SPRING 2025 COMMUNITY BUILDINGS NEWSLETTER
Springhasarrived,theclockshavechangedashastheweatherhas brightenedandmanytrusteesareturningdowntheheating controlswithasighofrelief.
WehopethatyouenjoyedVillageHallsWeek,whetheryoudid anythingspecificormerelyenjoyedtheadditionalpublicityforthe week.Weranvarioustrainingandinformationsessionsbothin personandonlineandtheweekculminatedwithvisitingWedmore VillageHall’sopendayandholdingaDecarbSomersetvisitto varioussitesinthevillage.
Inthisissue,youwillfindnewsfromournationalACREtraining,a membershipreminder,Hallmarkapplicationsareopen,funding opportunities,andanupdateonthenextstepsforDecarb Somerset!
Happy Reading
RobertHornCCSCommunityBuildingsAdvisor robert@somersetrcc.org.uk
P1:MEMBERSHIP & HALLMARK2025
P2:NEWS
P4:TRUSTEEOFTHEYEAR
P5:VILLAGEHALLSWEEK
P7:DECARBSOMERSET
P8:FUNDING
Haveyoujoinedour MembersFacebook Group? Clickheretojoin-we networkandshareideas!
MembershipRenewal
Bynowyoushouldhavereceivedaninvoicefromustorenewyourmembership.Thiswillhavegoneto thepersonlistedastheprimarycontact.Ifyouareunabletofindit,pleasecheckyourspamfolder.
Oncewehavereceivedpaymentwewillsendyouanemailasconfirmationwithyourcertificateand detailsonthemembershipbenefitsandhowtoaccessthem.
TheCCSmembershipwasdueonApril1st.The membershipfeeis£110andbringsawiderangeof benefits,includingaccesstoalltheACREinformation sheets,121support,entryintotheHallmark accreditationschemeandtrainingandnetworking opportunities
PleasecheckyourlistingontheCommunityBuildings LocatorMapandletusknowofanyamendsyou require.
Thankyoutoeveryonewhohasalreadyrenewedwe shalllookforwardtocontinuingtosupportyou.
Hallmark2025
TheHallmarkaccreditationschemeisopenforapplications,to registerforaplace,completethissimpleonlineformtobe completedby30 April. th
Onlineform:HallmarkQualityStandard|CCSCommunityCouncil forSomerset
Therewillbeanonlinewebinarwithguidanceabouthowtogo aboutthewholeprocessonTuesday29thApril10-11am.
Tobookaplacevisit:https://tinyurl.com/2tvc7bxe.
Thewebinarwillberecordedforthosethatcannotmakeit.
I’vejustreturnedfromseveralpackeddaysattheNationalVillageHall AdvisorsConferenceandTrainingEvent,hostedbyACRE(Actionwith CommunitiesinRuralEngland)—thecentralhubforknowledgeand guidanceonallthingsvillagehalls.
Thiseventbringstogetheradvisorsfromacrossthecountryforanintenseexchangeofideas, updates,andproblem-solving Evenduringbreaks,theconversationsrarelystrayfromourshared commitmenttoimprovingandsupportingcommunitybuildings.Here’sakeyhighlightfromthis year’sagendathatwilldirectlyimpactvillagehallsandcommunitybuildingsacrossthecountry:
TheNewSimplerRecyclingPolicy–WhatYouNeedtoKnow
Thegovernment’sSimplerRecyclingPolicyissettostandardiserecyclingpracticesacrossEngland, ensuringconsistencyinwhatcanbecollectedforhouseholdrecyclingineveryregion.
Whatdoesthismeanforvillagehalls?
Thenewpolicydoesnotchangethedutyofcareforhallcommittees,nordoesitaltertheclassificationof villagehallsunderexistinglegislation Ifyoubelieveyourhallhasbeenincorrectlyclassified,dogetin touch.WemaybeabletohelpmakeagrouprepresentationtoSomersetCouncilonyourbehalf.
WasteManagementResponsibilities
Eventhoughrecyclingisjustoneelementofrunningacommunitybuilding,it'sanimportantone.Hall hirersshouldbemadeawareoftheirresponsibilities,particularlywhenappropriaterecyclingreceptacles areprovided.Theseexpectationscanbeclearlyoutlinedinyourhall'shiringagreement.
