The RCC Annual Community Engagement Seminar will take place at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester on the evening of March 4th at 7.00pm. Delegates are invited to attend from 6.00pm when a light buffet will be available in the members lounge where there will also be an opportunity to view a wide range of displays.
The event which will be held in the Sparkenhoe Suite will include a number of new projects and initiatives from around the districts with presentations on Affordable Housing, Community Buildings, Community Climate Change Initiatives, Inspire Leicestershire Rural Business Grants, Quality Parish Councils and Local Community Initiatives. A full programme will be available shortly.
Come along and meet the new RCC staff and find out how they may be able to help you with projects in your area. From funding opportunities to advice on community buildings and play areas or the latest climate change initiatives there will be lots to find out.
Places will be limited, so early booking is essential (no more than 2 people per organisation)
To book a place or for further information please contact Diana Cook 0116 2689706 dcook@ruralcc.org.uk
The RCC is indebted to Leicestershire Rural Partnership and Leicestershire County Council for their support and help in presenting this seminar.

The Rural Action Plan takes into account of recent economic changes and focuses on four new priorities areas:

• Sustainable and Inclusive Communities (Including Housing)
• A Thriving Rural Economy
• Quality Services Accessible to All
• High Quality Rural Environment

An electronic copy can be downloaded at www.ruralaffairs.org.uk/uploads/plan/Framework.pdf

Please contact Lynn Hage, EMRAF Communications Officer, on 01623 727600 if you would like a hard copy of the document.

As the face of rural Britain gets older, the RCC is ahead of the game in going some way to providing support to elderly people living in rural areas, with the Rutland Community Spirit project.

In a recent Countryfile programme John Craven reported that in 10 years time one in four of the UK’s rural population will be a pensioner, which will place increasing pressure on local authorities which are already over-stretched.

Rutland Community Spirit was launched in March 2008 with the aim to provide low-level support and advice to people living in the county. Drawing from the shared experience of Gloucestershire Village Agents, which was highlighted in Sunday’s programme, the project has a team of Champions who are out and about in the community, providing advice and assistance to those who are most at risk of losing their independence. As with the Village Agents, Champions are seen as trusted friend and not authority.

John Craven highlighted the need for ongoing funding to provide schemes similar to that of Rutland Community Spirit and Gloucestershire Village agents to prevent what is currently a social issue, becoming a crisis. Originally a two-year pilot, the success of the Rutland Community Spirit project has meant that additional financial support has been secured to ensure the project continues until spring 2011. The RCC is now working closely with the local authority and PCT in Leicestershire to work out how Community Spirit can be rolled out to incorporate the rural areas of Leicestershire as well as Rutland.

For more information about the Rutland Community Spirit Project please contact Sue Renton on 01572 720282 or email srenton@ruralcc.org.uk