Tuesday 15 December 2015

Syria by Ben Gummer

Some of the pupils I work with as part of my day job are quite keen to talk about Syria, often understanding more why we voted to use bombs when I explain the reasoning behind it and that we have a unique offering to our allies around the world. Some have even changed their mind.

But as usual Ben puts it so much more elegantly than I do!

Here is his latest newsletter post on the subject.

Last Sunday afternoon I went for a walk with Sarah and Wilfred on Hampstead Heath.  The December dark was closing in and – as it happens on a still night in winter – noises were amplified in the gloom.  I stopped for a few moments and listened as the noise of traffic, sirens and horns came close, even though I was in the middle of the Heath a mile or so from any major road.

On 1st July next year we will remember the first day of the Battle of the Somme when, a hundred years before, people standing where I stood on Hampstead Heath heard the opening bombardment of the Royal Artillery not three miles away but three hundred.  That terrible war, so immediate to every family in Britain, could now be heard as well.  For the residents of the south Kent coast the sounds of battle had been a constant since the winter of 1914/15, as shells dropped on positions not far from the beaches on the other side of the English Channel.

Every war becomes more pressing as it nears home.  So it was with Hitler and his invasion of France and attempted defeat of the RAF over the South Downs.  Now we face a similar moment with ISIS – or Daesh as we must now call them – rampaging through the streets of Paris and hiding in the suburbs of Brussels.  Suddenly, just as the Sudetenland meant something to Sussex, now Syria has become a state close to home.

It should not surprise us that this should be the case: the world is smaller now and people travel with greater ease than ever before.  A large and appalling conflict on Europe’s frontier affects us as much, if not more, than a war on our continent once did.  Daesh are exporting their horrifying methods of war to western Europe, just as the refugees they and Bashar al-Assad have created arrive (and die) on our shores.

This is not a conflict we can ignore.  Not to take action is as much a positive choice as a vote to take action, and that decision has consequences of its own.  We have an opportunity to join with our allies to defeat Daesh where they are strongest – to reduce and help eliminate their ability to terrorise Syrians and terrorise Europeans.  We will help protect our own people and contribute to the wider effort to bring peace to that benighted country.  We are a strong nation with a professional and well-equipped military: these are the kind of missions that only the British and a couple of others can do.

All of those are good reasons to take action against Daesh in Syria.  But there is a motive still stronger.  There is no good me sitting in the House of Commons feeling smug about the values that make our nation strong if we are not willing to put those values into action.  When fascists – so aptly named by Hillary Benn in his remarkable speech – are intent on pushing gay men off buildings to their deaths, enslaving and raping women, beheading men and forcing children to become murderers on the borders of our continent, it is our duty to step in.  We cannot be the world’s policeman but nor can we ignore barbarism such as this so close to home.

Just as in 1916 and in 1940, this war is now close to home.  We have seen it in Paris just as a century ago people heard another conflict on Hampstead Heath.  We must act – not just because it is close to home but because we must defend the same values that those who fell a hundred years ago fought to preserve.
 
Welcome to Ben's regular newsletter.

If you have any comments or concerns, please get in touch with my team.
 


Email: Ben can be contacted directly at ben@bengummer.com

Ben's office address is:
9 Fore Street
Ipswich
IP4 1JW

01473 232 883

Friday 27 November 2015

A Local hero deserves a Gong by Ben Gummer


This is a delightful newsletter from our MP Ben Gummer. He so rightly and richly gives praise to Sally Wainman - A woman I admire and respect greatly too!



From Ben:
 
You know those moments so embarrassing that when you look back you slightly shudder at the memory of it all?  Well, I’ve had mercifully few as an MP but the worst was served – justifiably – on me by well-known local campaigner Sally Wainman.
 
Sally was one of my opponents in the 2010 election – standing not for a mainstream party but one a platform of saving Broomhill Pool.  Now, that may sound like a quixotic exercise: no one, not even Sally, thought she would win the seat, but she stood nevertheless because she was absolutely serious about her cause.
 
