Signs4Life have set up introductory workshops in Disability Awareness to help staff to communicate and engage with their disabled colleagues, service users and clients. This local initiative is to help explore different types of disability, identify disabilities, seek ways to remove barriers and introduce best practise, debate and ask questions, and also to encourage inclusion of all people with sensory, physical or learning disabilities in Shropshire

For further information please contact Fozia on info@signs4life.org.uk

Come and be inspired by some of the new and exciting initiatives that are happening across Shropshire and help SCRL to get really active in the year ahead.  Issues to be discussed at the meeting will include the recent cardboard initiative in Shrewsbury and the new aims and objectives focussed on rolling out community action for waste reduction across Shropshire. This is your chance to contribute your ideas, help to mobilise more communities, and to address issues not yet addressed.

Anyone interested in recycling and the environment is welcome to come along- no need to be a member!

You can view the agenda by clicking here.

If you would like to attend this event or request further information, please contact Rosemary Collie on 07792 687903. You will need to book your place and lunch by Friday 3rd February.

If you would like to book a place on the conference please click here: www.eventelephant.com/greenshropshireconference 

The event will provide local environmental activists a unique opportunity to share ideas on various issues relating to the environment including climate change, food security, loss of biodiversity and other forms of environmental degradation.

The Conference is to be held on Saturday 3rd March 2012, 9.30am-3.30pm at Church Stretton School.

There is room for exhibition stands and stalls to promote information on local projects, community schemes and environmental products. If you or your organisation would like space please contact Claire on 01743 252577

A limited number of places are available so book quickly to avoid disappointment.

They are holding a charity ball on Saturday 3rd March at the Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa, you will receive a drink on arrival, 3 course meal, and entertainment featuring Natasha Hamilton from Atomic Kitten. Tickets are £40 each or table 10 for £370.

To view their poster promoting the event click here.

To book tickets please call the Pandas Foundation on 0843 28 98 401 or you can send an email to info@pandas foundation.org.uk

It would be great if the local community could support this very worthwhile cause!

If so, you could gain from attending networking events held by Shropshire Social Enterprise Network.  

The aim of each meeting is to:

• Find collaboration opportunities
• Support each other
• Share information and ideas
• Find ways that we can use our enterprising businesses to support voluntary and community groups.
• Have open facilitated discussions

The meetings are facilitated by Jim Hawkins, BBC Radio Shropshire presenter. Jim is a social entrepreneur himself and a keen supporter of Shropshire social enterprises.

The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 22nd February from 6.00pm-8.00pmat Atcham Memorial Hall.

Whilst the network will not be profit making, a small charge of £5 per meeting will be made on the door to cover the cost of venue, refreshments and any speakers that are organised.

To book a place please click here

Last November the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced that the torch, to be carried by a number of inspirational Torchbearers, will pass through the communities of Ludlow, Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer on Thursday 24 May 2012 and Oswestry, Pant, Llanymynech, Shrewsbury, Cressage, Much Wenlock, Benthall and Broseley on Wednesday 30 May 2012.

This visit will give local people a once in a lifetime chance to welcome the Olympic Flame, share in the excitement of the Relay and celebrate the fantastic achievements of the Torchbearers.

The council is offering support to individuals, communities and organisations wishing to celebrate and be part of the Torch Relay experience.

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for active and healthy lifestyles, said:

“I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved and celebrate this once in a lifetime opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame.

“If you’re planning a special welcome, please let us know.”

People interested in getting involved in the celebrations should call Joy Durrant in the council’s community arts and festivals team on 01743 255077 or email joy.durrant@shropshire.gov.uk to talk through ideas and to highlight events for promotion.

LOCOG have a devoted web-page to help people get started with event planning, and they can also register as a Local Leader by visiting their website. Here people can download ‘Top 10 planning tips’ and a poster to help recruit others to organise events. They will be sent updates with hints and tips and promotional material, including posters and decoration ideas. Plus they can get exclusive access to Local Leader merchandise with volume discounts if they buy in bulk.

For more information about where the Olympic Flame is going, people can visit http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map

The next Ask the Architect session will be held on Friday 27 January 2012 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at Lanyon Bowdler’s Shrewsbury office, with further sessions planned for 17 February and 9 March 2012. If you would like to book for any of these dates please get in touch.

The topic of architecture is far reaching and encompasses many different aspects, from barn conversions, single storey extensions and/or conservatories, the installation of solar panels, the installation of bi fold doors and flat roofs, extending on to existing land for new builds to accommodate family or commercially for holiday lets and general plans for expansion or renovation both privately and in a business setting.

The world of planning law can often be a minefield when people or businesses are trying to get projects off the ground, and expert advice can be invaluable. With this in mind Matthew enlists the expertise of Lanyon Bowdler’s Town and Country Planning Law solicitor, Rebecca Whittaker, who can advise on planning law queries.

