November 2011
Changes planned for parish and community fund CHANGES are being made to Hinckley & Bosworth’s popular Parish Community Initiative Fund to ensure it is still meeting the needs of the rural community. Over the past six years the Borough Council’s fund has awarded grants totalling £585,000 to local parishes and voluntary organisations to help pay for 115 schemes. But after this year’s grants were awarded the council reviewed the scheme and consulted with parishes, community groups, grant recipients and councillors to see if it could be improved. As a result of the review, the following changes have been adopted for 2012/13: • Funding will be prioritised towards schemes such as children’s and young people’s play and community buildings • Medium priority will be given to nature conservation features, sports and fitness equipment, footpaths and trails, and historic features • Boundary walls and fences, bus shelters and car parks will no longer be funded • Help in kind will be offered where possible (dependent on project, and capacity of services to assist). • In the event the fund is over subscribed, then priority will be given to applicants who did not receive a grant the previous year. • The maximum grant £10,000 will be per project and £10,000 per parish. • Value for money and evidence of need will be the priority areas for assessors. • The total fund available for distribution next year will be £100,000.
Mercenfeld School’s 150th Anniversary Mercenfeld School celebrates its 150th anniversary during 2011. The first pupils attended the new school on the Green in 1861 with younger children starting in 1862. It is intended to mark the occasion with a number of events towards to end of the year and during 2012. The school would like to put on a display, which will be open to the public and which will illustrate the many past events that have taken place in and around the school buildings on Oakfield Avenue and at the original school building on the Green. If anyone has any old photographs or documents that show school life in Markfield over the years and which could be considered for inclusion in the display they would be most welcome. If you are able to help with photos/ material or even memories please contact the school on Oakfield Avenue - telephone 01530 243151 or email ad.min@mercenfeld.leics.sch.uk Material can be left at the school or alternatively arrangements can be made to collect any material. All items loaned will be returned. If it is possible any original photographs and papers will be copied and returned as soon as practical. There will be updates in future copies of The Herald and it is hoped that as many people as possible will be able to join in with the celebrations by adding their recollections and memories.
Top Scout Award for Tim Featherstone
St Michael’s Church Fayre
Saturday 12th November 10 am till 12 noon In Congregational Hall Main Street, Markfield Stalls include Cakes / groceries, Bric-a-brac Raffle, Tombola, Come and enjoy a Cup of Tea / Coffee, Hot Dog /Jacket Potato, All welcome
She’s so evil! On 19th September 2011, Tim Featherstone (pictured above, left) of 1st Markfield Scouts was presented with the Gold Chief Scout Award by the High Sheriff of Leicestershire, Resham Singh Sandhu MBE DL, at a ceremony at the Blaby Scout Centre. The CSA Gold is the highest award available in the Scout section and to achieve this Tim completed tasks in a wide range of activities, including projects in outdoor skills, service to the community, adventure and international activities. T im was able to achieve the international and also some of the adventure challenge awards during a trip to the International Scout Centre at Kandersteg in Switzerland in 2009.
Dave Morris GSL 1st Markfield Scout Group
Arachne’s back! Rumour has it that the Fairy Arachne, who vanished into the depths of time, (somewhere near Hill Hole), two years ago, is planning to return Terminator-like - in the next MTTG panto.
For the full horrific details, see page 14!
NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 3rd December - Advert & Articles Needed By 19th November 2011