Wednesday 28th May 2008, 10am - 3pm

Burleigh Community College, Thorpe Hill, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 4SQ

Get FIT and have FUN this spring! For just £2, you can take part in a range of activities including sport and relaxation classes, sample complimentary therapies and speak to a range of organisations on hand to get you feeling healthy both inside and out. Children's entertainment is also available.

For more details, please contact Lara on 0116 2575615 or email lara@leicestherday.org.uk, plus check out www.leicestherday.org.uk

Leicestershire Together now has a new Sustainable Community Strategy, SCS, following recent extensive and successful consultations, which led to various amendments and changes being included.

The SCS is an important document for everyone reading his article, because it is now the basis for decisions about public spending through the Local Area Agreement, (LAA), or LAA (2) from June 2008, which is now under negotiation with Government Office for the East Midlands, GOEM.

Voluntary Organisations and Community Groups have influenced the content of the SCS, and we hope that future spending under the LAA will be meeting the needs we have prioritised.

The Voluntary and Community Sector leads on Stronger Communities, and the theme Board is chaired by Neil Lambert, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Charnwood. The Stronger Communities Strategy forms one chapter of the Sustainable Community Strategy, and will continue to develop by people getting involved and suggesting actions. It is available for YOU to comment on at
http://www.ccp.org.uk/strongercommunitiesstrategy2008-.html
If you have any questions about Leicestershire Together or the LAA, or want to suggest the focus for a future article, please contact neil.lambert@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk.

by Neil Lambert, Chief Executive

Charnwood’s seven Area Forums have now met in public for the first time, to discuss how public services can be better delivered. There are three in Loughborough, (NW, SW and E), and the four rural ones cover Quorn and the Wolds, Syston and Wreake Villages, Birstall and the Forest, and Shepshed and Hathern. The geographical areas, and information about how the forums will operate, can be seen at www.leicestershireforums.org
Area Forums (known elsewhere in the county as Community Forums), offer opportunities to discuss current provision and identify unmet needs.

Public officials will be called to attend and answer for what they provide. This will include both the paid staff, such as Council Officers, as well as democratically elected Councillors, and publicly appointed representatives.
Common issues raised from a neighbourhood level in the first round include young people and anti-social behaviour. Other issues, such as transport in rural areas, are relevant to a larger ‘patch’, even across district boundaries, and therefore, need to be taken up outside meetings.

In April, the Stronger Communities sub-group of Charnwood Together considered actions arising from the Commission for Integration and Cohesion. The Shared Futures Report has been welcomed by Government, and Charnwood Together now also has draft proposals to promote cohesion and tackle community tensions.
For more details please see www.charnwoodtogether.org

Voluntary Action Charnwood provides local support services to voluntary organisations and community groups. We are one of seven Local Infrastructure Organisations, LIOs, in Leicestershire, which were known as CVS, and have been reviewed to find the best balance of central specialist and local access.

The County Council is keen to see better co-ordination, and consistency of support services. The County Council and other funders, such as the NHS Primary Care Trust, are also involved in discussions which will lead to a tender for creation of a central hub to perform certain support functions.

District Councils, such as Charnwood Borough, are also in discussions, about what they want to see under local control, district-based delivery of local services, in balance with the central hub.
Another similar tender is to provide involvement in planning and provision of health and social care services, to be known as the Local Involvement Network, or LINk.

Voluntary Action Charnwood is working closely with North West Leicestershire CVS to prepare to bid for both these opportunities.

By Neil Lambert, Chief Executive

Leicestershire Constabulary is urging residents to keep thieves locked out this summer.

As the temperatures rise, so do the number of burglaries at properties where the windows or doors have been left open or unlocked.

PC Ashley Russell, the Force's Crime Reduction Coordinator, said: "A lot of burglaries are carried out on the spur of the moment by thieves who see an opportunity, such as an open window, and take it.

A campaign to ensure every member of the public knows the name of their local beat officer and PCSO is coming to a street near you.
A huge trailer displaying a billboard-size advertisement will be touring Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for two weeks from Monday May 12. The advert encourages members of the public to find out who their neighbourhood officers are and highlights ways in which they can be contacted.

Motorists in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being offered free advice on motorway driving.

Leicestershire Constabulary is holding a motorway driving evening on Thursday June 5 aimed at any motorists who feel nervous about driving on the motorway.

It's also an opportunity for newly qualified drivers who may have no experience on motorways to gain some useful skills.

The event will include a presentation and videos highlighting some of the problems drivers could face.

Membership is free.......and always will be.

Reports are coming in that residents of the Leicestershire area are receiving demands for an annual joining fee per household to become members of Neighbourhood Watch.

