ACT Gazette Issue 28 Autumn / Winter 2017 ACT Champions Community & Rural Issues

ACT Gazette Issue 28 Autumn / Winter 2017 ACT champions community & rural issues

Rural Services Survey ACT’s recent survey identified: access to medical services; the need for transport services; and affordable housing as top priorities for rural Cumbrians. (See page 10)

Rural GP practices struggle to recruit doctors: Petition calls on Government to put general practitioners on the Home Office’s ‘shortage occupation list’. Sign here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200523

Village Halls Awards Congratulations to the six village halls presented with achievement awards at the ACT AGM in September. Hall representatives from across the county shared their stories at the event and received awards for: Innovation; Overcoming Adversity; Promotion & Marketing; Effective Governance; and Managing Change. (More on page 11) Photo: L-R back row Henry Barker, Pat Jones, Janice Barker, Jackie Featherstone, Bob Marshall L-R front row Barry Doughty, Lesley Connolly, Beryl Sowden, Lorrainne Smyth from ACT. (Vanessa Champion was unavailable for the photo.)

Inside this issue: Save the Date:

Communities Introduction to Case Study: Fareshare Lunches - Ambleside Neighbourhood Planning Community Led Planning Event in Copeland Tues 21 Nov 2017, 4pm - 8pm Community Buildings Scaleby Village Hall

Case Study: Dalton Community Association ‘Communities to COBRA’ Free Expert Village Hall Guidance Connecting communities to statutory Community Buildings Event emergency responders National Village Halls Week The Marketplace - Tables and Marquees Thurs 23 Nov, 10am - 4pm Village Halls as ‘Places of Safety’ in Emergency Stoneybeck Inn, Penrith (See page 11) ACT News - Project Updates & Events Rural Services Survey Community Buildings Event ACT on Facebook and International Visitors Sat 27 Jan 2018, 10am - 2pm AGM Celebrating Village Halls, Community-led Housing Bothel Village Hall Communities to COBRA Conference Keswick’s Emergency Planning exercise Booking essential, contact Dani at ACT on Tel: 01228 817224 Other News - Events, Funding Opportunities etc. Email: [email protected]

Use this QR Code and Follow us on Twitter Find us on your smart phone app to @ACTCumbria Facebook ACT go direct to our website.

Hi All, This means you decide what housing is Our thoughts go out to the needed in your community, work with others to residents of Millom who secure the land, get the housing designed and were flooded recently. built, and then manage the housing allocations The community response in policy, and the properties if you choose to. The working together and new fund can provide professional, technical organising support for each support and the District Council officers and other has been exemplary. ACT - on behalf of Copeland Council - can provide support along the way. (See page 12) Jenny Brumby who has been a key person coordinating community support in Millom, will ACT has worked with the European LEADER be speaking at the ‘Community to COBRA’ Programme for many years as it assists with event on the 23rd November. If you are funds for small scale economic rural interested in Community Resilience and how development projects. For community groups to work with the statutory agencies during an looking for capital funding there is currently a emergency then please join us (see page 11). window of opportunity until March 2018 and ACT may be able to help. It’s not an easy Government has identified new housing is application and your project needs to have a needed and has a consultation out at the link with growth in the local economy and / or moment: ‘Planning for the Right Houses in the jobs. This is not aimed at Village Hall capital Right Places’ proposing ways to support more projects unless you are including a Post Office, house building, working with community shop, or new support service and are making identified priorities. While this is often seen as capital improvements to facilitate this. If you a predominantly urban and south of England think you may have an eligible project, please issue, many Cumbrian communities have get in touch and we can discuss the options. challenges with developments, they are concerned about size, services, architecture We currently operate as ACTion with

Message from Lorrainne, CEO Lorrainne, Message from Communities in Cumbria (registered as and access issues. You can read more about the consultation here: www.gov.uk/ Voluntary Action Cumbria) but originally began government/consultations/planning-for-the- as the Cumberland and Westmorland Council right-homes-in-the-right-places-consultation- for Social Service in 1948. This means next proposals year we will be seventy and we’re thinking of ways to celebrate. We would like to collect ACT will be replying to the consultation with stories from people who we’ve worked with some key points about rural development. This over our seventy years. If you have an idea for response is informed by work done by our a story, please get in touch. national body Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). You can see how they Finally, Kerry Barlow, who has been working are approaching the issue here: as an apprentice with us for the last year, has left for pastures new. We wish her all the best www.acre.org.uk/cms/resources/policy-papers/ housing-position-paper-final-a4-pages.pdf for the future and thank her for being a great member of the team. We welcome to the If you would like to share any of your views Team Kate Lawler, a Geography degree about housing development in your area student from Loughborough University who is please do get in touch. You may be interested spending her ‘Year in Industry’ with us. in our Neighbourhood Planning event in Carlisle on the 21st November (see front page). Seasons Greetings and

a Happy New Year from

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn

- The Community Led Housing initiative that all at ACT we’re working on with Allerdale, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland District Councils, is one way to support communities to have the right housing in the right places. This new government fund supports community groups to own housing stock, in perpetuity, in their

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue Remember if you support us - we can local area. better support you! Sign up now! 2

The Project

By using waste food to offer free meals

Ambleside is contributing to a movement of

organisations recognising the need to address

the paradoxical issues of unsustainable food

waste, and increasing levels of food poverty -

often in the same community.

