Community Buildings Newsletter Spring 2023

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS NEWSLETTER

WehopetheNewYearisofftoa goodstartforyouandyourhall.

Wehaveafantasticrangeof trainingandnetworkingevents plannedfor2023. Finddetailsof ourFebruary/Marchprogramme onpage2.

Don'tforgetthatyouneedto renewyourannualCCS membershipfromApril1st.This yearwearelaunchingabrand newLocatorMapforour CommunityBuildingmembers. Wearealsonowopenfor2023 Hallmarkapplications.(Page3)

OurfeaturedhallisMerriott VillageHall.Hearhowthehall committeehavemorethan halvedthe building'senergy consumptionoverrecentyears (page4).

TakealookatourFundingNews

onpage6-7,whichincludesan updateonthePlatinumJubilee VillageHallsFund.

ReadtheinspiringstoryofProject Charlton;adynamicgroupof ladieswhoarecreatinga wonderfuloutdoorrecreation spacefortheirwholecommunity. (Page8)

Ourfeaturedquestionforthis issueis 'Doallvillagehallsneeda TVlicense?'Findouttheanswer onpage12.

Doesyourhallhostactivity classes?Ifsothesecanbelisted onthenewSomersetMoves ActivityFinder(P13).

CCSANNUALMEMBERSHIP ANDHALLMARKP3

SAVINGENERGYAT MERRIOTTVILLAGEHALL P4-5

COMMUNITYBUILDINGS EVENTS

HowtoUndertakeaRiskAssessment

Thursday,9thFebruary,10am-1pm, OtterhamptonVillageHall

Gainabetterunderstandingofriskassessment,theprocessesinvolved,recordingfindings,andwhen toreview.A'handson'practicalsession.Wewillberiskassessingpartsofthenewlyrefurbished OtterhamptonVillageHall!Findoutmorehere.

PATTestingforCommunityBuildings

Friday,10thFebruary,10am-1pm, CheddonFitzpaineMemorialHall

Asessiontodeliverthenecessarytrainingtobecomeacompetentpersoncapableofcarryingout PATtestinginalow-riskenvironmentsuchasavillagehall.Therewillbeanopportunitytopractise usingtesterstohoneyourskills.Farmorecost-effectivethanequivalentcoursesavailableandaway ofsavingmoneybylearninghowtoimprovesafetyatyourhall.Findoutmorehere.

ManageyourEnergyCostswithUtilityAid

Tuesday,14thMarch,10am-12pm Online(zoom)

FindoutmoreaboutthenewGovernmentEnergyBillsDiscountSchemeforbusinessesandeligibility Checkifyourenergybillsareaccurateandidentifybillingerrors.Howtosavecostsandbe‘greener’ andwheretogoforfurthersupport.UtilityAidwillgiveadviceandansweryourquestions.Findout morehere.

UnderstandingyourSafeguardingResponsibilities

Thursday,23rdMarch,10am-12pm

Online(zoom)

AnintroductiontosafeguardingforDesignatedSafeguardingLeads,inordertohelphallmanagers fulfiltheirsafeguardingresponsibilities.Wewillexaminethetypesandsignsofabuse,andconsider appropriatepoliciesandproceduresthathallcommitteescanputinplace.Therewillbeplentyof opportunitiesforquestionsanddiscussionFindoutmorehere

CCSCommunityBuildingsMembership2023-24

Don'tforgettorenewyourannualmembershipof CCSonApril1st. Themembershipfeeis£100and bringsawiderangeofbenefits,includingaccessto alltheACREinformationsheets,121support,entry intotheHallmarkaccreditationschemeand trainingandnetworkingopportunities. Youcan renewyourannualmembershiphere.

ThisyearwearelaunchinganewLocatorMapto promoteourwonderfulcommunitybuildings,with enhancedentriesforCCSmemberhalls. More informationcomingsoon!

Pleasenote,toreducetheadministrationcostsofchasingrenewalsweaskthatyousetupa standingorderforpaymentasclosetoApril1staspossible. Pleasealsochecktoensurethat youarenotmakinganydoublepaymentsastherewillbeanadministrationchargeonany repayments.

HallmarkAccreditation2023-24

WehavenowopenedforHallmarkapplicationsfor2023.Hallmarkisaqualityaccreditationscheme whichwasdevelopedinSomersetandisnowanationallyrecognisedaward.Hallmarkawardsrecognise goodmanagementandpracticebytheCommunityBuildingManagementCommittee

IfyourhallachievedaHallmarkawardin2019youwillneedtorenewyouraccreditationthisyearifyou wishtoretaintheaccreditation.IfyouareinterestedinapplyingforHallmarkforthefirsttimeand wouldlikesomemoreinformationaboutthescheme,contactSallyonsallys@somersetrcc.org.uk.The checklistsforHallmark1,2and3canbedownloadedfromthemembers'areaoftheCCSwebsite.