Do not pay.

an opportunity for anyone with a disability to come along with their family, friends or carers

Sunday 8th June 2008
Hind Leys College Campus, Shepshed, Leics.
(1 Mile From J23, Ml)

• The day runs from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Registration from 9.30am.

• Most activities do not run all day, but for a block of 2 to 4 hours. A timetable is available in advance and a large master time-table and notice-board will be in the reception area to advise of any changes.

• As soon as you arrive you should either sign in at reception and register, or hand in your already completed registration form. We hope that pre-registration will save time for you on arrival and forms can be obtained from Penny on 01509 561791 ormjp.hefferan@ntlworld.com

• Some events have a booking system due to their popularity - please check at reception.

• A snack bar serving food and drink will be open all day plus a licensed bar from 12.00 to 3.00 pm and a B.B.Q. and Picnic area.

• Bring your swimming kit if you want to take part in canoeing, swimming, snorkeling or sub aqua. There is a minimum age of 12 for sub-aqua.

• Various games and play activities will be taking place on the grass outside the college and on the all-weather pitch or inside if wet. Please come prepared for all weather conditions.

• The activities take place over quite a large campus; bring a wheelchair if you might need one. We do not supply them.

• Although the day is free-of-charge we need to fundraise to enable the event to run. We would appreciate a donation if you feel able and suggest £1 per person.

May 2008 sees the introduction of a Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) in Loughborough Magistrates’ Court.

SDVCs form part of a National government model known as the Co-ordinated Community Response, which includes three work streams: Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, Multi -Agency Risk Assessment Conferences and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors.

The model uses a multi-agency response to tackle domestic violence to ensure better support for victims.
Why do we want SDVC in Loughborough?
Evaluations of SDVCs nationally have found that simple changes to criminal justice responses to domestic violence can have extremely positive outcomes including:

• better support for victims
• more offenders brought to justice
• 70-80% conviction rates in some courts.

What will the court do?
SDVCs were introduced to ensure that those who experience domestic violence receive a better response from the criminal justice system and a higher degree of support when they go to court.

On the ground this means domestic violence cases being dealt with by specially trained police officers, prosecutors, magistrates and legal advisors who have a good understanding of domestic violence.

Victims will be supported through the process by Independent Domestic Violence Advisors who are trained independent specialists with a sole focus on supporting victims.

It is hoped that with the introduction of the SDVC:
• those who suffer domestic violence will be supported and protected
• those who commit domestic violence offences are brought to court and punished appropriately
• that delay in hearing and dealing with cases is reduced.

For further information, contact Janet Flawith, SDVC Implementation Manager, on 0116 252 8563 or Lucy Hodge, DV Reduction Coordinator, on 0116 305 6017.

By Lucy Hodge

A supportive learning project for adults experiencing mental health difficulties providing a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being

Projects are delivered at the following sites:

• Rawlins Community College, Quorn.
• The Moira Centre, Loughborough.
• and the Shepshed area.

Telephone Julie or Liz, Learning Support Team on 01509 622826.

Resolution is your local Stop Smoking Service. We are part the NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust, and offer free support to anyone wishing to quit smoking. We have numerous venues throughout the whole county, where our friendly, trained advisors can support smokers to break the addiction to Nicotine and the habit.

Medication including Nicotine replacement therapy, Zyban and Champix, is available through prescription (free if exempt from charges), and information tailored to individual needs, helps to ensure that the most suitable form of medication is given.

The majority of smokers who attend our service succeed in quitting, compared to just 3% of smokers who go it alone.

Despite the harmful effects of smoking being widely known, a staggering 450 young people take up the habit each day in the UK. Work is currently taking place as a pilot study in six target schools throughout the county of Leicester, to develop services to suit the needs of young people, and smoking cessation services are being offered in these, and other schools, to help young people break the habit.

Resolution also provides specialist support to pregnant smokers and their families to quit, and can offer home visits for this purpose.

To find out where help is available call Resolution on 0845 045 2828

By Heather Burton

The University Hospitals of Leicester are looking for members of the public to help influence the future development of local hospital services. We need people to tell us what they want for the future. Become a member and have your say on how we can make your hospitals even better.

The benefits of becoming a member include:

• a quarterly magazine direct to your door
• exclusive membership to NHS discounts where you can enjoy huge savings on top brands
• exclusive members area on our website
• be the first to hear what’s going on in your hospitals before you read about it in the papers
• invitations to regular members events including monthly medicine for members, talks, health promotion fairs and our annual public meeting

You will be able to:
• voice your opinions and know we are listening
• influence and shape health services of the future

and best of all its free

Join today…
More than 10,000 people already have

Please visit:
http://www.uhl-tr.nhs.uk/members/becoming-a-member/apply-to-be-a-member to join on line or contact andrea.clark@uhl-tr.nhs.uk or on 0116 258 8685

All new members will be entered into a free prize-draw to win £100 worth of vouchers to spend at your local supermarket.