Active community members in Ambleside felt so strongly about this that within a week of Case Study: beginning the conversation they had

Communities Fareshare Lunches commitment from four teams of volunteers to prepare food once a week, on a monthly rota. Ambleside Parish Centre The team decided to run a month’s trial so that Ambleside Parish Centre is a thriving hub in each volunteer group could try out their the heart of the Lake District which has creative cooking skills on volunteer ‘lunchers’. taken on a new initiative to involve the As there is no guarantee what sort of food will community in reducing food waste locally. be available each week, the cook team have to Working with national charity Fareshare, the assess, plan and prepare the food quite Parish Centre is offering a free midday meal quickly. every Thursday to ‘everyone who eats lunch’, by using food which can no longer This trial period was invaluable, highlighting be sold by local shops. that the resources available from the first identified retail partner (Tesco Express) was With a terrific network of willing volunteers unable, on its own, to provide the variety of and a very well equipped kitchen, the Parish produce needed to create a varied meal. Centre is in a great position to take this on. In the first few weeks the team had mountains Background of bread and pastries and very little to cook For several years Fareshare has been working with, so they had to ask around and see what hard to engage supermarkets in conversations else was available in the community. They about what they do with their edible food waste, approached the local Spar shop and and to see how it can be used to meet independent grocers, Granny Smith, who were community needs, both social and financial. really keen to help with a better mix of produce, Fareshare identify local branches of the biggest including more fruit, vegetables and salad. grocery retailers and aims to match them with a local community partner who can turn the What has been achieved? waste food into tasty meals. It’s still early days but the organisation and commitment of the group suggests a long and Last year, the Farshare network provided

happy future for the project - for as long as millions of meals, for lunch clubs, homeless there is food waste locally to be used. shelters, community centres and children’s breakfast clubs and a huge range of charities In their first few weeks the teams have who prepare food as part of their offer. provided between fifteen and twenty-five lunches for people who come for a variety of The charity is looking for delivery partners in reasons: to support the campaign to reduce Cumbria, and in August 2017 approached

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn food waste; to enjoy the social aspect of eating

- Ambleside Parish Centre Manager, Helen together; or because they wouldn’t get around Minton. The centre leapt at the chance and to preparing food for themselves, for a host of began serving meals to the public in October. reasons.

The sharing of a very warm welcome and well prepared food ‘until it runs out’, is a pleasure to be a part of. ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue Cont. on page 4 3

Lunch is free to everyone who joins in. If diners

want to make a contribution to support the

project, and others like it run by the Parish Centre, they are welcome but under no Community Led Planning pressure to do so. Event in Copeland Jacket potatoes, vegetable chilli, chunky soup, In September ACT Development Officers Fran warm chocolate croissant and fresh fruit have Richardson and Rose Lord were joined by been on the menu so far. representatives from five enthusiastic Copeland The Learning communities interested in starting or revising their Community Led Plans. The event took The philosophy of the Parish Centre in Communities place at the wonderfully spacious Egremont Ambleside is to be ‘flexible and forgiving’ which Methodist Church Hall, and was generously gives them the strength to deal with any supported by Copeland Community Fund. hiccups along the way. The group considered the benefits of a Centre Manager, Helen Minton, reflects on the Community Led Plan, as something akin to a success of the project: ‘manifesto for their community’. The ability to

 The strength of the volunteer base in present a unified voice can be an evidence Ambleside is really important. The joy of small base in conversations about services and communities is that you can say to people facilities, lobbying at all levels and raising funds “This is what we’re doing. Do you want to join for local projects. us? How can you help?”. We also looked at the importance of having  In order for this not to be too onerous on any conversations throughout the community, and one person, or group, it works well to have a things to consider when doing this. Whilst there different team of people each week on an is no ‘magic bullet’ there were some creative monthly rota. discussion about how best to get community input and ongoing support. Top tips include:  Additional people are needed to collect the food from the shops, a job which requires a  Use appropriate communications channels to car, and sometimes some awkward lifting. reach different groups and keep them informed. Posters and newsletters will reach  The idea is warmly received by many some, but social media and email may reach supermarket staff too who hate to see all the others better. food going to waste each week.  ‘Information out’ does not count as

consultation, where you must be asking a  Small supermarkets are unlikely to be able to support this activity on their own so be question and getting a response (events, prepared to find additional ways to make it questionnaire, wishing tree, straw poll etc). work. The group has been delighted to involve  Go to where people already meet, don’t

local independent shops as well as the expect them to come to you. It saves supermarket. resources and reaches people in a place and peer group where they feel at ease. Contact Details Particular thanks to Mark Denham-Smith, chair For more information about the lunches and of Ennerdale and Kinniside Parish Council who other activities at Ambleside Parish Centre came and spoke with the group about his own please contact: Helen Minton, Centre Manager,

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn experience of Community Led Planning.