I had met Sally before and liked her: she is a determined campaigner and has an enormous heart.  During that election campaign I bumped into her in the Warren Heath Sainsbury’s, late at night just before it was due to close.  She asked how things were going and I said I thought it would be very close and that every vote would count.  In fact, I joked, if she endorsed me I would happily support her Broomhill Pool campaign – even though I only had the deep end in my constituency.  She laughed at me, quite rightly, and we finished our shopping.
 
A few weeks later, I was in the church hustings in Christchurch Tacket Street and someone asked the candidates from the floor what they thought of the Broomhill Pool.  Now, Sally was not on the stage, as the organisers had restricted it to the main parties.  But she was there alright.  So when I gave an equivocal answer, saying that I supported the campaign but that I thought there were other priorities that I would campaign first, Sally repeated from the back our conversation in Sainsbury’s.  I will forgive her quoting me out of context, because it was an expert move: in the parlance of politicos, she “burned” me.  Even now when I think about it, I think “oohh… ouch!”
 
So, I hope you can see why I have a particular respect for Sally Wainman.  Some might have dismissed her six local and general election attempts, on a Save Broomhill Pool ticket, as eccentric – not least because she has spent several thousand pounds on lost deposits in the process.  People giggled at her but it is Sally who has had the last laugh, because when the idea of reopening Broomhill Pool had few supporters in Ipswich, she kept the idea alive by standing for elected office and thereby forcing the issue onto the agenda.
 
Thanks to her stoicism and to the whole committee of the Broomhill Pool Trust, two otherwise under-enthused councils were persuaded to put aside capital money – in honesty, believing they would never need to spend it.  But the Trust did its part and secured a private operator and between them they have secured lottery money to take the project to fruition.  There is one more hurdle to jump but they now have a clear run at it.  It is a remarkable achievement and a real credit to genuinely brilliant community campaigning.
 
Don’t take my word for it: on Wednesday Sally was a finalist in the Mirror Pride of Sport Awards, as Local Hero of the Year.  That is precisely what she is.  I genuinely do not believe that Broomhill Pool would have happened without Sally keeping the idea alive election after election.  She deserves every ounce of praise she now gets.  Getting burned by Sally was worth the pleasure of seeing her succeed in this great local ambition.
 
Opening Sailmakers last week. 
This Morning I opened the new building for Chantry Academy. The happiest, proudest moment of my time as Ipswich's MP.
Welcome to Ben's regular newsletter.

If you have any comments or concerns, please get in touch with my team.
 


Email: Ben can be contacted directly at ben@bengummer.com

Ben's office address is:
9 Fore Street
Ipswich
IP4 1JW

01473 232 883

Tuesday 24 November 2015

More Web Scams to beware of From Action Fraud




This is a message sent via The Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network (England & Wales). This information has been sent on behalf of Action Fraud (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau)
(Please do not reply directly to this email, please use the Reply button at the bottom of this message)
Message sent by
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Fraudsters have set up a high specification website template advertising various electrical goods and domestic appliances. These goods are below market value and do not exist. The fraudsters will request your card details via the website; however the purchaser will then receive an email stating the payment failed and they must pay via bank transfer.

The fraudsters entice the purchaser and reassure them it is a legitimate purchase by using the widely recognised Trusted Shop Trustmark. The fraudsters are using the Trustmark fraudulently and have not been certified by Trusted Shops and therefore the purchaser is not covered by the Trusted Shop money-back guarantee. 

Protect yourself:
  • Check the authenticity of the websites before making any purchases. Conduct a ‘whois’ search on the website which will identify when the website has been created, be wary of newly formed domains. You can conduct this search using the following website - https://who.is/.
  • Carry out online research in relation to the website, company name and the business address provided to identify any poor feedback or possible irregularities.
  • Check the Trusted Shops Facebook page where warnings about websites using their Trustmark are published. If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of a Trustmark then you can contact Trusted Shops on 0203 364 5906 or by email service@trustedshops.co.uk. They will confirm whether they have certified that website.
  • Payments made via bank transfer are not protected should you not received the item. Therefore always try to make the payment via PayPal or a credit card where you have some payment cover should you not receive your product.
  • If the item advertised seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it onlinehttp://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.