The team at Quorn Station is keen to reinstate the small flower bed at the start of the station’s drive, under the big GCR sign, to provide a welcome for our visitors. As our site team is few in number, we are looking for volunteers to take on this small project.

If you are interested, please contact Lynn Hill on 01509 632335.

The Baldwin Trust has been offering day trips on the River Soar for community and care groups for over 20 years. The Trust has two fully accessible, wheelchair friendly, narrow boats within the Charnwood area. Narrow boat St Clare operates from Raynsway Marina in Thurmaston, and narrow boat Dandelion from Bishop Meadow moorings in Loughborough.

Due to the wet summer in 2007, many trips had to be cancelled as the river was in flood. We are hoping for better weather in 2008. The engine on St Clare had become mechanically unreliable and also caused some concerns. The Trust expects better performance in 2008 as it has worked through the winter to replace the engine. The boat is also being re-painted before starting the new season.

Dandelion has been checked over and some small repairs done to ensure it is also ready.

New volunteers are always welcome to operate the boats and to assist passengers. Should you be interested, please contact Glenda Townsend on 0116 230 1731.

Should you wish to book a boat trip for a deserving group, please contact Marie Johnson on 0845 603 3695. You can also find more about the Trust on www.baldwintrust.org.uk

Loughborough Women’s Aid provides outreach support, safe refuge accommodation and resettlement support for all women, with or without children, who are suffering from any form of domestic abuse.

People think that domestic abuse just means physical violence; domestic abuse is about control, about how one person controls another. It can be in the form of verbal, physical, mental emotional or sexual abuse; children can also be used to control a person. Any of these will result in low self-esteem, making the victim vulnerable.
People also think that domestic abuse is always from their partner; domestic abuse can be from a partner, family member, carer, sibling etc. Wherever it comes from, it is frightening and intimidating for the victim.

Our outreach service provides support to suit the individuals needs, this can be simply a chat on the telephone, or we can arrange to meet personally. We can help in all aspects of concern, e.g. child issues, housing and safety issues, etc.

Our refuge provides safe, anonymous accommodation for all women, with or without children who are suffering from domestic abuse.

One in four women and one in six men will be affected by domestic abuse in their lifetime. Last year alone, Leicestershire Constabulary received over 12000 reports of domestic abuse.
Loughborough Women’s Aid can be contacted on 01509 552549 or visit our website: www.lwa.org.uk

Leicestershire Cares is a registered charity which encourages businesses to get further involved in their local voluntary/community organisations through a variety of projects.

Team Challenges are practical one-day projects involving up to 11 volunteers. Examples of Challenges include indoor projects such as giving a tired, well-used room a ‘makeover’ and a lick of paint, and outdoor challenges such as helping create a garden area or clear woodland in a nature reserve.

In most cases Team Challenges provide ‘volunteer power’ for a project, however some teams may have access to practical resources to help complete a challenge. (Please note that Team Challenges do not include technical, structural or construction work).

Most businesses encourage general ‘team-building’ activities amongst their employees. Team Challenges are a great opportunity for such activities as well as a chance for staff to give something back to their local community, have a positive impact on an organisation or area, and leave something sustainable behind.

If you have a possible Team Challenge, please contact us to arrange for a staff member to visit and discuss what is required. Short profiles of all available Team Challenges are promoted to Leicestershire Cares member businesses for employee volunteers to choose which to take up.

Interested? Please contact Rosie Colls, Community Development Coordinator at Leicestershire Cares on 0116 275 6469 or email rosie@leicestershirecares.co.uk

By Rosie Colls

Charnwood Juggling Club, run by Bill Brookman, is looking for new members! We meet on Thursdays 7.00- 9.30pm at the Old Mission Church, Storer Road Loughborough. Cost £2.

For further information, contact 01509 236175 or bill@billbrookman.co.uk

We have put some adverts on Arriva buses around the county and wondered if YOU have spotted one.

Let us know where and when you've seen them by telling us in the discussion forum.

The list of the top 100 village & town sites on Leicestershire Villages has been unveiled for the period between January and March 2008.

To find out how well your village has done just click on the title above or go to the Help section.

If you would like any help in getting your village further up the list you can come along to a FREE training session or you can contact us on 01509 643448 or email admin@leicestershirevillages.com.