YourHallmarkapplicationcanbesubmittedhere. Thedeadlineforapplicationsisthe31stMarch2023.

ENERGYSAVINGMEASURES

ATMERRIOTTVILLAGEHALL

MerriottVillageHallisacharacterfuloldbuilding,establishedin1924andservingaruralparishofjust over2,100.Itisalarge,thrivingvenue,usedthroughouttheweekforawiderangeofactivities.In2009, additionalincomefromahousingdevelopmentonthecharity’slandpresentedanopportunitytoinvest inthebuilding.Withtheexistingoil-basedheatingsystemcomingtotheendofitslife,thecommittee decidedtoreplacethiswithairsourceheatpumps.Thiswasthefirststepinanongoingprogrammeto reduceenergyconsumptionandcarbonemissionsinthehall.

Airsourceheatpumps

In2009,5airtoairheatpumpswereinstalledto heatandcoolthebuilding.Thepumpsblowairata settemperatureintothebuildingandtheairvents havelouvrestoraiseorlowertheairinletThe pumpsareservicedannuallyand,sofar,have workedwell.Theheatingcontrolsareavailableto hirers,monitoredbythecaretaker.

Inadditiontoenvironmentalbenefits,thesystem hasanumberofadvantages:

Theheatpumpsprovideacomfortable temperatureinthehallallyearround, includingcoolinginsummer.Animportant factorwithhottersummerspredicted. Theheatpumpsonlyneedhalfanhourto warmthespace,comparedtotheoldheating systemwhichhadtobeturnedonatleast2 hoursbeforeuse.

Removingradiatorsandpipesenlargedthe spaceinthehallandtheoldboilerroomwas convertedintoanadditionalstorefortables andchairs.

Solarpanels

In2020,thecommitteeinstalled26solar photovoltaicpanelsplus2batteries(aswellas replacingtheroofonthesouth-westside).

Thissolararraypowerstheheatpumpsand suppliesthehallwithelectricity.Anyexcess energygeneratedissoldbacktothegrid throughtheSmartExportGuaranteescheme. BetweenFebruary2021andFebruary2022,the panelsgenerated7674kWhofelectricityof which3460kWhwassoldbacktothegrid

CostsandFunding

AirSourceHeatPumps

Cost:£20,91360(2009)

Funding:Saleofland

Supplier:Mitsubishiheatpumps. InstalledbyRJAldridge&Partners

Solar

Cost:£24,477(2020)

Funding:SouthSomersetDistrictCouncil(£11,500); BathandWestCommunityEnergyFund(£4,500)

Overaperiodofthreeyearsthehallcommittee installeddoubleglazingthroughoutthe building,alongsideotherrefurbishment projects(newdisabledaccessandpaving).

Lightingsensorshavebeeninstalledinallthe halltoilets.Thisnotonlysavesenergy,butalso meantthatduringthecovidpandemichall userscouldvisitthetoiletswithouthavingto touchthelightswitches.

In2022,thecommitteeworkedthroughthe CCSDIYEnergyAuditwhichhighlightedother potentialenergysavingmeasures,includingthe ongoingreplacementoflightingtoLEDs, additionallightingsensorsinareasof intermittentuseandfurtherimprovementsto thecavitywallandroofinsulation.

CostsandFunding

Lightsensors

Cost:£547(2020)

Funding:Fromhallreserves

Doubleglazing

Costs:£39,800(2015-17)(Includeslandscaping)

Funding:WesternPowerDistribution(£1,000);South SomersetDistrictCouncil(£11,000);S106agreement (£10,400);GarfieldWeston(£1,000); AwardsforAll(£10,000)

Takentogether,thesemeasureshavemore thanhalvedenergyuseatthebuildingsince 2009andimprovementsareongoing.

Thehallisnolongerdependentonfossilfuels andcannowsellelectricitybacktothegrid.

Thespaceisamorecomfortablespacefor hirers. Usergroupshavereallyappreciated thesystem’sflexibility,allowingquick alterationsintemperaturetosuitdifferent activities.

Thebuildinghasservedasademonstration projectlocally Thecommitteerecentlymet withtwootherhallcommitteestosharetheir experiences,andtheParishCouncilarenow investigatinghowtochangetheheating arrangementsintheirsportspavilion.

Acheaper,greenerandmore responsiveheatingsystem

PlatinumJubileeVillage HallsFund

ThePlatinumJubileeVillageHallsFundisreopening forStageOneapplicationsfromFebruary20th-3rd March.Grantsareforcapitalimprovementsonly,to eitherupgrade,extendorimprovefacilities,or wherecapitalitemsneedtobepurchased.Please notethatdemandishighsonotalleligible applicantswillbefunded. Findoutmorehere.

