News
Comic Relief Local Communities Grants
Mon, 29 July 2013Nottinghamshire Community Foundation is administering Comic Relief funding to tackle economic and social deprivation in local communities. Local groups can apply for between £1000 and £10,000. The programme aims to empower local people, enabling them to create lasting change in their communities. Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues they are dealing with and priority will be given to small, locally based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community. Types of activities that might be funded include projects to combat fuel poverty and food co-ops. Deadline: 8th August.
Eco House For Sale at Hockerton
Wed, 24 July 2013The largest house at Hockerton Housing Project in Nottinghamshire is up for sale.
The private four-bedroomed, earth sheltered house and front garden have stunning views overlooking a lake and woodland, and the new residents will share in the use of land for food-growing, renewable energy generation and rainwater harvesting with other houses at the project. Energy bills at houses are 1/5th of the national average and income is generated by renewable energy systems to cut bills even more.
Bulk Buying Saves Notts Residents nearly £19,000
Wed, 24 July 2013A Nottinghamshire bulk purchasing oil scheme has saved residents nearly £19,000 since it began. The scheme, which is run by Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire (RCAN) and negotiates a bulk purchasing discount for households who use oil for their heating, saved households buying 1000 litres of oil £71 on normal prices the last time it placed an order.
Households can currently join at a discounted cost of £10 (normally membership costs £20). If people would like to volunteer to co-ordinate orders in their area they can join for free. Co-ordinators simply bring together all the local orders in their area and pass them to RCAN, before letting households know the price and delivery date. They don’t have to deal with money or payments.
01623 727600 / oil@rcan.org.uk / www.rcan.org.uk/downloads/A5Membershipbooklettemp.pdf
Shares available in Derbyshire Community Woodland
Mon, 22 July 2013
Whistlewood Common Limited is selling shares in a community-owned woodland, based in Melbourne, Derbyshire, which will be used for local good production.
This exciting 10 acre initiative will see the creation of orchards, forest gardens, productive woodlands and a space for events and education on Melbourne Common, all for the benefit of people living in the area.
The project has already received a grant of more than £50K from the National Forest Company and £18K of shares has already been raised. However, a further £32K is needed as soon as possible to secure the purchase of the land.
Sarah Spencer, of Whistlewood Common Ltd, said: ‘We must secure the rest of the investment quickly, in order to secure the land - which is currently for sale on the open market. ‘As a shareholder you will have membership of the society, may stand as a director, and can influence its activities, but this is not a speculative or money-making investment and shares will not be tradable. You will be investing in building an innovative land-based community project of potentially national significance, not simply in a company.’
An information event will be held on Wednesday 24th July at 8pm at Church House, Melbourne (next to Melbourne Parish Church). This will be an informal event to ask questions and find out more about the project and the investment opportunity.
A share prospectus and application forms are on the project’s website: www.whistlewoodcommon.org.
Twitter: @ediblewoods
Schools in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to Install Solar
Mon, 22 July 2013Two schools in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are hoping to install solar panels on their roofs thanks to the generosity of local people. Crossdale Primary in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire and New Mills School in High Peak, Derbyshire have both raised thousands of pounds from the local community towards the cost of their panels and are hoping to soon reach their final targets and start generating energy from the sun. Anyone can visit their websites to contribute and donations start from £5: www.solarschools.org.uk/crossdale/ www.solarschools.org.uk/newmills/ Aside from providing free electricity for the school, Feed-in-Tariff payments to fund other school activities, and cutting carbon the panels have other benefits. They provide a great way for pupils to learn about energy and climate change, strengthen links between schools and the local community through fundraising, and create new skills and confidence amongst pupils. Schools wishing to take part in the next round of solar schools should register their interest on the website: www.solarschools.org.uk.