LegalFrameworkandGuidance
UndertheEnvironmentalProtectionAct1990,thereisadutyofcaretoensurewasteishandledand disposedofproperly.Inaddition:
TheSeparationofWaste(England)Regulations2024(replacingthe2011regulations)statethatwaste fromplacesofworshiporpremises"usedwhollyormainlyforpublicmeetings"isclassifiedas householdwaste Whilevillagehallsarenotspecificallynamedinthelegislation,Defrahasconfirmed thattheyfallunderthiscategory.
Localauthoritiescanchargeforcollectionofhouseholdwastefromthesepremises,butnotfordisposal.
Fundedby
KeyComplianceDates
From31stMarch2025,hallswithmorethan10employeesmustcomplywithSimplerRecycling requirements.
FromMarch2027,theserequirementswillapplytoallrelevanthalls,regardlessofstaffing.
ImportantPointsforHallCommittees
It’snotcomplianttoaskhirersofoccasionalevents(eg communityfundraisers,domestic-styleuses)to taketheirwastehomewiththem.
Ifahallishiredbyacommercialentitythathasitsownwastedisposalcontract,thehallcommitteecan meetitsdutybyensuringthehirertakesfullresponsibilityforwaste
Hallsheavilyusedforactivitieslikenurseries,socialclubs,orlargeprivatefunctionsmaybeclassifiedby localauthoritiesasproducingnon-domesticwaste
Eventssuchasvolunteer-ledcommunitycafésorWarmHubs,designedtoreduceisolationandsupport cohesion,shouldgenerallystillbetreatedashouseholdwaste especiallywhenheldweeklyorless frequently astheyareconsideredpublicmeetingsinlinewiththehall'scharitableaims
AswellaswasteregulationswespentalotoftimegettingtogripswiththeTerrorismBill2024(“Martyn’s Law”)inaworkshopledbytheMidlandsCounterTerrorismUnit.Whilethebillhasnowbeenpassedandis lawthepracticalaspectsofhowthiswillaffectushasyettobedefinedbythegovernment.Oneofthekey thingsthatwasrepeatedlystressedisthattheresponseswillbeproportionateie youwillnotbeexpected tomakeunreasonablechanges.Thisisnottosaythatyoucansimplyignorethethreat,buttherearemany aspectsthatareprobablyalreadybeingcovered Communitybuildingsandeventscouldbeviewedas targets,howeverunlikelythatmayseemandthereforeweshouldbeawareandminimiseriskswhere possible.
Muchofthisisalreadycoveredinyourfireriskassessmentlikeevacuation,orhowyouwoulddealwithany incidentifyouareplanningorsupportingavillagefete Thecapacityofyourhallwilldeterminethelevelof responsibilityandaction,Ifyourhall’snormaleventsattractmorethan200people,orforabigoneoffevent youwillprobablybeinthemiddlecategory.Thekeythingtorememberisthatthespecificguidanceisnot yetoutandwewillinformyouassoonasitisavailable.
Isthereanyoneonyourcommitteewho hasbeenoutstandingthisyear?
Wearelookingforsomeonewhohasgonetheextramile andmadeabigdifferencetoyourhalltobenominatedfor ourTrusteeoftheYearAward.
Fundedby
Itdoesn’thavetobethepersonwhogotthenewextension built,itcouldbethetrusteewhohelpedtohealarift betweentwoparties,orthepersonwhokeepsploddingaway inthebackground,nevergivingupandistheessentialcogin themachine.
Whateverthereasonifthereissomeoneonyourcommittee thatyouthinkdeservesthisaward,writetousin250words orlessandtellusaboutyournomination.Nomination deadlineby30thSeptember2025. communitybuildings@somersetrcc.org.uk
Wewillpleasedtoacceptnominationsforpersonspreviously nominated Pleasealsonotewecannotacceptposthumous nominations
TrusteeoftheYear2024JohnBowman(left) presentedbyAdamDanceMPforYeovil (right)
Weunderstandthatstaffandvolunteersalikearetime-poorandwiththisinmind,wewanttomakeour servicesmoreaccessibleandcompatiblewithflexi/volunteeringhours
IntroducingUtilityAid’sNewOnlineSwitchingService
Ournewswitchingsiteserviceenablesuserstogetinstantaccesstocommercialutilityquotationsfroma listofreliablecredit-vettedsuppliersatanytime.Youcaneasilyshoparoundforanewdealandcarryouta fullsupplierswitch.Haveaquestion?Orneedsomesupport?Youwillhaveaccesstoourchatfunction whereyoucanspeakwithoneofourEnergySpecialistsonlinebetween9-5pm.
WherecanIaccessthesite?
