Abberton & Langenhoe Parish Council is looking into community shops with a view into the viability of establishing one in part of the Langenhoe Lion. They are keen to get feedback from the general neighbourhood to determine the potential level of interest in this project. Continue reading
Victim Support is an independent charity working towards a world where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support they need and the respect they deserve. They help people feel safer and find the strength to move beyond crime. They tailor their support to victims’ needs and it is given freely & confidentially. Last year in Essex, their team of trained volunteers and staff supported over Continue reading
A couple of news items recently received might be of interest to local clubs:
Tell us about a volunteer, business or charitable organisation Continue reading
Further to the earlier news item (more details here), we have received the following update about Safety Volunteers from Essex Community Messaging: Continue reading
Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service are working together to help make a difference in local communities, helping people to live & feel safer. They are launching a brand new volunteer scheme and are looking to recruit two Parish Safety Volunteers per Parish in Essex, tasked with arranging and conducting home safety visits. These volunteers will deliver crucial fire and crime prevention advice, extensive knowledge of local support services and the ability to fit smoke detectors directly into the homes of those most in need.
If you’re interested, you’ll need to apply for interview and be required to undertake Essex Police vetting. You will receive comprehensive training from both Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police, a full uniform and all equipment required to carry out the role. To ensure volunteers are well supported, Parish Safety Volunteers from across the county will be invited to on-going training and networking opportunities throughout the year.
The purpose of this initiative is to make local communities safer, more resilient and better protected from fire and crime. It will do this by:
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service alongside Essex Police have a joint desire to increase community resilience and support the building of stronger communities in Essex.
Parish Safety Volunteers will be required to…
Parish Safety Volunteers will be expected to…
Referrals will be generated by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police, through the processes already used by the organisations to arrange home safety visits.
Referrals will also be generated by Parish Safety Volunteers themselves, as they will be promoting the service and already have some local knowledge of areas and individuals that would benefit from a PSV visit.
Parish Safety Volunteers will not require co-ordination or management from Parish Councils as Essex County Fire and Rescue Service will provide all support needed.
However, we will set up a direct line of communication between Parish Safety Volunteers and Parish Councils. This could mean that volunteers attend Parish Council Meetings to update on progress and activity. It could also mean a telephone or email update from volunteers. This will be a local arrangement tailored to the needs of the Parish Council in question and established when the scheme is introduced to the Parish.
ECFRS will send a bi-monthly progress update to all Parish Councils for whom the Parish Safety Co-ordinator holds contact details. This will be sent on approximately the final day of the month.
The Parish Safety Volunteer Co-ordinator will carry out a robust evaluation of the PSV scheme. This will be completed in by October 2016.
Parish Safety Volunteer Co-ordinator: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service – Kieron Moir.
No: 01376 576237
Please complete an application form, or get in touch using [email protected].
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service wants your views on how it keeps you safe in your home and community.
Residents are being urged to have their say in the future redesign of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS), through a 12 week consultation that starts today (Monday June 15) and ends on Sunday September 6.
The consultation process, the main element of the Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), aims to address several key issues impacting on the fire service such as the declining number of call-outs and the need to increase the focus on preventing fires and emergencies from happening.
It will also look at major issues such as response times, and the ambitious target of having a working smoke alarm in every Essex home.
Have your say here.
Baby and Toddler Rhymetime veteran volunteer Peter Cave is 91 and is living proof you are never too old to volunteer, Peter Cave has been volunteering at the Baby and Toddler Rhymetime session at Chelmsford Library since earlier in the year and intends to carry on his sterling singing and storytelling role after he turns 91 – why not get involved yourself?
Frozen prices, more options and an improved Meals on Wheels service is coming your way.
Essex County Council (ECC) took a decision that will see prices for Meals on Wheels frozen and the service improved, following today’s Cabinet meeting.
Go on an adventure in one of our country parks and send us a picture from your trip to win free parking for six months!
Colchester Local Highways Panel (LHP) is set to benefit from a £1million boost which will enable a variety of small highways schemes to get underway. Essex County Council is allocating the funding to Colchester LHP for 2015/16.
Projects will include upgrading the public footpath near Wivenhoe railway station to provide disabled access, building a new wooden bus shelter on St Ives Road in Peldon and pedestrian crossing improvements on Plume Avenue in Prettygate.
The Parish Council would like to encourage volunteers to come forward to help operate a Speedwatch service.
This involves occasional operation by the roadside of an electronic piece of kit to note the speeds being clocked up by vehicles on our roads.
The object is to remind drivers that there are speed limits and that they should be obeying them although there is an escalation process above the volunteer level which takes a stronger line with serious and/or repeat offenders.
Speedwatch volunteers operate in pairs and full training is given by the Police. Some villages arrange swaps so that you don’t end up recording the speeds of your immediate neighbours.
If you think this might be for you please contact Sue Pullen on 01206 735 367 or [email protected] for further information.