Tag Archives: community

News

Trust steps in to save Greyhound rescue centre

A popular greyhound rescue centre facing closure due to the coronavirus pandemic has been handed a £10,000 lifeline thanks to a Shropshire-based charitable trust.

Hector’s Greyhound Rescue, based in Shrewsbury, was left with enough funds to survive only eight more weeks before the Heather North Charitable Trust stepped in with a donation to help secure the future of the centre.

A volunteer-led charity of 22 years, Hector’s works to help rescue retired racing greyhounds that could otherwise face being put down and has re-homed more than 50 greyhounds just this year.

Having seen more than 12 months of typical fundraising activity cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the rescue centre is now on the road to recovery after receiving support from the Heather North Charitable Trust.

It is the latest donation by the Trust, which was established in 2018 to assist animal charities across England, having previously awarded funds to Cats Protection, Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Mare and Foal Society.

Clive Pointon, Chair of the Heather North Charitable Trust and Head of Wills, Trusts and Tax at Aaron and Partners solicitors, said: “When Hector’s reached out to the Trust and explained the gravity of the situation, we knew it was an opportunity to make a real difference and we felt it was important to do what we could to ensure the rescue centre could continue its fantastic service for greyhounds across the UK.

“The Trust was established with the aim to provide funding to protect, maintain and support the development of animal charities, and we’re proud to count Hector’s amongst those we’ve helped at such a vital time.

Hayley Bradley, Trustee at Hector’s Greyhound Rescue said: “What an amazing donation this has been for Hector’s Greyhound Rescue. It’s been so gratefully received as it has been a battle through the pandemic to find the money needed to carry on saving dogs and promoting the plight of the greyhound. This donation truly has made a huge difference to saving dogs’ lives.”

News

New name and new studio for community music hub inspiring disadvantaged children

AWARD-WINNING music studios will reopen with a new name in new premises and a vision to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people across North Wales.

The former Vic Studios has rebranded as Wrexham Sounds and moved from the town’s Hill Street to Rhosrobin.

A not-for-profit social enterprise, the studio will provide music-based sessions to children from challenging and socially deprived backgrounds, lessons to those unable to access them at school and offer support and guidance to young local talent.

All this will take place in a revamped facility, supported by a group of volunteers who have steered the organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic while structuring a new business model that will secure the future of the organisation for many years to come.

Director Dave Gray said: “We’ve come through an incredibly tough time and haven’t been able to deliver any of our normal services since March of last year because of the pandemic – our earnings just dried up.

“To survive, we had to make some difficult financial decisions which impacted the team, as well as changing the way we operate to make it more sustainable over the long term, putting marketing and fundraising at the heart of the business and using freelancers and partners to deliver all our services.

“That allows us to offer work opportunities to a wider network of Wrexham’s creative talent who can help deliver our mission, which is to transform the lives of young people through music.”

At the helm of Wrexham Sounds is General Manager Olivia Gallagher (pictured), who cannot wait to open the doors this September after an 18-month hiatus.

The 25-year-old has a background in marketing and fundraising and is confident taking a fresh direction will prove popular with referral organisations and families in the region and beyond.

“My main task is to rebuild relationships with clients after such a long break, making sure they understand what we have to offer and the benefits of working with us,” she said.

“I will also be organising the freelance tutors and volunteers who will in future be responsible for teaching, coaching and supporting our service users.

“We have children and teenagers referred to us from a range of local agencies, from social services to charities and care providers, many of whom have little or no access to any music-related activities in school.

“Those we work with at our new facility or elsewhere will largely be vulnerable or from challenging backgrounds. They may have been excluded from education or be in care, so this could have the potential to make a real difference to their lives, building confidence, giving them the chance to express themselves, gain accreditation and have fun in a safe and welcoming environment.

“And for those who are more interested in music technology there are sessions on recording, production, filming and more.”

Olivia added: “Ultimately, we want to let the people of Wrexham and everyone that supported Vic Studios in the past know that we are back, and passionate about helping children who felt isolated and alone through the Covid-19 pandemic – we are here to serve our community.

“As well as referral sessions we will also be offering after-school music lessons in a range of instruments at all grades, and music sessions for toddlers and infants to help fund our social aims. It’s a completely new chapter for us – we can’t wait to get started.”

Vic Studios was originally a council-funded project which ran for 10 years, before it was rescued from closure in 2016 by a group of volunteers who have gone on to make significant changes to its services and increased the diversity of its users – moving from a mostly male audience to involve more females.