- on Tel: 015394 34172 or Email: [email protected] For more information about Community Led Planning, consultation techniques or putting For information about Fareshare contact: Jeff your plans into action, contact us at ACT (see Green, Fareshare Lancashire and Cumbria, on back page for details) and visit our website: Tel: 01772 665958 or Email: www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/What-We-Do/ [email protected] Community-Led-Planning ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue 4

A refurbishment plan was drawn up following a

comprehensive feasibly study in 2008. This

detail helped to break the works into smaller projects which were manageable and affordable, making it possible to keep moving towards the bigger vision.

Further steps the Community Association has taken to manage the changes include:  Creating a stable governance base by appointing trustees who are committed to Case Study using their skills to develop the charity. Dalton Community Association  Drawing up an effective business plan based Managing Change on realistic charges for user groups, to secure a regular source of income to build Dalton Community Association (DCA) is a future sustainability. registered charity which maintains and runs The Dalton Community Centre, formally

Community Buildings Community What Has Been Achieved? known as The Drill Hall. Dalton Community Centre is located in the centre of Dalton The programme of refurbishment so far has Town, north east of Barrow-in-Furness, with included: new toilets; improvement to flat roof a resident population of around 8,000. The area; insulation to reduce heating costs; double association aims to provide a great facility glazing; zoned, remotely controlled heating fit for purpose, for the benefit of the town. system; improved security for the entrance and reception; new fire alarm system; new kitchens Background in the youth club and main hall area; improved The Centre was built in the late 1920’s as a storage; redecoration; and additional youth club Regular Army Drill Hall and Training Base. It facilities. The Centre has also been furnished was used as a Home Guard base during World with a new computer suite, and areas War Two, and then a Territorial Army centre dedicated to specific users, including the and Army Cadet base. The Centre was also Police, Library Service and Army Cadets.

used as a Junior School Hall and Gymnasium. The refurbishment has allowed for expansion Owners of the building, Cumbria County resulting in 4,500 visits per month with around Council, leased it to Dalton Community 55 regular user groups. Every room is multi- Association for 25 years in the early 1990’s. purpose to enable it to be easily adapted for all

current and future uses. Four different The current Community Association became a entrances, complete with toilet facilities, were registered charity in 1999 and went on to created to meet the needs of specific users. negotiate with Cumbria County Council to take on the Drill Hall as a Community Asset in 2012. The heating is now able to be programmed into The layout and use of the building has evolved 4 zones so that separate parts of the building over the years, from its military roots to a place can be heated at different times as and when with thousands of recreational and community they are being used. A safety net has been users each month. The Community Association installed which stops the system from freezing has managed much of this change and aims to if the weather gets too cold. have completed refurbishment by 2018.

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn The Project

- The Dalton Community Association began with an ambitious vision for the Centre as a community resource. They are still actively managing the reinvention of the building and it’s uses. The group has taken a pragmatic and measured approach to making big changes to

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue the building and the way its managed. New computer facilities 5 Cont. on page 6

FREE Expert Village Hall

Guidance

Cumbrian village halls can contact ACT for Inside the Centre, before renovations free copies of national village hall information sheets and model documents written by Action All trustees are volunteers but the Community with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). Association hire a part time cleaner and admin worker. Future plans include hiring a volunteer The 42 detailed information sheets cover a co-ordinator and possibly installing solar panels wide range of topics from Accounting, Alcohol to help bring down the running costs. and Asbestos to VAT, Volunteers and Young People. Visit our website for the full list: The Learning www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/What-We-Do/ Community Buildings Community  Have a plan if you need to raise substantial Community-Buildings sums of money; the Centre has secured over £470k from dozens of contributors over The following titles have been updated, get in several years. touch to make sure you have the up to date information.  Have a clear and shared vision to adhere to, even if it seemed insurmountable at the time.  Village halls children and young people: Break it down into achievable projects. Processes, procedures and policies for  Diversity is key. The age range of people protecting vulnerable users, in particular using the Centre is 0 - 95, with opportunities children and young people. to get involved with a huge range of interest  Village hall insurance cover: groups. Guide to the classes of insurance which  Manage use of the facilities carefully. The should be considered and the management library at the Centre is located directly committee’s duty of care under charity law. beneath the youth group area; this has led to a plan to install sound insulation to reduce  Trustees Roles and Responsibilities noise interference. Have those different Overview of the roles and responsibilities of entrances so user groups aren't disturbing trustees, and guidance for good practise. one another.  Planning an extension, refurbishment or  Be realistic about costs and income. Look a new build village hall closely at how much you are charging and Previously called ‘Steps to funding the fabric don’t forget to take account of VAT payments.

of community buildings’.  For large refurbishment projects consider the potential for trustees personal liability. Whilst  Short guide to security nothing replaces good management Basic guide to putting an effective security practices, the Community Association also programme in place. chose to become a Limited Company, to limit  Accounting and village halls

liability. Financial policies and procedures to

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn

-  All members of the governing body must be safeguard the charity’s assets, manage risk, well informed and updated, and take shared guide decision making and protect the responsibility for decisions. committee.