Wehavebeendelightedbyourpartner'ssupportwhohavehelpedusinprovidingspacesforvoluntary organisationstoaccessthesite
UtilityAidSwitchingSite
Wecontinuallystrive,togivetheVoluntarysectorthequalityandservicetheyneedsotheycancontinueto DoMoreGood.Thisserviceisaboutgivingcharityprofessionalsandvolunteerstheopportunitytomake decisionsatatimethatsuitsthem.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouttheswitchingsiteplease contactourteam:partnerships@utility-aid.co.uk
VILLAGEHALLSWEEK
AGreenCommunityShowcasetoRemember
OnabrightspringdayinMarch,Wedmorebecametheheartof climateactioninSomerset.Aspartof#VillageHallsWeek,wehosted itsveryfirstDecarbSomersetCommunityShowcase-avibrant gatheringoflocalchangemakers,sustainabilityadvocates,and communityleaders,allunitedbyonesharedmission:creatinga greener,moresustainablefutureforSomerset.
HeldatthescenicVillageofWedmoreVillageFarm,theevent markedamajormilestoneintheongoingCCSDecarbSomerset project WithrepresentativesfromSomersetCouncil,TheNational Lottery,SomersetAssociationofLocalCouncils,andgrassroots groupsliketheBurnham&HighbridgeGreenTeamandthe AlbemarleCentre,itwasapowerfuldemonstrationofwhatcan happenwhencommunitiescometogetherwithpurpose.
ThedaykickedoffwithaninspiringwelcomefromSonyaBedford MBE,whosetthetonewitharallyingcallforcommunity-driven sustainability.Hermessagewasclear:realchangestartsatthelocal level,andit’stheeverydayactionsofordinarypeoplethatpavethe wayforextraordinaryimpact.
Attendeesthenventuredoutonguidedtourstovisitlive sustainabilityprojectsatWedmoreSportsGround&TennisClub andWedmoreVillageHall Thesesitevisitsofferedafirsthandlook athowcommunitiesarecuttingenergyuse,reducingemissions, andfuture-proofingtheirfacilities.Formany,itwasachancetosee ideasinactionandtakethoselessonshome.
SonyaBedfordMBE
VILLAGEHALLSWEEK
ThedayconcludedwithalivelyQ&Asessionledbyapanelof energyexpertsincludingSonyaBedfordMBE(GreenWedmore), DavidLegge(E3Sustainability),andRobinBell(Centrefor SustainableEnergy).Attendeeswereinvitedtoaskquestions, sharetheirchallenges,andjoinareal-timeconversationabout Somerset’sjourneytowardnet-zero.
SinceitslaunchinApril2024,theCCSDecarbSomersetinitiative hassupportedmorethan80Voluntary,Community,Faith,and SocialEnterprise(VCFSE)groupsacrossthecounty.Through energyassessmentsandsustainabilitycoaching,theprojecthas alreadyidentifiedcarbonsavingsofupto150tonnes the equivalentoftaking15people’sannualemissionsoffthegrid
“Thiseventtrulyillustratesthepowerofcommunitiescoming togethertotakechargeoftheirenvironmentalfuture,”saidCCS CEOValBishop.“Bysharingthesesuccessstories,wehopeto inspireevenmorelocalgroupstotakethatfirststeptoward reducingtheircarbonfootprint.”
AndwiththeUK’saveragepersonalcarbonfootprinthovering around10tonnesperyear,theeffortsshowcasedatthisevent provethatsmallchanges,whenmultipliedacrosscommunities, canadduptosomethingbig.
TheGreenCommunityShowcasewasn’tjustaone-offeventitis proofofwhat’spossiblewhenlocalpeoplearegiventhetools, support,andinspirationtoleadtheway FromWedmoreto WheddonCrossandSouthPetherton,Somerset’scommunitiesare writingthenextchapterofclimateleadershiptogether.
FromInsighttoAction:Decarb
SomersetContinuesto2026
ThankstothesuccessofYear1,DecarbSomersetwillcontinue untilMarch2026,tohelpVoluntary,Community,Faithand SocialEnterprisebuildingsacrossthecountybetterunderstand theirenergyusageandidentifyactionstoreducethecarbon impactoftheiractivities.Whetheryouaretakingyourfirst stepstounderstandyourCommunityBuilding’scarbonimpact orarewellonyourretro-fitjourney,youcanjointheproject here
WorkwithustoconductyourownDIYEnergyCheck consideringthefabricandusageofyourbuilding,before developingaCarbonReductionPlantoencouragebehaviour changeandchoiceamongstyourvolunteers,staffanduser groups Findouthowtomakethemostcompellingcaseinyour fundingapplicationsandreceivethelatestfundingadviceto supportyouractions.