Monday 23 November 2015

Winter Workshops For Suffolk Residents

Are you prepared for winter? 


This is your chance to find out how to be totally prepared for the nasty winter days that are surely coming our way soon.

Attend a Winter Workshop by Suffolk County Council.

Come and listen to the experts discussing how to best prepare yourself.

Experts from the Meteorological Office, Environment Agency and Suffolk County Council Highways will provide vital information on winter preparedness to the local community and existing and new Winter Gritting Volunteers.

Friday 27th November 2015 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon
Endeavour House, Suffolk County Council
Britten Room 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX

or

Monday 14th December 2015 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon Endeavour House, Suffolk County Council – Elizabeth Room 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX


Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit – Welcome and Introduction
Met Office – Weather Warnings & Being Prepared
Suffolk County Council Highways – Winter Gritting
Environment Agency – Flood Warnings

To book a place, please contact Agnes Jung: agnes.jung@suffolk.gov.uk 01473 433 431

Agenda 09:50 Coffee and registration 10:05 Joint Emergency Planning Unit – Welcome and Introduction 10:20 Met Office - Weather Warnings and Being Prepared 10:50 Suffolk County Council Highways – Winter Gritting 11:20 Environment Agency - Flood Warnings 11:50 Questions


Tuesday 17 November 2015

Beware - Distraction thefts – Ipswich


Warning from Suffolk Police
Following two incidents in Ipswich, Suffolk Police are issuing a warning for the public to be vigilant about distraction thefts especially in supermarket car parks in the run up to Christmas. 
The first took place on Friday 13 November around midday in the car park of Sainsbury’s supermarket, Warren Heath, Ipswich. A 73 year old lady was sitting in her car in the car park when a woman accompanied by a man knocked on her window asking for directions to London. The woman suspect then opened up a map in front of the victim. Whilst this was happening it is believed that the man stole credit cards from the victim’s purse. These cards were later used to withdraw £250 from a cashpoint. It is possible the victim was watched whilst using her card at the supermarket cashpoint and the PIN noted by the suspects. 

The second incident took place shortly afterwards at just after midday on Friday 13 November in the car park at Tesco supermarket, Copdock, near Ipswich. A 68 year old lady who was putting goods into her car was approached by a man and a woman. The woman asked for directions to Cambridge. As the victim got a map to assist her, the man opened the car door and removed three bank cards from her purse which was on the car seat. As the suspects left the car, the victim realised what had taken place and shouted at the man who dropped the cards and walked away. 

Police believe the suspects in each case to be the same. The woman suspect is described as being in her early twenties, wearing a belted jacket and trousers and had a darkish scarf on her head. The man is described as also in his early twenties with dark facial stubble and was wearing a beanie. Both are described as speaking with foreign, possibly East European, accents. 

Police are appealing for anybody who witnessed either incident or who has any information to contact Ipswich Police on 101, reference 14757/15 (Sainsbury’s car park) 14917/15 (Tesco car park).

It takes seconds to protect your valuables: 

Be vigilant when entering your PIN - make sure you cover the keypad on both chip and pin machines and at cash points every time you enter your PIN number 

Be aware of who is around you and make sure people stay a good distance away from you. 

Don’t let anyone distract you while you are using the cash machine or making a card payment. Cancel the transaction if you are worried. 

Be aware of who is around you and make sure people stay a good distance away from you. 

Keep your valuables secure - never leave them unattended, even for few moments. Keep your belongings tucked away safely in a zipped pocket or bag and use a purse chain if you have one. 

Report stolen cards - if you lose your wallet, report it to your bank immediately. 

Mobile phone tracking - if you have a smart phone install the app that helps you trace your device if it gets lost or stolen. Contact your service provider for details on what is available.

Wednesday 11 November 2015

What Labour won't tell you about the Employment statistics

Key statistics

·         Employment: 31.21 million (up 419,000 over the past year and up over 2.1 million since 2010).