Contact Details Contact us at ACT for your free copies (See back page for details). For more information contact Barry Doughty on Tel: 01229 463929 or Email: ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue [email protected] 6

 Managing Risk - Information about the

Hallmark Quality Standard scheme and wide

range of expert guidance available to help

ensure village halls are well run - thereby Community Buildings Event minimising the risk to both those using the Warcop Parish Hall building and the village hall committee.

The latest free Community Buildings Event  Maintaining your Village Hall - Presentation was held at Warcop Parish Hall with over 20 followed by a great opportunity to look round village hall volunteers from 11 halls. Warcop’s new Parish Hall building and test out the maintenance checklist, available with Eden District Council funded the event and we the free Maintaining Your Village Hall guide. were pleased to welcome Communities Portfolio Holder Councillor Elaine Martin and #VillageHallsWeek officers from the Leisure and Communities Team at Eden District Council who took part in Our next Community Buildings Event is on the days discussions and workshops. We Saturday 27th January, 10am - 2pm at covered a variety of topics: Bothel Village Hall to coincide with the first national Village Halls Week, due to take place Community Buildings Community  Grants and Fundraising - Presentation and a the week commencing 22nd January 2018. lively ‘Be The Funder’ exercise putting village hall volunteers in the position of a grants This is a great opportunity to celebrate and panel making decisions on who to award raise the profile of village halls. We’ve already funding. heard from one hall planning a special  Eden Community Fund - EDC officers community café event with information stands presented information about the fund for all the local groups and projects to promote available for projects to deliver wide the wide range of community activity. community benefit in the district, including village halls. If you’re planning an event in your hall in Village Halls Week we’d love to hear from you.  Fundraising Ideas - Discussion to share ideas Contact your local ACT Development Officer for local fundraising activities and events. (details on back page).

The Free Marquees:

Free to a good home. Contact Dani at ACT for Marketplace details, Tel: 01228 817 224 or Email: [email protected] Stacking Tables for donation:

Natland Village Hall has 10 stacking tables

available to a community organisation or venue. A donation to the village hall funds would be appreciated. 3m x 9m steel frame white ‘B&Q Party Please contact: Sarah Robinson on Tel: 07488 Marquee’ with missing roof section! Hardly 535251 / 015395 61617 or Email: used, traditional steel frame poles and

[email protected] connectors, side panels with windows, in

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn

- original box with assembly instructions.

10 tables: Approx. 3m x 9m white ‘pop up’ style marquee 110cm (width) x 55cm with windows, in black carry bag (150 x 40 x (length) x 69cm (height) 30cm - heavy!). Needs some replacement guy ropes and one tear to repair but hardly used. No instructions.

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue 7

Initial things to consider:

 Be confident that the building is a functional option. Is it at risk of flooding, or does it get cut off from the community by water or snow Places of Safety: etc. You may need to consider an alternative, Your community building or more than one place of safety. in an emergency  Really think about the impact of accommodating 20-50 people for 24 hours. ACT works with communities having Feeding people, keeping them warm, conversations about how people cope in an diversions (things to do) and how you will emergency. In some cases, this results in the deal with pets are all part of this conversation. writing of a Community Emergency Plan, often (but not always) under the wing of Parish  There is a trade off between what you might Council. need, in order to be an effective place of safety, and the amount of storage space you One of the questions we encourage groups to have. Be prepared, but be realistic and be discuss is: if residents need to leave their ready to be flexible.

Community Buildings Community homes, or want to gather together, where could  Services like water and electricity may be they go? In many rural communities the village interrupted during an incident. If you have not hall is at the top of the list. got what you need, how can you get it?

You may already be discussing your village hall  Make contact with the Police so that they are as a likely Place of Safety, where people could aware that people, reported as missing, may gather if they were displaced from their homes, be taking refuge in your building. for example due to flooding. The hall could also  The offer you make to the community can be be used in the event of a situation which as small or as big as you like. Use existing doesn’t involve a ‘blue light’ response from the links to establish who in the community can emergency services, such as a prolonged help and in what way. power cut. Local residents may remember times when the hall has been used like this  Remember, you will not be able to plan for before, and it already seems part of a normal every eventuality, but people will appreciate community response. your best efforts.

