Spring has arrived. We know this because the water supply has been turned on at the allotment, so regardless of the weather, it is indeed spring!

The site is looking very pretty thanks to the arrival of a large quantity of gravel, which has enabled us to recover all of our paths. A donation of wood also means that we are able to refurbish some of the raised beds and transform the large compost bin into a more efficient model. Our old glass greenhouse has been dismantled and removed. The glass needed replacing and has always presented a hazard. We are now looking at replacing it with an eight-by-six foot, polycarb model which will be safer and will give us some much needed propagation space.

We plan to put water butts either side so as not to lose precious rainwater, and cold frames up one side to again increase propagation area.

The polytunnel is filling with seedlings and we have planted out the first vegetables. Our garden service has resumed as weather permits and we have potted bulbs and early flowering plants on offer near the main reception desk in John Storer House.

We would like to welcome Rachel Blackwood on to our team. Although in full-time employment, Rachel is volunteering for evenings and weekends and even donating some of her holiday time to help us. Her enthusiasm and horticultural experience will be invaluable to us.

A big "thank you" to William Davis Ltd. for their continued generosity and support. It is so rewarding to find that our work is valued by others.

The Open Day this year will be Thursday, July 13th from 10.30am to 2pm on Mountfields allotments, Forest Rd. Everyone is welcome to visit, to see our work, meet the volunteers and take the opportunity to buy produce and plants.

For any further information please contact Bobby on 01509 631774 or bobby.smith@charnwoodcvs.org.uk
By Bobby Smith

My name is Angeline Attenborough and I am the new Advisor for learning and work, based at John Storer House.

The nextstep service offers free, confidential and impartial advice and information on any aspect of work or learning.

We can help you to look at information, think what to do next and talk things through.

We can offer you help applying for a job, writing a CV and practising interview skills.

I work closely with the team at the Volunteer Centre because volunteering enables people to try out new areas of work or interest. These opportunities are great for people who want to gain valuable work experience and skills, or have time to fill between jobs or work.

The service is available around the Charnwood district: I work from John Storer House, Shepshed Volunteer Centre and Syston Volunteer Centre. I am also happy to work from local libraries and community centres and look forward to working in your locality soon.

If you would like to use the service any time, please contact me on 01509 631786 or angeline.attenborough@charnwoodcvs.org.uk.

Nextstep’s Personal Development Course
nextstep’s course is specially designed to help people who feel stuck in a rut or lack self-confidence to improve their self-esteem, make choices, take control and move forward. consists of 10 weekly sessions of 2 hours, and is available to anyone aged 20 and over.

New sessions start on Thursday 27 April at Loughborough Library, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, and further sessions are planned. Call Karin on 0116 262 9993, for further information and bookings.

The theme is People in Harmony. Volunteers needed! Please contact Hiron Miah or Varsha Parmar on 01509 261651, if you would like to get involved.

the Pathway to Leisure and Learning for Disabled People Starts Here…

Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers (RCV) helps physically disabled people to take part in leisure or learning activities that can help increase confidence, self-esteem and zest for life. Members have the freedom to choose their own activity. RCV may arrange for volunteers to visit members at home or to take them out. In addition, others are helped to join a local club or college. Learning a new skill can have a lasting impact on the lives of physically disabled people and can help to bring back the feel-good factor.

RCV celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and currently, there are 10 projects nationwide with one operating in the North Leicestershire area. Each project has a maximum of 30 members and relies heavily on volunteers to provide a service. Volunteers form the backbone of the organisation and are its most valuable asset. Activities include computing, languages, crafts, music, card and board games, swimming and many more. At present, RCV needs volunteers with an interest in any of the following activities:
• computing (Loughborough)

• reading aloud (Loughborough)

• music appreciation (Loughborough)

• swimming (Mountsorrel)

• jewellery making (Mountsorrel)

• shopping (Syston)

Remember learning is fun the Ryder-Cheshire way! You don’t need to be an expert to help – all we ask is an interest in chosen activity and a willingness to help others enjoy life more.

For further details on membership or volunteering, please contact Anna Clay, North Leics Project Co-coordinator on 01509 621970, anna.clay@rcv.org.uk; www.rcv.org.uk
By Anna Clay

Farm Crisis Network (FCN ) is a national network of local groups drawn from the farming community and rural churches. FCN has just celebrated 10 years of active service.

FCN provides emotional and practical support to farmers, farming families, farm workers and farm contractors. Over the last year, 765 farmers have been supported.

A local group consists of a team of trained volunteers who are there to support farmers as they seek to resolve their problems. The volunteers relate to all aspects of the situation and have links with sources of professional help where needed. A local group in Leicestershire has been running for eight years and is currently supporting a dozen farmers across the county.
Examples of support being provided at present includes:

• understanding the implications of the new Single Payment Scheme

• changes within the business

• mental health issues of worry, anxiety and depression

• completion of forms for Defra/RPA, including those related to the new environmental schemes

• succession issues.

More volunteers are needed with the expectant increase in referrals, with farmers receiving their first Single Farm Payment and the pending Avian Flu Pandemic.
Essentials would include being a good listener, having a non- judgemental disposition and being able to communicate in a positive and caring manner. Training is provided for new and existing volunteers.
To explore this further, please contact Graham Hinds on 01332 602124/07833 638562/grahamhinds@hotmail.com
By Graham Hinds

What is the Citizen’s Panel? The Charnwood Citizen’s Panel - which has been running since 1999 – is about people like you. It is made up of residents of Charnwood who want to have a say in the way the Council provides its services.