·         Employment rate: 73.7 per cent (up 0.7 points over the past year and up 3.5 points since 2010).

·         Unemployment: 1.75 million (down 210,000 over the past year and down 760,000 since 2010).

·         Unemployment rate: 5.3 per cent (down 0.7 points over the past year and down 2.6 points since 2010).

·         Claimant count (Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit not in work): 795,500 in October (down 139,100 on last year and down 699,300 since 2010).

·         Wages: average total pay rose by three per cent over the last year. Inflation over the same period was close to flat.


·         The employment rate is at the highest in our history - at 73.7 per cent of people aged 16-64.

·         Unemployment has fallen to a seven year low – at 5.3 per cent

·         There are more women in work than ever before with 975,000 more women in work since 2010, and the number of unemployed women down by 80,000 over the year.

·         Youth unemployment is at its lowest level since early 2006, and the employment rate for young people who have left full-time education is up to 74.3 per cent, the highest in more than a decade

·         Among older people (50-64), employment is up 72,000 on the quarter and 234,000 on the year to a record 8.3 million.

·         The number of long-term unemployed people has fallen by 25 per cent in the last year to 514,000 – the lowest level in six years.

·         Vacancies were at 736,000 in the three months to October, up 37,000 on the year and 274,000 since 2010.

Labour always try and tell Britain that all these jobs are part-time, insecure and poorly paid – in fact:

·         Three-quarters of the growth in employment since 2010 has been full-time.

·         Only 2.4 per cent of people in work are on zero-hours contracts. Unlike the last Labour Government, who did nothing, we have taken action to clamp down on abuses by banning exclusivity contracts.

·         Real wages are rising strongly. 

It was Labour that left people with fewer jobs and fewer opportunities:

·         The number of unemployed people increased by one million in Labour’s last term in office.

·         The number of people on unemployment benefit rose by 82 per cent in Labour’s last term.

·         Youth unemployment rose by 45 per cent under Labour – meaning young people were not getting the skills they need to get on in life.

·         The number of households where no member had ever worked nearly doubled under Labour.

World diabetes - the importance of the flu jab

World Diabetes Day - Get A Flu Jab
This week's World Diabetes Day (14 November) is a timely reminder to all those with diabetes to protect themselves this winter with a free flu jab.

Those with diabetes (types 1 and 2) have a hard time fighting flu if it’s caught.  The virus can put added stress on the body affecting blood sugar levels.  Even those who manage their diabetes well can be at risk of serious complications from flu, resulting in hospitalisation and in some cases it can be fatal.

In 2014 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK grew to more than 3.2 million.  It’s likely we all know someone with diabetes who we want to be safe and well over winter. 

Dr Christopher Browning, a GP in Long Melford and chairman of the NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Catching flu can make diabetes worse because the immune system is less able to fight infections.  This can make it harder to control your blood sugars, causing them to rise or fall and increases the chance of serious health problems, such as pneumonia.  

"To be fully protected you need to be vaccinated every year because the virus can change and the previous year's vaccine may not offer the right protection against the virus in circulation this year. The flu jab cannot give you flu as there are no live viruses in the vaccine.

"I would urge all those with diabetes to make an appointment with their GP practice for their free flu jab."

For more information visit the Healthy Suffolk flu page





Friday 6 November 2015

Ipswich Vision Promoted and Ben in The Pub

Herewith latest article from Ben Gummer

Please note that Ben is in the pub this evening to talk to residents with local conservative councillor Lee Reynolds - details at the end of the article:

Every year, the unglamorous convene in the capital of glamour when property developers descend on Cannes, the jewel of the Riviera.  OK – that’s a little unfair on property developers but the contrast is not lost on the legions of property-connected people who make their way to the south of France every year.  Architects, international estate agents, landscapers, developers, construction executives, planners, urban environmentalists – anyone who is anyone in big property goes to Cannes for this jamboree.
 