When discussing a possible Community It is also worth noting that if you are responsible Emergency Plan, it helps if someone from the for a particularly large, well equipped or village hall committee, or other appropriate strategically located community building, you community building, is involved to consider could also be identified as a designated what role it could have and what action may be Emergency Assistance Centre (EAC), for use needed to prepare. in an emergency response co-ordinated by the local authority and emergency services. Leisure centres and large school or college facilities are

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. They are part often in this category. of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual You will be contacted by your local district emergencies. Their aim is to enable vulnerable council if they propose to include your building people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and in their plans. In the event of an emergency withstand emergencies. ACT is working with these designated EACs will be staffed with

people co-ordinated by the Local Authority, in

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn the Red Cross in Cumbria to gather the best - information possible to help village halls to communication with the emergency services. respond in emergencies. Contact ACT for more information and to book The Red Cross will be attending ACT’s next your place at our next free Community Community Buildings event in January, to Buildings Event where we will be joined by the share information and experience about being British Red Cross: Saturday 27th January at a part of your community emergency response. Bothel Village Hall, 10am - 2pm. ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue 8

Like us on Facebook! Medical Services and Transport You may already follow ACT on Twitter and needed by rural people visit our website, now you can like us on

ACT’s recent survey asked rural Cumbrian Facebook! Search @ACTCumbria or use this residents which services are most important to link www.facebook.com/ACTCumbria/ Please them. Top priorities identified are: access to like and share our page to help us increase our ACT News ACT medical services; the need for transport audience. services; and affordable housing. Good ACT will be using our Facebook page to share broadband and access to a village shop also news and updates, promote what our partners scored highly. are doing and share other interesting and Jim Webster, Chair of the Rural Panel and a relevant stories we see from across the county Trustee of ACT said “It has been very and the country. interesting talking to people from across the We’re also happy to share your news stories County on the street locations, at events and and events, so please get in touch if you have shows. People’s responses vary from place to an event, news story or fundraiser you would place, but medical services and transport are like us to promote. the universal response.

For Twitter users you can also follow our “Some people are commenting that they want updates at www.twitter.com/ACTCumbria to maintain the services they have and others are saying they need them. A group of four If you like reading our updates in the quarterly young lads I spoke to at an Agricultural show Gazette, then you will enjoy our regular said that good broadband was vital for them, postings on Facebook and Twitter. along with better transport services and access to affordable housing. In the more rural locations the need for a village shop and affordable heating has been a priority.”

The results will be used to provide a focus for discussions of the Cumbria Rural Panel. The Panel, which is part funded by Cumbria County Council, will hold four discussions a year and produce guidance to assist communities and agencies to address the issues discussed. If you’re interested in joining the Panel, please contact Dani at ACT on Tel: 01228 817224,

Email: [email protected]

ACT Welcomes International Visitors

ACT was pleased to welcome visitors from the

Fukoshima Future Centre for Regional

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn

- Revitlization (FURE) in Japan, to discuss our approach to community development. ACT’s Kerry Barlow They were keen to learn how this could be speaking to a applied to their ongoing work with rural Cumbrian resident communities in Fukshima, and the surrounding about the area, following the nuclear disaster in 2011.

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue survey at Skelton Show 9

as a venue in a modernising community; and finding positive ways forward when things go badly wrong, like a flood.

ACT AGM 2017 “We are hugely grateful for the volunteers who Celebrating Village Halls, Community took the time to come and tell us their stories Led Housing and Rural Services and we congratulate them on their ongoing achievements.” Over 50 people attended ACT’s Annual ACT News ACT General Meeting at Sedbergh People’s Hall in Having spent the summer months gathering September, where we celebrated another data directly from communities, it was timely, successful year working with Cumbrian at the AGM, to share the headlines from our communities. Rural Services Survey, being led by the Cumbria Rural Panel. ACT and the Rural There was recognition of the enormous Panel now have a clear message from across contribution which village hall volunteers make the county that their most pressing issues are to the communities they serve, and also the access to medical services, rural transport and challenges ahead as we discussed the result affordable housing. We are working with of our recent Rural Services Survey. An communities and interest groups to support exciting opportunity for communities to step in action on these issues going forward. to the local housing arena was also on the agenda, as we shared news about the Earlier this year, a government announcement Community Led Housing Fund. was made about the Community Housing Fund, aiming to help communities tackle the Volunteers from six Community Buildings housing shortages caused by the across Cumbria were presented with concentration of second homes in some areas. achievement awards, each having been chosen because of their particular ACT is working with representatives from achievements in five categories: Allerdale, Copeland, Eden, and South Lakeland District Councils, to help  Innovation, awarded to Lamplugh Village communities engage with this opportunity and Hall in Copeland and accepted by Bob to maximise the benefits to local populations. Marshall Thanks to John Bowlby from Above Derwent  Overcoming Adversity, awarded to Crosby- Community Land Trust who came and gave us on-Eden Parish Hall in Carlisle district, news from the ‘coal-face’ as a community accepted by Lesley Connolly and Beryl grappling with the complexities of getting this Sowden, also to Harriston Village Hall in job done for two years. Chris Hutton (SLDC) Allerdale, accepted by Henry Barker and Graham Tomlinson (EDC) Amanda Starr Janice Barker (CBC) and Paul Taylor (ABC) were able to shed light on their plans for supporting