AsdaFoundationSpacesand PlacesGrants

Grantsofbetween£10,000and£25,000for projectsaimingtoimprovespacesintheheartof theirlocalcommunities. Thisincludesbuilding repairanddevelopmentandimprovementsto outdoorspaces.Theapplicationwindowcloseson the19thMarch.ContactyourlocalASDA CommunityChampiontodiscussyourproject. Findoutmorehere.

TheLandfillCommunities Fund(LCF)

LCFenablesLandfillOperatorsandtheir chosengrant-makingpartnerstosupport projectsthateitherimprovethelifeof communitiesoraidnatureconservation

Projectsmustbelocatedwithinthevicinity ofalandfillsitesousethepostcodechecker ontheirwebsitestocheckeligibility Landfill operatorswitheligibleareasinSomersetare:

Easyfundraising

EasyfundraisingistheUK'sbiggestcharity shoppingsite,partneringwithover7,000brands thatdonatepartofwhatyouspendtoacauseof yourchoice Yoursupporterscaninstallthe DonationRemindertobenotifiedthatadonationis availablewhenevertheyvisitoneofthepartner brands Findoutmorehere

TheMorrisonsFoundationawardsgrantfunding toregisteredcharitiesforprojectswhichmakea positivedifferenceinlocalcommunities.Grantsof upto£25,000areavailabletofullyfundprojects. Findoutmorehere.

NationalGridCommunity GrantProgramme

Grantsofupto£20,000forcharitiesand communitygroupsinareaswhereNational Grid’sElectricityTransmissionworkis impactingonlocalpeople.Supportsprojects whichprovidearangeofsocial,economic andenvironmentalbenefits.Findoutmore here.

TheMorrisonsFoundation

TheCharltonsCommunityCe Adamsitsin7.5acresofplayin facedwithageingplayequipm localladiessetup‘ProjectCha beentodevelopthisspaceasanoutdooractivity areawhichpromoteshealthandwellbeingforall inanenvironmentallyfriendlyway.The communitycentrecharity,whichownstheland, fullysupportedtheproject,andthreeProject Charltonmembershavenowsteppedupashall trustees.

Thisambitiousprojectisongoing:

Phaseone(completed):Newswings,roundabout, agilitytrail,climbingframesandpicnictables.

Phasetwo(completed): Moundandslide, scramblenetsandzipwire.Asensoryandwildlife gardenwithquietsittingareas

PhasethreeYoungpersons’area(including basketballnetsandbenches)andadultfitness trail.

Aspacedesignedbythecommunity…… Communityengagementhasbeenkeytothe project’ssuccess,withthedesigndrawnupfroma communityconsultation.

withtheparishcouncil, school,andotherlocalorganisations,whohave providedvitalsupportfortheproject,financially andinkind.

….forthewholecommunity….

Thenewfacilitieshavebeendesignedtomeetthe needsofALLlocalresidents,aged1to100, includingthosewithaccessibilityrequirements. Theplayparkincludesinclusiveplayequipment andtwopicnicbenchesaredesignedfor wheelchairusers.Thesensorygardenispositioned closetothecarparkforthosewithmobilityneeds, andthepathiswheelchairfriendly.Theplanting hasbeenspecificallydesignedforthosewithvisual impairment.

Thenewfacilitiesareusedbyafarwiderrangeof peoplethanbefore,attractingresidentsofallages fromthecommunityandfurtherafield Thespace isnowregularlyusedformeetings,children’s parties,exerciseclassesanddogtrainers.Thenew playparkhasalsoattractedadditionalbookingsto thehall.

Designinganoutdoorspaceforall

…....andwithspaceforwildlife………….

Plantswithhighwildlifevaluewereselectedfor thesensorygarden,especiallythosewhichattract pollinators.Amarginaroundtheperimeterofthe fieldwillberewildedandmanagedfornatureand thereareplanstoinstallbirdandbatboxes, workingwiththelocalyouthclub.Wherever possibleenvironmentallyresponsibleproducts havebeenchosen,suchasbenchesmadefrom recycledplastic.

Costsandfunding

Theprojecthasanestimatedtotalcostof £150,000.Todate(2022),thegrouphaveraised £116,852fromgrants,events,community fundraisinganddonations.Atotalof£80,000has beensecuredfromgrantfunders,includingViridor Credits,SouthSomersetDistrictCouncil,the ParishCouncil,BigLotteryCommunityFund, WessexWater,andBernardSunleyFoundation

Keysuccessfactors

Adynamiccoreteam!Thedrive,skillsand determinationofthefiveProjectCharltonladies hasensuredtheproject’ssuccess,makinggood useoftheirindividualskills

Creatingcommunityow p g residentshascreatedacommunualfeelingofself care,andtherearerarelyissueswithlitteror damage. Localresidentshavedonatedgenerously, andtheprojecthasledtomanynewfriendships.A groupoflocalvolunteershaveplantedandnow maintain,theSensoryGarden Listeningtolocal peoplewithconcernsabouttheprojecthasalso beenimportanttoensuringwidercommunity ownership

Creativefundraising.Thinkingoutsidetheboxhas resultedinsomereallysuccessfulfundraising events.Forexample,theteamconsideredwhich homeslocalresidentsmightliketovisit.Thisledto anumberofeventsinthemostsoughtafter homesintheparish,whichsoldoutbeforethey wereevenadvertised!

