Application materials are now available for the fifth funding round of the vcashpoint scheme. Grants are awarded to young people in England, aged between 16 and 25, to set up exciting and creative voluntary projects that benefit their communities. The scheme has a total budget of £1 million available for distribution, with individual grants capped at £2,500.

Projects that involve young people in their organisation, planning and implementation will be supported. The funding can be used to design and undertake schemes that will benefit the applicant's community and will have a positive impact in the long-term. More »

Responses to policing consultation show widespread support for cutting police red tape.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, ‘On visits up and down the country I have seen first hand the positive impact of neighbourhood policing and the growing involvement of communities in the fight against crime.'

She added, ‘The public are our strongest weapon in tackling crime and I passionately believe that empowering them to get a good deal through the policing pledge will play a powerful role in driving up the quality of policing for our citizens and in our communities.’

The Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (NHWN) was launched across the nation with a brief to keep an eye on crime and crime fighting on our home front.

With the backing of the police and Home Office we will keep you up to speed on developments both locally and nationally via a constantly-updated website and regular newletters. Use this link to download your copy and to register to receive future editions.

Christmas shoppers in Leicester city centre are being given purse bells and chains to try and prevent thefts from handbags over the festive period.

The chain can be used to attach a purse to a handbag to make it more difficult to steal. Meanwhile the bells will alert shoppers if someone is tampering with their handbag.

www.mynhw.co.uk will be releasing the Winter edition of their Newsletter soon. To ensure that you receive this newsletter and future editions to be published in 2009 please register your details with us using this link.

We are also looking for events and news to add to the site, please let us know what is happening in your local area.

Marion Lewis - Chair NHWNetwork (England & Wales)

Insp Holland has been shadowing Insp Barber for a period of time to prepare him for his new role and to cover for her maternity leave; he took over command of Harborough local policing unit on Monday 17 November.

He said: "I am really looking forward to working with the community and our partner agencies to identify and deal with the issues that impact on the quality of life of people who live and work in Harborough district.

There are now new publications available for Watch members to use to promote and develop Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch in their areas.

Letter from David Scott:

Dear Neighbour,

Pennbury New (Eco) Town Consultation

The Parish Council has received a copy of the Co-op’s latest “Masterplan” for the Eco Town. Consultation responses are required by the vague date “spring 2009”.

The purpose of this letter is to encourage you to reply. This is important whether you support or oppose the Co-op’s plans. Please reply as soon as possible and certainly before the end of the year.

Most of the people that I meet who live anywhere near “Pennbury” seem to be opposed to the development and to this end I prepared for the Parish Council some notes setting out concerns about the Co-op’s plans. The Parish Council asked me to make the list of questions and issues available to all residents. These are attached and can be used to help you to list your own issues. An individual letter or e-mail setting out your own concerns will have more impact than a signature on a petition or a round-robin letter. Please feel free to contact me if you want further information (Phone 2593663; e-mail scottpin@dsl.pipex.com) More »

Motorists are being reminded to check their vehicle lights are all working properly now that the evenings are getting darker earlier.

With increased road safety in mind, officers from Leicestershire Constabulary's Road Policing Unit are going to be on the look out for vehicles with defective lights.

Defective brake or head lights can be a sign of poor vehicle maintenance and can put lives at risk.

Eat out for 1/2 price using the Gourmet Society at the UK's best restaurants.

The Gourmet Society has over 32,000 members in the UK who regularly dine out at their favourite restaurants throughout the Midlands, North East and Southern England.
With almost 2,000 restaurants members are spoilt for choice whether they wish to dine in Leicestershire, Newcastle, Birmingham, Nottingham, Oxford to name but a few places with Gourmet Society restaurants.
Leicestershire Villages users are able to save £20 on membership, by using the promotional code: VILLAGES

During the afternoon of Tuesday 4th November a number of distraction burglaries occurred around the force area. 3 of these were in the North of the county in the Coalville and Thurmaston areas but later in the evening a further distraction burglary occurred in Enderby which is in our South area.