 Promotion and Marketing, awarded to Finsthwaite and Lakeside Village Hall in communities and working together to make the South Lakeland and accepted by Vanessa very best of this opportunity. We look forward Champion to making good progress with all partners over the coming months.  Managing Change, awarded to Dalton Drill Hall in Barrow, accepted by Barry Doughty The event concluded with the Annual General Meeting

Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn  Effective Governance, awarded to Brough

- Memorial Hall in Eden, accepted by Jackie business and ACT trustee Featherstone and Pat Jones Des O’Halloran was thanked for his seven years of service ACT Chief Executive Lorrainne Smyth said as Chairman. Des continues “It’s a privilege to support people who work so as a trustee for the charity, hard for their communities: grappling with with Joanna Tate appointed fundraising; running an effective charity; as the new Chair. Des O’Halloran ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue maintaining a building; remaining relevant 10

Community Emergency Planning ‘Communities to COBRA’ Keswick is a good example of the work Conference underway in a larger Cumbrian community. Thursday 23rd November 10am - 4pm Keswick Community Emergency Recovery

ACT News ACT Stoneybeck Inn, near Penrith Partnership (KCERP) project co-ordinator, Heather Askew, will be speaking at the If you are involved or interested in how your Community to COBRA conference to share community prepares for and responds to an their experience. emergency event that includes a ‘blue light’ response, then this event is for you. In early October KCERP organised an emergency exercise and training day for The Local Resilience Forum - made up of volunteers. The purpose was to offer an statutory sector ‘blue light’ responders, opportunity for emergency volunteers in Mountain Rescue, 4x4 Response, Inland Keswick to experience what it might be like in a Rescue and local authorities, amongst others - flooding emergency and to try out different will be explaining how they function in an roles. The test exercise will also be used to emergency and exploring where community improve their Community Emergency Plan. responses can add value. The scenario involved a build up of weather Come and find out how your community can be warnings and flood alerts, with teams of more resilient to extreme weather events and volunteers being coordinated to go out and other challenges. The event if free but booking warn and inform residents, before being is essential, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8nemnab recalled as the scenario developed and water

Event organised by ACT, and funded by the BIG Lottery, ‘overtopped the defences’. as part of Rebuilding Together, and the Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner. Four evening sessions about the different volunteer roles had taken place in the lead up to the exercise, and additional training was Household held on the day to cover health and safety, Emergency Planning manual handling, and use of sandbags.

Free leaflets still available, have you got your copy?

With the help of Parish councils, ACT has sent

out over 35,000 free Household Emergency

Plan leaflets with practical suggestions for:  Having a plan and discussing with others in your household  What to put in an emergency ‘grab bag’ Volunteers involved in sand bag training  How to stay informed

The event was supported by the County Autumn 2017 / Winter Autumn

 Responding to an incident - Council’s Area Team, PCSO’s, Age UK, Contact us (see back page) for free copies for Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Lake District Search your community. and Recue Dogs and the WI who kept everyone supplied with tea and biscuits. The This work is part of ‘Rebuilding Together’, a three year volunteers involved felt that taking part in the BIG Lottery funded programme to build the resilience of exercise has given them more confidence in people, communities, and organisations in Cumbria. Led by Cumbria CVS and delivered in partnership with ACT what to do in the event of an emergency. ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue and Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS). 11

Community-Led Housing Fund Launch Event

Over 40 people from across Cumbria attended a launch event for the Community Led Housing

OtherNews Fund at Embleton Village Hall in October. The event was organised by Allerdale Borough Some event attendees and speakers Council, South Lakeland District Council and gathered outside Embleton Village Hall Copeland Borough Council in partnership with ACTion with Communities in Cumbria. Bill Bewley, chair of Keswick Community Attendees included representatives from: Housing Trust, gave a passionate talk on the community-led housing groups; parish councils; groups’ early years, their successful housing community groups; third sector organisations; schemes and future plans. Bill also highlighted and individuals, all with a keen interest in the importance of providing truly ‘affordable’ developing locally led housing solutions. homes - calculations of affordability using average household incomes vary enormously The event was held to enable people already from accepted definition of ‘affordability’ based involved in community-led housing, and those on 80% of market value - and explained how just beginning to think about the process, to get their properties are allocated. together and learn about the rewards, challenges, and achievements, plus the grants Donald Thoburn from Above Derwent and funding available. Community Land Trust spoke about their experience as a newly formed community-led Andy Dean, CEO of Community Action housing group and the challenges they have Northumberland gave an excellent presentation faced, including dealing with local opposition to on community-led housing projects in the north their plans. east; some of which included using existing buildings and repairing or repurposing these for Break-out sessions before lunch gave local, affordable housing. delegates the chance to share where they were on the community-led housing journey and, One example, Glendale Gateway Development most importantly, suggest how the district Trust, were able to tackle the joint problems of councils could help them to progress their empty properties in Wooler and the lack of plans. affordable homes to rent by purchasing two The day ended with a site visit to Calvert Way

large vacant buildings in the town centre and converting them into 9 affordable flats to rent. in Keswick; an estate of 55 houses which includes 22 properties owned and managed by Keswick Community Housing Trust and 23 properties owned by Impact Housing Association.