‘’TheProjectCharltonteamarerightlyveryproud ofourselvesandtheresidentsnewfounded communityfriendships’’.DawnRichards,Project Charlton.

TakealookattheProjectCharltonFacebookpage here.

FURTHERSUPPORTFOR COMMUNITYBUILDINGS

SomersetSocialEnterprise Network

Don'tforgetthatasmembersofCCSyouarealso abletoaccessthefreetraining,networkingand supportavailablethroughtheSomersetSocial EnterpriseNetwork.

Tofindoutmoreaboutthenetwork'supcoming eventsandotheractivities,takealookatthe SSENwebsitehere.

SmartCommunitiesLtd.offerscommunityfocused consultancyacrossSomersetandbeyond. Wehave supportedparishcouncils,communitybuildingsand otherlocalorganisationswithawiderangeofservices, including:

communityandneighborhoodplanning; feasibilitystudies; businessplanning; communityconsultations; fundingstrategies,applicationsandcritiques.

Ifyouwouldliketotalktousaboutsupportwithbid writingorfindingmatchfunding,contacttheteam’s managerJaneBirchonjane@somersetrcc.org.uk

DOWENEEDATVLICENCE?

AsmallnumberofhallcommitteeshavereceivedlettersfromTVLicensingconcerningtheneedto holdalicenceifTVprogrammesaretobedownloaded/watchedattheirvenue.Sodoesthatmean thatallhallsneedaTVlicense?

TheTVlicensingguidelinesstatethat:

"Acluborcommunitygroupneedstobecovered byavalidTVLicenceto:

watchorrecordTVonanychannelviaanyTV service(e.g.Sky,Virgin,Freeview,Freesat); watchliveonstreamingservices(ITVX,All4, YouTube,AmazonPrimeVideo,Now,SkyGo); useBBCiPlayer.

Thisappliestoanydevice,includingaTV, computer,laptop,phone,tablet,gamesconsoleor digitalbox."

evisionLicensingthengoesontosay:

you’rewatchingawayfromyourhomeona one,tabletorlaptop,and:

youplugyourdeviceintothemains,you’llbe coveredifthatpropertyalreadyhasaTV Licence.Otherwise,you’llneedtobuya separateTVLicenceforthatproperty. yourdeviceisnotpluggedin(ie you’re watchingorrecordingliveTVprogrammeson anychannel,ordownloadingorwatchingBBC programmesoniPlayer,usingdevicespowered solelybyinternalbatteries)youwillbecovered byyourhomeTVLicence.”

So,intheory,anissuemightariseifahirerplugstheirdeviceintothemainstowatchTV.Asituation thatisalmostimpossibletopolice!

Thingstoconsider

Doesyourhallorganiseactivities/hostanygroupsthatwoulddefinitelyrequireaTVlicense?

Ifnot,assesstherisk. Whatisthelikelihoodofhallhirerspluggingintheirdevicestowatcha programme(egparentswaitingforchildren'sclasses).

Ifconcerned,youcouldfollowtheexampleofonehallcommitteethataddedaclauseintheirhiring agreementstatingthatthehalldoesnotownaTVlicenseandthathirersagreetoensureallpersons attendingtheireventdonotusetheirdevicesforunlicensedviewing.

SomersetMoves ActivityFinder

SomersetMovesisthenewactivityfinder,providing peoplewithaneasywaytosearchandbookphysical activitiesonline.Studieshaveshownthat1in5adultsare putoffdoingasportorphysicalactivitybecauseitistoo difficulttofindorbookonline.Theschemeaimstomake itaseasytobookatenniscourt,asitistobookahotel! If youhostexerciseclassesatyourhallyoucanfindout howtopromotethesesessionsthroughtheactivity finderhere.

MobileBoostScheme

TheConnectingDevonandSomersetMobileBoost Schemehasbeenextendeduntil31stMarch2023.

Thisschemeoffershouseholdsandbusinesses voucherstowardstechnologytoimprovetheirmobile connectivity.Anumberofvillagehallshavealready benefittedfromthisinitiative. Propertiesrequiregood outdoormobilecoveragebutpoorindoorcoverageto benefit.Findoutmorehere.

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©2023

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