Futureproofingbuildings
Wewillberunningthreeworkshopslaterintheyear,more detailstofollowsoon.
DecarbSomersetisfundedbyUKGovernment'sShared ProsperityFundandSomersetCouncil.
Formoreinformationvisitourwebpage: https://ccslovesomerset.org/decarb-somerset/
“It’searlydaysyet,but theDecarbSomerset programmemakesyou questioneverything youdoandwhether there'sabetterway.”
FUNDINGNEWS
Musicforall
Grantsandawards,usuallyequivalentto £1,500,areavailabletonot-for-profit organisations,includingschools,forprojects thatbringmusicintocommunitiesacrossthe UnitedKingdomandtheRepublicofIreland.
Clickhereformoreinformation Clickhereformoreinformation
BernardSunleyFoundation
Weareafamilygrantmakingfoundation whichsupportscharitiesinEnglandandWales workingtoraisethequalityoflifeandprovide greateropportunitiesfortheyoung,the elderly,thedisabledandthedisadvantaged.
Clickhereformoreinformation
TheEnovertCommunityTrust
PreviouslyknownastheCoryEnvironmentalTrust,the EnovertCommunityTrustisaLandfillTaxCreditsgrant programmethatoffersgrantsaveragingaround £50,000communityandenvironmentalprojectswithin 10milesofanEnovertLandfillsite.FreeMapToolscan beusedtodrawa10-mileradiusaroundanygiven postcode.Tocheckyoureligibilityvisitthewebsite.
DATEFORYOURDIARY
UtilityAidishostingafreeSpecialist SupportClinicforCharities
Date:30thApril2025
Time:09:30am-12:25pmand1:35pm-4:30pm
Format:Bookabletimesslotstomeetyourchosenexpert(s)
Location:Online(ZoomorTeams)
Followingtheoverwhelmingsuccessfromlastyear'sevent,the EthicalPropertyFoundationandUtilityAidaredelightedto announcethereturnofourfreealldayspecialistclinicfor charities!
Thisisafantasticopportunityforcharitiesandvoluntarygroups toaccesstoplevelexpertadvicefromsurveyorsandfundersto lawyersandlenders.
EthicalPropertyFoundation:Propertyguidancefromexpert surveyors
UtilityAid:Tipsonenergyefficiencytosaveyourcharity money
Russell-CookeSolicitors:Legaladviceoncommercial property
HeawardSolutions:Insidertipsonsuccessfulfundraising CharitiesAidFoundation(CAF):Adviceonborrowingfor propertyprojects
LindsaysSolicitors:Legaladviceoncommercialpropertyin Scotland
Don'tmissthisopportunity toconnectwithour specialists,gaininsights,and findthesupportyouneed. BooknowforyourFREE1:1 advicesloton30thApril 2025!Limitedavailability.
RAISINGFUNDSFORCCS!
OurCommunityBuildingsServiceisdeliveredby theCommunityCouncilforSomerset(CCS),a charitythatsupported10,000peopleinSomerset lastyeartoputfoodonthetable,staywarm,keep aroofovertheirheadandconnectwiththeirlocal community
Didyouknowthereisafree,easywaytoraise moneyforcharity.Youcanraisefundsevery timeyoushoponline.
Youpaynomorethanthecostofyour purchases,buteachpurchasegeneratesa donationforCCS. CCSisrunningitsfirstfundraisingcampaign,so thatwecansupportevenmorepeopleinneedin ourSomersetcommunities.Thecampaignis calledPayItForwardForSomersetandthereare manywaystogetinvolved
Therearethousandsofstoresintheschemetohelp raisefundsforcharitiesandover400,000shoppers takingpart.
AllyouhavetodoistoregisterwithGiveAsYou Liveforfree. https://www.giveasyoulive.com/charity/ccs-pay-itforward-somerset
VisityourfavouriteonlinestoresviatheGiveAsYou Livewebsite-justshopasusualandthestore providesadonationatnocosttoyou.
ThePayItForwardForSomersetcampaignwill enableCCStoprovidevitalsupportservicesthat helpSomersetresidentswhentheyneeditmost.So pleasedosupportifyoucan.
FITZWARREN HOUSE QUEEN STREET
TAUNTON TA1 3UG.
INFO@SOMERSETRCC.ORG.UK WWW.CCSLOVESOMERSET.ORG
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NO. 3541219
CHARITY NO. 1069260
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