To book for any of the upcoming Ask The Architect sessions please contact Lanyon Bowdler’s Marketing Team on 01952 224048 or via email to sarah.jones@lblaw.co.uk. Further details of the Ask The Architect Clinics can be found at www.mbf-design.co.uk

 Follow Matthew on twitter @ShropsArchitect

• access new opportunities to share accommodation
• benefit from the availability of public sector accommodation
• get involved in the formation of local hubs
• find ways of saving money on your accommodation costs / use of other assets, such as land.

The CAP programme is moving forward steadily and is in the process of setting up a board which will be named the ‘Shropshire Estates Partnership’. The VCS has representation on this board from David Bell, Gill Green and David Fairclough.

As part of the CAP meetings the issue of ‘local service hubs’ has been discussed. These hubs will be buildings in which partners from public services, emergency services and VCS groups and organisations may all share public reception/ customer ‘front of house’ services. These hubs will be designed to offer services to people in one central location so that service users do not have to visit various buildings to access a service.

The CAP programme has initially looked at three areas for these hubs. They include: Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.

Oswestry ‘hub’

Shropshire Council is now undertaking research and consultation to consider the immediate future of a service hub within Oswestry. The authority suggests a hub could be created as early as the first quarter of 2012. Any organisation that feels they would benefit from such a scheme should contact David Fairclough ASAP to discuss any issues and questions. David is also looking for feedback from VCS organisations who are currently located within a Council building in Oswestry. Please get in contact with David so that he can take your concerns and comments to the next CAP meeting. Key questions are:

• Do you operate services from Oswestry in a Council owned building?
• Do you provide services in Oswestry that would benefit from being part of a hub?
• If you don’t currently provide services in Oswestry area, would you be interested in the possibility of operating services from a shared building in the Oswestry area in the future?

Shrewsbury & Bridgnorth ‘hub’

There are no discussions taking place at this present time to discuss local hubs within these towns. As soon as any discussion takes place the VCS CAP representatives will consult further with the sector.

Pathfinder organisations

Seventeen organisations replied to David previously. The CAP meetings have been extremely positive with all partners opening up a dialogue regarding future use of their assets. The VCS position is that many organisations do not own their asset, however this should not detract away from the fact that they are a useful partner within this programme.

Please find attached meeting notes and the CAP project plan so that you can learn more about the programme.

David will be setting up future meetings for the interested organisations to discuss a VCS CAP plan (should VCS require one), however David would like that organisations and groups operating in the Oswestry area interested in the service hub proposal please contact him first to discuss the issues.

David Fairclough, VCS Officer & Development Officer (Shropshire Graduate), Shropshire Council, Ptarmigan House, Tel: 01743 255781 (Mon-Weds), Shirehall, Tel: 01743 252 295 (Thurs-Fri), david.fairclough@shropshire.gov.uk

Training for Social Enterprises and VCS organisations who wish to explore and develop ideas, services or products, which contribute or fully cover the costs and may subsidize other activities, whilst remaining true to their vision. This course is appropriate for someone who is responsible for current services and products which are provided by the organisation. They need to have an understanding of the potential needs of the community their organisations serves and the need to generate income, and cost of “overheads” to be added to any service offered on a “paid for” basis.

 The course will give the learner the opportunity to:

 -          Identify strategies to establish the needs of their community, any gaps, potential competitors and the possibility of providing something new which can be sustainable offered.

-          Identify products/services which may have the potential to develop as a source of income generation which may fit alongside products/services which may be offered, but perhaps at a loss

-          Be prompted to consider the tensions between social goals and financial sustainability

-          Develop outline ideas to promote the benefits and added value of the organisations services

Date:  Wednesday 1^st February 2012

Time: 10.00am – 3.30pm

Venue: The Community Council of Shropshire

Cost: VCO in Shropshire – £30 and Statutory/external organisations & VCO – £80

To book on this course contact Lorraine Smart on 01743 237880 or lorraine.smart@shropshire-rcc.org.uk

The Carers Support Service run by the Community Council of Shropshire provides information, support, training, events and groups for adult carers across Shropshire.

They can offer support at home or on the telephone. Regular drop-in sessions are also held to offer advice on a range of issues on an informal basis.

The latest drop-in sessions are to be held at the following libraries:

• Whitchurch Library- Tuesday 17th Jan 2-4pm
• Wem Library- Tuesday 24th Jan 2-4pm
• Market Drayton Library- Tuesday 31st Jan 2-4pm
• Gobowen Library- Thursday 9th Feb 10-12pm
• Ellesmere Library- Friday 10th Feb 1-3pm
• Lantern Library (Shrewsbury)- Tuesday 14th Feb 2-4pm
• Oswestry Library- Tuesday 6th March 10-1pm

You can contact the carers support service for more information on 01743 341995

The Community Council of Shropshire are also offering a service enabling people to learn about how to use the Internet called “Get Shropshire Online”.  You can view the project’s website here.

A person from the Get Shropshire Online Team will also be attending the carer information drop-in sessions which are being held at Wem and Ellesmere. If you know anyone who could benefit from learning how to use the Internet then come along and talk with us!