Feedback from the day will be used by the

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- district councils to help plan future events, workshops, web based resources and toolkits to support community-led housing groups at all stages in the process.

For further information, please contact Rose L-R, Andy Dean, CEO Community Action Northumberland, Donald Thoburn, Above Lord at ACT (see back page for details).

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue

Derwent CLT and Bill Bewley, Keswick CHT. 12

Volunteering Fair West Cumbria Cruse Cumbria

Thurs 23 November , 12noon - 1.30pm Cruse is a national organisation, with regional Whitehaven Youth Harbour Project and area braches. Cruse Cumbria formed in Swingpump Lane, Whitehaven, CA28 7LZ 1998. Our purpose is to enable anyone suffering bereavement to understand their grief OtherNews Come along and find out about volunteering! and cope with their loss. We offer: Meet charities to find out how you can make a difference! Organisations attending include:  Information about the process of grief.  Cumbria CVS  Someone to talk to about the experience of loss due to a significant death.  West Cumbria Carers  Cumbria Youth Offending Service  A Helpline 07071 780761 (Mon, Wed, Fri 2-4pm and Wed 7-9 pm)  Alzheimer’s Society

 Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project The organisation is run entirely by volunteers,  Senhouse Roman Museum trained to Cruse National standards. Bereavement Volunteers arrange to meet For more information please contact Cumbria individuals at home or in a more neutral setting. CVS on Tel: 01768 800350 or Email: Each session lasts for up to an hour, offering [email protected] an opportunity to speak freely about the circumstances and feelings following the death of someone important. Clients are usually Hug a Mug offered at least six sessions, though this varies Service depending on client preference and need.

in Maryport Bereavement Volunteers are supported and

Hug a Mug is a wellbeing and signposting supervised regularly.

service at Maryport Health Services. It is an Ways to support Cruse Cumbria : exciting new initiative inviting people to pop in for a cuppa and a confidential chat.  Become a Bereavement Volunteer.

 Set up a ‘Friends of Cruse’ group to fundraise Volunteers offering a friendly ear, hot drink and for costs such as travel expenses, publicity gentle support, will help residents to access materials and training. resources so that they can take steps towards becoming healthier and happier. The scheme is  If you have IT skills, the organisation needs help with website, social media, our dedicated led by Ewanrigg Local Trust and project managed by its volunteers co-ordinator Ann- information system and publicity. Marie Steel.  Make a donation

Hug a Mug is open every weekday morning For more information please contact Cruse from 9.30am - 11.30am in Maryport Health Cumbria by Email: [email protected] or

Services. Pop along for a free drink and a chat. visit: www.crusecumbria.org.uk

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- Volunteer with the

Join our friendly team of volunteers and do Visit our website to see the range of British something positive for your community. Red Cross volunteer opportunities near you: Anyone can volunteer, it doesn’t matter what www.redcross.org.uk/en/Get-involved/ your skills, experience or background are, or Volunteer ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue how much time you have to give. 13

£110,000 reasons to apply! A Local List of Heritage Assets

The Eden Community Fund has a total of for Carlisle District

£110,000 available in 2017-2018 for projects Carlisle District has over 1,500 listed buildings, and events capable of delivering wide however, there are many other heritage assets community benefit in the local area. The

OtherNews of architectural, historic or archaeological deadline for applications for the third round of interest throughout the district that do not meet funding is Friday 12 January 2018. the strict criteria for national designation,

Community and voluntary groups, parish and nonetheless make a significant contribution to town councils, charities and social enterprises the historic environment and sense of place.

can apply, to deliver projects that benefit local Carlisle City Council recognises the valuable communities. Applications from individuals will contribution that these assets make to the not be accepted. Groups and organisations historic environment. The Council is working must have their own constitution (unless a with local communities, and aims to: develop a parish council) and bank account with at least set of selection criteria to help identify these two unrelated signatories. locally important heritage assets; and compile

It is strongly recommended that applicants and maintain a Local List, which will in time be contact the Council to discuss a project or available on this webpage. event idea before filling in an application, to A Local List will help to highlight those places make sure it is eligible. Contact the Community which communities feel worthy of preserving Support Officer on 01768 817817. when it comes to drawing up Neighbourhood Only capital funding is available. Applicants Plans or when planning applications for must demonstrate how their project or event specific sites are being considered. will deliver wide benefit, contributing to the sustainability, vitality and wellbeing of Eden's Inclusion on the Local List does not bring communities. Applications are invited under the about any additional form of statutory following categories: 1) Community (outdoor) protection to the asset or remove any Amenities; 2) Community Buildings; permitted development rights. However, it can 3) Community Enterprise; 4) Supporting help to influence the consideration of any planning application that may affect the Communities; and 5) Community Events. significance of that heritage asset, as the local Categories 1 - 4 grants are between £500 and list will be a material consideration in all £10,000. For events grants are between £200 planning decisions.

