Strengthening voluntary action and local communities

Affordable Housing and the future of your Village – come and find out more. A Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Event on Saturday 28^th April 2001 10.00am to 3pm Hambleden Village Hall between Henley and Marlow £5. Further details from Laura Cook at CCB 0118 – 9612000

Information and Advice on Learning and Work for adults in Berkshire : Are you interested in keeping up with the kids, learning new skills, setting up your own business, applying for jobs and courses, changing career, if yes there is help available on the LEARNDIRECT HELPLINE 0800 100 900 or visit our website on www.berkshire-iag.org.uk

CCB's Village Halls Conference 14^th May 7.30pm at Leckhampstead Village Hall. Is your hall in the doldrums? Want some new ideas to revitalise it? This conference could help. Contact Wendy Dacey CCB's Village Halls Advisor on 0118-9612000

Rotary Annual Sponsored Walk – Sunday 27^th May

Voluntary groups wishing to raise money for their own organisation and individual walkers wishing to raise money for the charity of their choice are invited to take part in the Rotary Annual Walk. There is a registration fee of £1 per walker. Rotary Club arrange the walk and does the administration – you just have fun and get the money!

Contact West Berkshire Council for Voluntary Service for further details on 01635-523861

Community Furniture Project has been given lots of Christmas decorations! – are there any organisations who would like to benefit from this donation? Please contact Jackie Akam on 01635 43933

Awards for All is a grants programme set up to help small groups. If you are a local group and you need between £500 and £5000. Awards for all may be able to help you. For an application pack call 0845 600 2040 or visit their website at www.awardsforall.org.uk

Newbury Shopmobility (01635-523854) has relocated into the ground floor of the Northbrook Street multi-storey car park. It is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am – 4pm. Shopmobility is a scheme which can provide you with the loan of a wheelchair (powered or manual) or an electric scooter to enable you to do your shopping or use other facilities in the town centre. You do not need to be disabled to use Shopmobility. You may be recovering from an accident, so, anyone who has difficulty getting about on foot, be it long term or short term can make use of the facility. It may also be possible to arrange an escort.

The service is free but donations will be gratefully received.

Children's Information Centre For information on all activities for children between 0-14 years of age in the West Berkshire Area ring free phone 0800 3289148, they may be able to help.

Volunteers are needed for Home Start

Homestart is a voluntary organisation in which volunteers visit families with children under five to offer regular support, friendship and practical help.

Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. The only stipulation is that they have had parenting experience themselves. They need no specific qualifications but they do need the ability to listen with understanding to maintain confidentiality and bring with them commitment both to the scheme and to the families they visit.

Further information contact Homestart on 01635 528202

Produced by CCB's Rural networks Project in partnership with West Berkshire Council for Voluntary Service – contact Sarah Ward Project Worker on 01635-523857 or E mail: ccbnewbury@aol.com