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The Hilltop Villages Good Neighbours Group |
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Download the leaflet Introduction One of the strengths of our community is the willingness of local people to offer a helping hand to others. In short you might call this a spirit of ‘neighbourliness’. In the summer of 2011 a group of villagers got together to identify how they could build on this neighbourliness. Aside from this ambition, there are concerns that cut-backs in public services will over time impact disproportionately on those living within rural communities. It was considered prudent to respond to these threats, or to borrow the local authority turn of phrase, 'Building Community Capacity’. A number of possible priorities and potential initiatives were identified. These included:
To take initiatives such as these forward and to be able to attract funding to support them the ‘Hilltop Villages Good Neighbours Group’ was formed in November 2011. The Group has been awarded a grant from our local County Councillor (Mrs Tricia Birchley, Community Leaders Fund). Other funding streams will be sought to support initiatives during 2012. A pull out leaflet was distributed to all the households in Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Parish in the December 2011 edition of Hilltop News. The leaflet included information about two initiatives identified above. The Extreme Weather 4x4 Car Scheme and also a Directory of Useful Community Service Telephone Numbers. See below for further details of each.
Download a copy of the current leaflet
The Extreme Weather 4x4 Car Scheme The last two winters brought heavy snowfalls and prolonged periods of freezing weather conditions. At times local roads became impassable or dangerous to negotiate safely without a 4x4 car. A group of volunteers have come together to operate a 4x4 Car Scheme during periods of such extreme weather. There is a dedicated telephone number which will be manned by volunteers within the Parish and drivers with 4x4 cars will be on-call to help fellow parishioners with vital transport needs, e.g. to get to urgent medical appointments, restocking essential food supplies, or collecting an urgent prescription. Possibly to assist stranded villagers at local stations or in the environs of the villages! If weather conditions prevent social services reaching a client, and near neighbours are not available, then volunteers may also be able to help with certain vital tasks. NB. It will be totally at the discretion of Group organisers to decide if the weather conditions dictate, and the need is urgent and appropriate for a volunteer to be called out. The Extreme Weather 4x4 Car Scheme telephone number is: 08458 735737 Please note that the Car Scheme will be in operation from 9am to 7pm and only during periods of extreme weather. At other times you should contact the police or social services. This service is free; however a contribution towards the driver’s fuel costs is welcomed. Residents are encouraged to prepare for another harsh winter, both at home and for daily journeys! We would like to express our thanks to Green Telecom, based in Chesham, who generously supplied the telephone number, free of charge. The Hilltop Villages Good Neighbours Directory The first edition of this Directory of Community Services contact numbers was published as a pullout leaflet and distributed to all households in the parish via the December 2011 Hilltop News.
Would you like to become a volunteer or learn more about the Group? If you would like to find out more about Volunteering and parcipating in any of the Hilltop Villages Good Neightbours Group initiatives, or would like to contact the Group please contact Chris Brown by phone on 01494 758890, or email goodneighbours@cholesbury.com |
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