“When we reopen as Wrexham Sounds our range of services, facilities and audiences will be very different from where they were in 2016,” added Dave.

Director Chris Lloyd said that as Coronavirus restrictions ease, they will look to ramp-up the volume of music activities provided to have an impact on as many young people as possible.

“During Covid we have delivered well over 100 online music sessions, but going forward that’s not a feasible option, especially when dealing with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who need one-to-one support,” said Chris.

“We aim to expand the range of lessons, activities and accredited courses we offer and with the help of partners from business and education and create opportunities for local children to develop skills and gain experience in music technology

“Our long-term goal is to become a beacon of inspiration; a role model project others will follow so disadvantaged young people across the country can benefit from the many positives music can bring.”

Fellow Director Caroline Richards added: “This is a transformative project which has been driven by the Board and our partners to bring light to the lives of those who need it most. Through music, fun and learning we want to make a difference for generations to come – as Wrexham Sounds begins this new chapter, we can do that.”

For more information or to join the team at Wrexham Sounds as a freelance tutor or volunteer, visit www.wrexhamsounds.org and follow them on social media at @wrexhamsounds.

Community News

New vision for community charity as £50,000 revamp to Ruthin landmark unveiled

A COMMUNITY charity recruited a new Chief Officer following significant investment in a rural town centre.

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) will unveil a £50,000 revamp of the popular Naylor Leyland Centre in Ruthin this month.

Match-funded by the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Fund, the Well Street landmark has had a complete overhaul including internal redecoration, carpets and flooring, IT, electrics, and a refurbished exterior.

Meanwhile, the nearby Grade 2-listed Market Hall is also undergoing a transformation and will open as a community market later in the year.

DVSC has taken on administrative, creative and enterprise staff to add to their team, and with Tom Barham now in place as Chief Officer, the future is looking bright.

With years of experience at North Wales Police, Bangor University, and the veterans’ charity Alabare, the father-of-two is well placed to take the organisation forward.

“Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council has a brilliant track record of supporting the voluntary sector across the county and an incredible team here in Ruthin who are eager to see the Naylor Leyland Centre reopen this summer,” said Tom.

“We are looking ahead with confidence having made great strides during the pandemic to upgrade our facilities and refocus DVSC’s vision to support charities, community organisations and social enterprises.”

He added: “We operate across the whole of Denbighshire, but these iconic buildings in Ruthin are great assets for the community post-Covid, with large meeting spaces for local groups and charities to congregate safely.

“We want to amplify the amazing work of community groups in Denbighshire and the activities and support they provide, and this gives us a stronger platform to do that.”

Chair Sandra Donoghue, from St Asaph, said the coming months will be pivotal for the charity.

“The last year has been very challenging, and like all services we were in uncharted territory, but DVSC is well placed to have even more of an impact going forward with Tom at the helm,” she said.

“There are good times ahead, we have a strong, proactive board who are deep-rooted in the community and keen to build a legacy for future generations.”

Former MP for Delyn Sir David Hanson and ex Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane are among those to have joined the Board, which also includes local businesspeople.

“I’m pleased to see Tom join DVSC at such an exciting time – there are real challenges to support voluntary organisations in Denbighshire, especially after the last year and Covid-19 events, but the new leadership team look forward to that and will be working hard,” said Mr Hanson.

“I’ve joined DVSC to support that work as it’s important that a wide North Wales experience is given to the Chief Officer – it’s going to be a busy and productive time.”

Mr Ruane added: “We are blessed with a rich network of voluntary organisations in Denbighshire. They are the building blocks of our civic society, and many have been severely challenged by Covid.

“Tom has shown great vision, energy and capacity in the few short weeks he has been in place. He will now lead a team which is dedicated to reinvigorating our voluntary sector in Denbighshire post-Covid.”

Funded by Welsh Government, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), DVSC delivers third sector support across the region through volunteering, training, guidance and advice, by offering grants and funding support, and networking to help influence public services.

For more information, visit www.dvsc.co.uk or email tom@dvsc.co.uk. Follow them on Facebook at @DVSCDenbighshire, Instagram @DVSC_Denbighshire and Twitter @DVSC_Wales.

News

Placemaking to begin for the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone

Exciting progress has been made for the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone project.

North Norfolk District Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of Influence, chartered landscape architects who will be undertaking the town scaping element of the project along with expert partners.