Current and potential volunteer promoters of Centre Screen, the mobile cinema scheme for Leicestershire, are invited to attend an informal event to be updated on developments and to provide feedback. If you’ve not yet had Centre Screen come to your village then you can find out how it all works. It is an opportunity for you to meet fellow volunteers and share experiences and you will also have the opportunity to look at what films are coming up. The events will be attended by representatives from Phoenix Arts, who manage Centre Screen, Leicestershire County Council, who fund it and the Arts Development Officer for the nearby local authority who also fund and support the scheme.
Dates of events are:
Monday 10th November, 7pm – 9pm at Hoby Village Hall, 32 Main Street, Hoby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3DT
Tuesday 11th November – 2pm – 4pm at Botcheston Village Hall, Main Street, Botcheston, Leicestershire, LE9 9FF
Tea, coffee, biscuits & cake will be provided!
For further information, directions to the venue and to book your place please contact Emily Horwood on 0116 267 0015 or ehorwood@leics.gov.uk

Recycle for Leicestershire - Recipe Competition Are you creative in the kitchen? Can you turn last night's left overs into a three course meal? If so then recycle for Leicestershire want to hear from you!
They are looking for innovative ways to turn that forgotten carrot or potato into an impressive dish!
All you have to do for a chance to win one of the fabulous prizes, including a first prize of vouchers to the value of £150.00, is submit a recipe of your own choice. For details see the attached leaflet or log onto www.leics.gov.uk. Competition closing date 28.11.08.

Police from Fleckney are appealing for witnesses after a car was stolen in the area.

The incident happened between 10pm on Wednesday October 29 and 10.30am on Thursday October 30, 2008 when thieves stole a red Ford Mondeo from the Kilby Road area.

The car has a distinctive white bumper and has the registration number K554 YPH.

Officers are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at a farm in Swinford near Lutterworth.

The incident took place between 11pm yesterday (Tuesday October 28, 2008) and 7.30am this morning (Wednesday October 29, 2008) when a workshop was forced open at Lambcote Hill Farm on Shawell Road.

Thieves stole from the building a green Kawasaki quad bike, an Ifor Williams trailer, acetylene cutting equipment and various tools estimated to be worth around £32,000 in total.

The Rural Community Council is now delivering Suicide Awareness Training to Leicester City. On November 26th there is an all day training course which targets occupational groups at risk e.g. vets, doctors, dentists, haulage workers and those working in the mental health area,

If you know someone who might benefit from this training and they are in one of the above groups, do please give Nickie Philbin a ring or drop her an email.

Direct line is 0116 268 9712 or email nphilbin@ruralcc.org.uk

The clocks went back one hour on Sunday 26th October 2008 and already the days are getting shorter and many of you will soon be coming home from work in the dark.

Whilst we don’t want to increase the fear of crime unnecessarily we have to point out that this really is the time to think about the darker nights and the fact that burglaries to dwellings between about 3pm and 7pm traditionally increase at this time of year.

Use this link to see how you can help your NHW members.

How messing about on boats saved Britain’s waterways

On 25 October 1968, a single piece of Government legislation transformed the UK’s ailing waterways from an all but abandoned Georgian transport network into a booming tourism success story now enjoyed by more than 1.5 million people every week.

To mark the 40th anniversary of one of the most important moments in the 200 year history of the UK’s canals, British Waterways is calling on visitors old and new to help celebrate the vibrancy of today’s 2,200 miles network of waterways by contributing their holiday memories to a giant virtual scrapbook. More »

The new RCC Community Funding Guide has just been published. In addition to hints and tips on applying for funding you will find details of over 150 funders.

The Rural Community Council(Leicestershire & Rutland)are hosting 2 seminars that will help people to understand and react to climate change issues and rising fuel costs.
VENUE 1 : Kibworth Grammar SchoolHall (Harborough District)
DATE: 22nd October 2008

VENUE 2 : Thornton Village Hall (Hinckley & Bosworth)
DATE: 30th October 2008

To book a place please contact dcook@ruralcc.org.uk
0116 2689706