and £5,000. Awards towards the maximum

levels will be the exception and projects and It is hoped that inclusion on the Local List will events will need to demonstrate significant give a sense of pride to owners and community need and match funding. 20% encourage them to manage their buildings match funding is required for all categories, sympathetically. However, owners can although up to 10% can be in-kind. challenge the inclusion of a building on the basis of the adopted criteria and request its

Please do not submit an application unless you removal from the list.

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- have the required number of written quotes and estimates as it will not be accepted. Two A pilot phase is underway and officers are written quotes / estimates for each item of working with community groups and expenditure between £50 and £2,500 and three volunteers in Denton Holme and Warwick for each item over £2,500. Bridge to compile a Local List for these areas. The pilot phase will allow the procedures to be For more information visit www.eden.gov.uk/ adapted where necessary.

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue communityfund or call 01768 817817. 14

Rural Residents take over local petrol station to

Great Place Lakes and Dales save it from Launched in Grasmere closure on 15 September 2017 The Upper Dales Community Partnership has Craven District Council and South Lakeland OtherNews been granted a three-year lease on the Dale District Council, together with the Lake District Head Garage in Hawes, Yorkshire, from 1st and the Yorkshire Dales National Park November. Authorities were successful in their bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council The partnership is already an important rural England for a £1.5m lottery funded project service provider, running a local post office, which will use culture as a catalyst to bring bus company and a library. more young people and young families to live and work in Craven and South Lakeland. The next nearest petrol station is 18 miles away, meaning local residents would face a The Vision: Our Great Place will be where a 36mile round trip to buy fuel if their village sustainable, resilient, creative community and forecourt closed. economy exists, celebrating the distinctiveness of place, the skill and The partnership hopes to buy the site via a experience of creative people and a good community share offer, similar to the quality of life, which in turn will retain and community buy-outs which have seen local attract younger people to our districts to residents save rural pubs from closure. They influence, support and create our future also intend to install a charging point for electric economy. cars.

The project defined its ‘Great Place’ as the Partnership chairman and local councillor John rural corridor linking Skipton (Craven) in the Blackie said: "The petrol station is hugely south and Grasmere (South Lakeland) in the important to Hawes – it fuels every day life, north, including the market towns and rural business and tourism in the area. We feared it hinterlands, extending into both the Yorkshire might fall prey to property developers as so Dales and Lake District National Parks. The many others have done." programme will be delivered by: Hawes is one of 17 areas to be part of the • Researching and defining our cultural government's fuel rebate scheme that allows distinctiveness retailers to claim back 5p per litre duty relief on • Placing culture, arts and heritage at the core unleaded petrol and diesel. of local strategies, plans and policies • Diversifying, retaining, attracting, supporting The saving is passed on to customers as an and growing the creative economy incentive to buy fuel locally. It also helps keep prices competitive in isolated rural areas which • Developing new relationships across are a long way from other forecourts. business sectors using opportunities

inspired by Great Place For more information about the Upper Dales

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- • Taking advantage of digital opportunities to Community Partnership visit their website: grow the rural economy www.hawescommunityoffice.co.uk • Building, sharing and using learning. Article from Rural Services Network, written by Ruralcity If you’d like to hear more about the project and Media. www.rsnonline.org.uk/services/villages-take-over- keep in touch please email: rural-petrol-station [email protected]

ACT Gazette28 ACT Issue 15

Carlisle, Eden contact: Previous editions of the ACT Gazette online at: Hellen Aitken - Development Officer www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/ Tel: 01228 817592 ResourcesPublications/ACTGazette Email: [email protected] ACT would like to thank the following for Barrow, South Lakeland contact: supporting our Community Buildings Advice Fran Richardson - Development Officer Service for 2017-2018: Tel: 01228 817593 Email: [email protected]

Allerdale, Copeland contact: Rose Lord - Development Officer Tel: 01228 817225 Email: [email protected]

01228 81 7224 81 01228 To speak with Lorrainne Smyth, ACT Chief

Executive, or contact ACT reception:

Tel: 01228 817224

Email: [email protected]

©ACT 2017. This publication may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as ACTion with Communities in Cumbria copyright and the title of the publication specified.

[email protected] ACTion with Communities in Cumbria, Registered Office: Offices O-Q, Skirsgill Business Park, Penrith CA11 0FA T: 01228 817224 | www.cumbriaaction.org.uk | [email protected] | Follow us on Twitter @ACTCumbria Registered in England as Voluntary Action Cumbria | Charity Registration Number 1080875 | Company Number 3957858

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy, ACT does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided in this publication or the content of external websites listed.