Supporting rural communities to thrive in the East Riding of Yorkshire,

North and North East Lincolnshire

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• Established in 1975 as Community Council of Humberside• Community Limited by Guarantee• One of 38 Rural Community Councils (RCCs) covering England and

Wales, headed up by the national umbrella body, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)

• The Network of RCC’s is known as the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN)

• All RCC’s operate as independent charities but are contracted by DEFRA (through ACRE) to deliver and feedback on specific priority rural themes

ABOUT US

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• Local Strategic Influencing• Engagement with LEPs, Las and other key local partnerships and organisations

‘to promote rural needs and opportunities in local decision making and delivery’ACRE Network members helping to determine local level rural proofing solutions

• Supporting rural communities to take action for themselves on key local priorities

• 2014/15 areas – broadband/digital skills, transport, community energy, services, affordable housing and neighbourhood planning

• Sharing learning on sustainable funding models• Through newsletters, online forums and network meetings. ACRE can facilitate learning and

best practice across the network on sustainable funding and operating models to help ensure best practice across the network

• Network members that have lessons to share will provide them to ACRE to circulate around the whole network

What are the aims of Defra’s funding of the RCC Network during 2014/15

aOUR DELIVERY TEAM

Chief Executive, Penny BrownChief Executive, Penny Brown

Operations Support Manager,

Joanne Greenfield

Operations Support Manager,

Joanne Greenfield

Delivery and Development ManagerSusan Oliver

Delivery and Development ManagerSusan Oliver

Operations Support Officer, Karen Weeks

Operations Support Officer, Karen Weeks

Finance Support Officer, Denise Thompson (External)

Finance Support Officer, Denise Thompson (External)

Rural Community Buildings Information Officer, Margaret Kirk

Rural Community Buildings Information Officer, Margaret Kirk

Community Development Co-ordinators, Peter Hirschfeld and Carole Johnson

Community Development Co-ordinators, Peter Hirschfeld and Carole Johnson

Transport Solutions Coordinator,Robin Bradshaw

Transport Solutions Coordinator,Robin Bradshaw

Transport Solutions Administrator, Carole Foster

Transport Solutions Administrator, Carole Foster

Current staff team = 9, plus 1 external service provider

Current project activities and future plans

• Oil Cooperative – bulk oil buying scheme saving residents in East Riding money• Practical advice on reducing consumption and cost, particularly targeting those most

vulnerable• Energy audits• Independent renewable energy advice• Greener Schools – educating children on how and why they need to reduce consumption

and linking their learning to the wider community

Developments in progress:

• More innovatively engaging and targeting ‘key’ beneficiaries - extending support to include household budgeting to help those moving into or struggling with independent living (working with Adult Education, Credit Union, Food Banks, Age Concern, etc)

• Designing a project specifically focused on helping farming and other rural businesses reduce their energy consumption/cost, making a wider economic impact

• ‘Growing a Greener Future’ - bringing together all environmental activities under one core project

RURAL ENERGY

HWRCC provides flexible and affordable community transport for those that do not have access to, or cannot use, other forms of transport

Voluntary Car Scheme – a pool of volunteer drivers use their own vehicle to take residents in North Lincolnshire to hospital appointments, food shopping, day centres, etc

‘Over 9,000 passenger journeys in the last year’

Wheels to Work – a scooter loan scheme delivered in North East Lincolnshire for rurally isolated residents who

struggle to access training, employment or education

TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS

• Community Led Planning• Community Review• Youth Toolkit

• Community Buildings Support

• Village Veg

• Broadband

Development ideas being progressed:

• Economic Development• Employability and skills

• Village Agent• WWI

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Previously delivered:

• East Riding of Yorkshire Local Involvement Network (ERYLINk)

• Older Peoples Charter Monitoring Group (OPCMG)

Developments in progress:

• Creating an alternative package of support with vulnerable people, particularly focused at older people (reducing isolation)

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Questions?

Thank you for listening!