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.

Would you like to help people in your community?
• Do you enjoy working in your local community?
• Do you have a few hours to spare each week?
• Do you have reasonable computer and Internet skills?
We are looking for volunteers to become community e-learning champions. Your role will be to help people in your community to gain online basic computer skills.
We will provide free training and free use of computer equipment.
For more details email:
amcgibbon@wellandpark.leics.sch.uk
or phone: Ann McGibbon 01858 433984

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.

Extra places have been made available for watch members from Leicestershire to attend the national Neighbourhood & Home Watch Conference to be held on 20th February at the Holiday Inn, Peterborough West. All travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Your members can now register their interest in attending the Conference on 20th February by using this link: www.conferencesearch.co.uk/nhwnevents

Marion Lewis

Chair : Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network ( England & Wales) More »

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. More »

Officers from the city have released the images of two men they are trying to trace in connection with a burglary in Leicester.

The incident happened in September last year (Wednesday September 30, 2009) when two men posing as police officers stole items from a storage unit at a business premises in Leicester. The two men approached staff at the business and, after flashing what looked like a police badge, told them they had a warrant to search a unit.

Crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, has launched its first ever blog entitled ‘I spy a crime' under the guise of good citizen superheroes in a bid to reach a wider audience through its online communications.

The blog is written through the characters of The Caped Crimestopper, Mask of Manuel and Granny Robyn who also form part of the charity's generic marketing materials that were launched earlier this year. The blog takes on a much lighter tone compared to the rest of Crimestoppers' work, with the aim of reaching wider audiences. Crimestoppers campaigns, funny calls received and crime news are some of the topics blogged about.

Mrs Nikki Hening has been elected to the post of RCC Chairperson, taking over from Dale Mortimer who served in this appointment with great commitment for 5 ½ years. Nikki has been a trustee for 7 years and one of her many responsibilities is overseeing Quality Standards Accreditation. She has travelled all over England reviewing other RCCs in this capacity. She is an experienced judge for the Best Village Competitions and has been involved in the Communications aspect of the charity. Nikki comes from Diseworth, N W Leicestershire and was a key figure in their successful bid to the Heritage Lottery for the Diseworth Heritage Centre

We are pleased to announce the availability of £400,000 worth of funding to support businesses in Leicestershire’s market towns and rural areas up to October 2012.

Building on the successes of former Rural Business Support Programme and Market Towns Initiative, the INSPIRE Leicestershire programme will provide much needed support to help deliver the Leicestershire Rural Partnership’s economic priorities contained within the Leicestershire Rural Strategy, 2007-14. The programme is jointly funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Leicestershire County Council. More »

The crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is today launching a list of 10 ‘Most Wanted’ people sought in connection with distraction burglaries.

The campaign, which is supported by Leicestershire Constabulary, also warns people to be careful about who they let into their homes, as the traditional peak time for this crime approaches (February/March). Distraction burglary is a crime which particularly effects elderly people, the average age of a victim is 81-years-old.

Crimestoppers has been working with Operation Liberal, the unit which provides a national intelligence overview of distraction burglary crime, which has produced the list of 10 ‘Most Wanted’ individuals.

A short newsletter full of information about your rights and things you need to know is available for business owners like you.

Why not pick up a copy of the new Business Matters newsletter available online at www.leics.gov.uk/businessmatters?

This short newsletter highlights main issues affecting business owners and traders such as how you can register to become a recognised tradesman with Trustmark, how to get free improved business support and your rights if you cancel contracts within a consumer’s home. More »

Police are urging householders to take care of new valuables that they have acquired recently, either as Christmas presents or sale bargains.

New goods can prove tempting targets for thieves and burglars.

PC Steve Day, Leicestershire Constabulary’s southern Crime Reduction Officer, said: “It is nice to get new jewellery, gadgets or other valuables, but it well worth spending a few moments to protect them.

A FREE newsletter is available for consumers and is full of information about your rights and things you need to know.

Simply download your FREE newsletter from www.leics.gov.uk/consumeraffairs or pick up a copy from any County library.

There is essential information about safety snags with children's clothing, being aware of consumer trials and tips for purchasing mobility aids.

For further details about consumers, visit www.leics.gov.uk/trading standards.

Leicestershire was the main featured destination in the BBC's most recent Country Tracks programme. The show spotlighted Dickinson & Morris pork pies and the biodiversity in and around Bardon Hill.

You can watch it again on the BBC i-player http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00q2mdn#synopsis

Tired of making the same old New Year resolutions? Fancy trying something new for 2010? If the answer is yes then why not try volunteering?

Volunteering is simple. It's about giving your time to do something useful, without getting paid (apart from expenses). In return you get the satisfaction of time and effort well spent.

In addition, volunteering can be a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and gain useful experience, It should also be fun. Volunteering can also be a way to get an up to date reference for re-entering employment.
The range of opportunities is huge. Whatever skills and experience you have, there is something that you can do. More »

The Leicestershire ‘Harborough Be Safe’ scheme is one of 300 community projects across England and Wales to secure a share of the £4 million Community Cashback fund, giving local people a direct say on how criminal assets are spent in the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour.

The ‘Harborough Be Safe’ scheme, is operated by trained and vetted volunteers, and delivers safety advice at market stalls and visits the homes of elderly residents and those who have been victims of burglary to fit chains and alarms to secure homes to make residents feel safer. More »

Police officer checks tyre pressure
Leicestershire Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit is advising people to be alert and to drive according to the conditions during the winter like conditions.

The British winter is unpredictable and bad weather can strike suddenly so the best advice when severe weather hits is to stay off the road. If you must drive, make sure you are prepared for the conditions.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND DRIVING

It is very important to take any prescribed or over-the-counter medication properly, and to follow any advice given.

Some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines can affect your ability to drive safely. They can make you drowsy, impair your judgement or make you feel less confident. These effects can be worse if medication is taken at the wrong time, in the wrong doses, or to frequently. The consequences can be very serious, but most people are able to keep driving safely by following good advice. More »