The Council gathers together their views and ideas through questionnaires and discussion groups on a wide variety of subjects. Past issues that have been tackled include Crime and Disorder, Recycling and Parks & Open Spaces, Council Priorities and Customer Satisfaction.

The members of the panel are all volunteers who have been selected to ensure that as far as possible the panel is representative of every part of the community so that everyone can have the opportunity to have their say!

Presently there are 750 members on the panel but we are aiming for a minimum of 1000 and are always looking for residents to join the panel so that they can express their views and help us to make a difference in Charnwood.

We would like you to join! If you are not sure if this is for you we have asked some of our current members to tell you about themselves and why they joined the panel.

If you would like to become a member, please call Matt Wade at Charnwood Borough Council on 01509 634705 or by e-mailing matthew.wade@charnwood.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can complete a form on-line at www.charnwood.gov.uk.
By Matt Wade, Charnwood Borough Council

Complete Wasters is a local not-for-profit environmental group, established in 1996. The group relocated to Charnwood a year ago and are busy transforming a redundant Victorian building into a mini eco-centre called ‘The Green Place’.

As the name suggests the site is a little oasis of greenery situated in the centre of Sileby village, where you can:

• drop in for a relaxing cup of fair-trade coffee and a slice of chocolate cake

• browse through our display of eye catching and exciting green gift that 'don't cost the earth'

• be inspired with practical ideas by our wildlife area and organic garden

• join the digital age with our range of low cost computer system

• take home your own wildlife friendly plant or healthy herb from our plant shop

• volunteer on our environmental projects, from event recycling to tree planting

• look out for our plant swaps and fair-trade markets running throughout the year.

The Green Place is at 6 Cossington Road, Sileby (next to Chine House vets) and is open Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 9am till 5pm and Saturday 10am till 4pm. Call us on 01509 815181 for more information.

Keep up to date with new developments, special events and mail order gifts by logging onto our website www.completewasters.co.uk

Special offer
voluntary organisations and community groups who bring along this article can get a broadband capable computer system and laser printer for only £55.
By Deborah Parker

Age Matters is a new group that will meet quarterly in John Storer House at 2pm. The group’s aim is to bring together older people, retired people, and people who have an interest to discuss services and all issues that affect retired and older people.
There will also be a ‘show and tell’ slot to ensure a little humour, and I’m sure light-hearted debate.
The meeting dates are:
15 June, 7 September, 7 December.

If you would like more information, please ring Vivienne Holmes on 0797 318882.
By Vivienne Holmes

Here at Victim Support we deal with the whole range of victims of crime, but just at the moment I wish to highlight an increase in distraction burglaries, and want to give as much publicity to this crime as possible.

Over the past few months there has been an increase in distraction burglaries here in Charnwood. In particular with bogus callers attending addresses of elderly people. In some cases the suspect has introduced himself as a police officer and fooled the householder into believing they were there to check that they have enough security. In others and the most common is someone saying they were from the Water Board and working on a water main down the road. Through this article we want to make as many elderly people as possible aware that this crime is going on, so that they can take necessary precautions to avoid being a victim themselves.

One of the arms of Victim Support is the PRIDE “Protection and Reassurance Initiative to Defend the Elderly”. Pride is a local charity and the alarm consists of:

• an alarm box fixed to the outside of the house

• a control panel which plugs into any domestic 13amp socket

• a small panic button which may be carried on the person.

When the panic button is activated the alarm will flash and emit noise notifying neighbours that there is an incident in the home or that the person is unwell.

The PRIDE alarm is available to all those aged 60 years and over who have been victims of crime in their own home. However PRIDE can be purchased privately if the person has not been a victim of crime in their own home but feels vulnerable.

For information on this please contact Victim Support – Charnwood on 01509 268545.

The Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forum for Charnwood & North West Leicestershire is part of a nationwide network of bodies, established by the government, to increase participation by the public in local health decisions, planning, and issues in the delivery of services.
It is worth a mention that there is some scope for confusion as there are other patient involvement groups who are associated to the PCT or other parts of the NHS. This Forum is wholly independent of the NHS and of the local Primary Care Trust, although there are obviously links in order to obtain information and answers, to promote understanding to allow considered judgements about issues affecting all those who use any of the services commissioned by the PCT.
This Forum has been set up by Government, and therefore has a number of statutory powers to make it effective. It has the power to inspect NHS premises, and the premises of those organisations providing a service commissioned by the NHS. It also has powers of scrutiny, consultation and the right to refer matters of concern to higher authorities.
It is generally accepted that these forums represent the greatest opportunity so far for the public to have an input into how the NHS is run, and is an opportunity that should not be passed by. Anyone living within the area that has an interest in the standards of health services should consider becoming a member. Although members are all voluntary, full travel and other expenses are met and there is plenty of opportunity for training if required.
The Forum meets locally, approximately monthly at different venues around the area, some of the meetings being open to the public.
Anyone wishing to join the Forum, or to make contact regarding local health issues should contact PPI Forum’s Leicestershire Office on 0116 273 6506.
By Lyn Doubleday