The team aim to provide sustainable solutions to urban planning and have extensive experience of working in conjunction with local authorities and communities to deliver landscaping and public realm services, including working on High Street Heritage Action Zones projects elsewhere in the UK.

Shona Hatton, associate director at Influence, said: “High Street Heritage Action Zones are such a key part of the future for our towns – especially post the pandemic – and are often driven by a strong local community interest. Revitalising and regenerating our high streets whilst reinstating the heritage roots is critical to their success, now and in the future.

“North Walsham is a vibrant market town but has been waiting for a long time to bring forward a high street public realm project. Now that it’s here, myself and the Influence team are honoured to have been selected to work on this important project, and are pleased to be supporting North Norfolk District Council’s in-house team.”

“Our previous experience in delivering High Street Heritage Action Zones has given us specialist knowledge and understanding of the challenges and huge opportunities in our high streets -and we are using those assets to re-imagine the physical and social environment in North Walsham – to enable it to be a prosperous town where people want to live, work and relax.”

Master planning and consultation will be led by HETA – a studio of architects, designers and thinkers. Their focus is on people and how to create better, more meaningful experiences for them. Having completed a site visit the team will implement a programme of consultation and community engagement to see how the people of North Walsham want to see the space in the town centre used.

Other partners involved include Rees Bolter Architects as heritage consultants, BSP for highways and transport consultancy and Gleeds Cost Management, quantity surveyors.

This work is a vital part of the programme’s wider “placemaking” objectives, inspiring people to re-imagine and re-engage with the town centre as the heart of the community. It will focus on making the town centre a destination which embraces its heritage and community, creating a shared space people can enjoy, take pride in and encourages others to visit.

The Council and partners will seek to hear what residents, businesses and visitors want to see in North Walsham and foster a sense of community that maximises shared value by making it easier to move around the town centre and improve the appearance and quality of public spaces, starting with work which will see the improvement of the Lokes and alleyways that connect different areas within the town centre.

As part of this, the Council intends to purchase a piece of land adjacent to Black Swan Loke, a long-standing derelict area on an important pedestrian approach to the town centre, and is exploring options to maximise the potential of this busy route.

Cllr Richard Kershaw, NNDC’s Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth, commented: “We are very pleased to be working with Influence on this project and have been impressed with work they have done in other market towns.

“This will be an exciting, inclusive project to bring lasting improvements to the fabric of North Walsham and to bring visitors to the town for the benefit of local businesses.”

“In addition to this, the Cultural Programme will soon get underway will bring together various societies and groups in and around the town to help celebrate the rich history of North Walsham.”
The Heritage Action Zone grant will also provide an opportunity to review the options for the most suitable use of the Council’s New Road site and the Listed buildings on it (known as The Cedars), and the role it can play in the regeneration of North Walsham town centre. In the short-term, essential repair work is set to begin soon.

The project is part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme to renew and revive town centres in England, with match funding from The Council and additional funding secured from the New Anglia LEP’s “Getting Building Fund”.

Over the next four years, the programme of work is designed to secure lasting improvements for the town’s historic core and the communities who use it. This will be achieved through a range of both physical interventions, such as the placemaking work and Building Improvements grants (opening soon), as well as community led programming to bring the town’s rich history and stories to life.

About High Streets Heritage Action Zones

The High Streets Heritage Action Zones is a £95 million government-funded programme led by Historic England, designed to secure lasting improvements and help breathe new life into our historic high streets for the communities and businesses that use them. Historic England is working with local people and partners to unlock the rich heritage on these high streets, through repair and improvement works as well as arts and cultural programmes, making them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.

About Historic England

We are Historic England the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.

News

Free wood available from builders merchant

RGB Building Supplies is offering excess wood to the local community and groups for free.

RGB’s branches have a number of damaged wooden pallets, that can be broken down, as well as off-cuts of wood which people are welcome to collect and use to complete projects.

Kevin Fenlon, CEO of RGB, commented:

“The wood is perfectly usable so instead of simply skipping it, we wanted to offer it out to those who wish to complete jobs in their own homes, or community groups and charities who are struggling to fund the purchase of wood to finish a project. All we ask is that people only take what they need so more people can benefit from the offer.”

Those who would like to pick up free wood are asked to contact their local RGB branch to check availability before visiting, and make themselves known to the RGB team when they arrive to collect. Wood is available while stock lasts.