Talk to us Increase Confidence recipients of Council Tax Benefit will continue If you are struggling to pay your rent or Clackmannanshire Adult Literacies supports for service to receive the same level of support, despite council tax please contact us to discuss adult learners who wish to improve their a cut in funding of 12%, thanks to support options on 01259 450000 or email reading, writing, spelling, number and Clackmannanshire Credit Union is a from the Council. [email protected] basic budgeting skills. This provision is free financial co‑operative, owned and Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants to all adults living in Clackmannanshire. The managed by its members, which provides administered by the Council have replaced Discretionary Housing Payments team also provides free computer training a secure facility for saving and access to the Social Fund. Crisis Grants are awarded Discretionary Housing Payments are and English as a Second Language (ESOL) affordable borrowing. classes. to meet expenses that have arisen as a available to claimants who are entitled to But it is much more besides. It allows Housing Benefit and require some further result of an emergency or disaster in order Home Energy Advice Team people to grasp control of their own to avoid an immediate threat to health assistance in order to meet housing costs. We have specially trained energy advisers financial affairs, building confidence, self or safety of the customer or their family. Getting online who can advise you on how to reduce your esteem and this in turn positively affects Community Care Grants will be awarded to energy bills and also provide you with free More and more benefit services are accessed whole families and communities. Anyone assist customers remain or move back to the and confidential support to tackle existing online. If you don’t have internet access at who lives or works in Clackmannanshire is community after a period in institutional care fuel debt problems. Call 01259 450000 and home, remember that free internet access is eligible to join the Credit Union. or following a period of unsettled living, such ask to make an appointment with a member available at all Clackmannanshire’s libraries. as homelessness. of our team. The ethos of credit unions is very different from that of banks. The credit union is Grow Your Skills Under Occupation is a reduction in Housing Other contacts run by a Board of Directors. These are Clackmannanshire Works supports Benefit for working age tenants who are The Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, all volunteers and are appointed at the individuals to develop the skills and judged to have more bedrooms than they independent, confidential and impartial Annual General Meeting (AGM) where attributes that they might need to get a job need. Reductions of 14% and 25% came advice to everyone. Visit them at 47 Drysdale each member has one vote, irrespective of or start their own business. That can include into force from April and over 1000 tenants Street, Alloa, telephone 723880, or go to the size of their share account. If there is a help with finding and funding childcare so of Clackmannanshire Council and housing www.citizensadvice.org.uk surplus at the end of the year it is returned that you can attend training or take up a job associations are being affected. The Council to the members through a dividend or offer. Universal credit means you’ll have to has written to everyone potentially affected manage your household budget on a improved services. and has updated relevant policies to try to Money Advice Service monthly basis. You might want to join a The credit union provides facilities for assist. credit union to help you with this. The Council’s Advice Service is free, savings and low‑cost loans. Any money An overall Benefit Cap will be applied to confidential and impartial, with our expert Jobcentre Plus supports people of working saved with the credit union is absolutely safe working age customers during 2013. This Debt Advisers on hand to explain the age from welfare into work and helps and is guaranteed by the UK Government will limit support to £350 per week for single options available to help overcome and employers to fill their vacancies. It is based up to a maximum of £85,000 per member. people and £500 per week for couples and relieve the burden of debt. at 17 Mar Street, Alloa. Contact them on A savings account can be opened with as lone parents. 01259 294000. little as £7 for an adult (this includes a one‑ off £2 joining fee) and £1 for a junior saver. Members are encouraged to save regularly Plan to improve children’s chances and where a pattern of savings has been established, members may be considered The Council and our partners have embraced The collaborative aims to ensure: for a low cost loan. a new national initiative which aims to make Women experience positive pregnancies For more information and to download Scotland the best place to grow up. which results in the birth of more healthy application forms go to Officers from all 32 local authorities gathered babies as evidenced by a reduction in the www.clackmannanshirecreditunion.com at the launch of the Early Years Collaborative rates of stillbirths and infant mortality (EYC) earlier this year in Glasgow. The EYC is a 85% of children have reached all expected Alternatively you can visit the credit union multi‑agency quality improvement programme developmental milestones at the time of the at: implemented locally by Community Planning child’s 27‑30 month child health review, by 8 Bank Street, Alloa: Partnerships. the end of 2016 Mondays 10am – 12noon and Councillor Ellen Forson, the Council’s 90% of children have reached all of the Fridays 2pm – 4pm Champion for the Collaborative, said: “It was an expected developmental milestones at the intensive event and focused on what practical time the child starts primary school, by end Town Hall, Clackmannan: improvements people at the frontline can make of 2017 Fridays 12.30pm – 1.30pm to services for children and young people. Getting it right in the early years is the right thing The attraction of the Collaborative is its strong 5 Tron Court, Tullibody: to do. Ensuring we provide the correct support focus on front line action which is taken quickly, Wednesdays 9am – 11.45am and in the first place will go some way to preventing tested and then applied more widely if it proves will be deferred and training staff in specific Thursdays 3.30pm – 5.30pm problems later on and will help families and the effective.