What’s it all about?  It’s called MIPIM and it’s a bit like the motor show for property: from development companies seeing opportunities to the big architect firms showing their latest plans, it is an opportunity for property people to see and be seen.  Lately, another group have come to this show – and in increasing force: cities.  Rio, London, New York – they put up enormous stalls to show the world big land development opportunities and invite people to invest.
 
Now MIPIM has come to London.  No sun in Olympia but the opportunities are as big.  This show, made especially for Britain to show itself to the investment world, was something we knew precisely nothing about until a brilliant government official suggested to the Ipswich Vision Board that Ipswich should go.  That was in July, with only three months before the stand had to go up.  We pondered for about thirty seconds and then threw our hat in the ring.  The Borough and County Councils cashed up and the Local Enterprise Partnership, representing local businesses, helped to bring it together.  Last week, I went along to see how it was all going.
 
This is where you will be proud.  Amongst stalls for Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Cardiff, the Scottish cities and London boroughs was our stand.  Why would it make you proud?  For three reasons: first, it looked very good, despite the short timescale that the team had to bring it together; secondly, it showed to terrific effect the amazing opportunities our town has to offer – great even by the standards of far larger cities elsewhere in Britain – just as I and others have been banging on about for so long; and thirdly, because it was a genuine team effort.
 
We all know the difficult relationship that has persisted – for decades – between our county council and our borough.  But recently, in large part because of the Ipswich Vision, the two have worked with a closeness that has surprised everyone, including the councils themselves.  Both are collaborating with the LEP, which is proving itself a real force for good in our town, county and Anglian region.  Some of us are from different political parties but all of us are working together for the town.
 
Is it some comfortable charade?  When we started this process back in May, it was clear that the old feelings of distrust were still raw: I, as much as anyone, was guilty of that fact.  But since then, through working together, we have formed a genuine partnership that is already delivering results, one of which is that when we now meet – as in MIPIM – it is as comrades in a common cause.
 
One thing that I had never anticipated in this great crusade for the renewal of Ipswich is that it would make our politics and our relationships better.  Yet that is the first thing that has happened, which is a marvellous thing for the town.  Long may it continue, because we will be able to encourage people to invest in our town, making it better for everyone who lives here now.  Our presence at MIPIM helped that goal come closer, even if Olympia is less glamorous than Cannes.
 
Ben In The Woolpack

This Friday (6th November) I will be in The Woolpack from 19:30-21:00 with local Councillor Lee Reynolds.

Please come along to discuss any issues you might want to raise.
Welcome to Ben's regular newsletter.

If you have any comments or concerns, please get in touch with my team.
 


Email: Ben can be contacted directly at ben@bengummer.com

Ben's office address is:
9 Fore Street
Ipswich
IP4 1JW

01473 232 883

Friday 30 October 2015

Why Prisoners should have the Vote and be allowed to smoke

I have long been in favour of changing the way we punish people. We seem devoid of any creative ways to look at better and more cost effective ways of punishing those who break our laws.

I believe prison must exist for the worst crimes - murder, rape, armed robbery, serious violent crimes but, for lesser crimes, we should be thinking of some new ways that do not involve locking them up and begrudging the cost. In the meantime we should focus on rehabilitation.

I do not include those serving long term sentences in the notion that prisoners should have the vote
but for those who have less than 4 years and so will come out of the prison service while the newly elected government is still in situ, we need to see giving them the vote as part of their rehabilitation process.

Too many people do not want to understand that prison is the punishment, loss of freedom is the real kicker and that we shouldn't be making their lives completely miserable nor should we write them off.

Many prisoners have made some terrible mistakes but for some, that is all it is. Everyone deserves a chance to turn their lives around and many do - becoming worthwhile citizens who can contribute more than the average person.

At the conservative conference there was a great speaker, an ex offender who now works for St Giles. This is an extract from The Prisoners Education website


The conference also heard from an ex-prisoner, Elroy, who works at St. Giles Trust said he spent a long time in and out of prison, then tragically, a younger prisoner he had been trying to help died from a drugs overdose weeks after his release. This gave Elroy the motivation to engage in education for the first time inside and it offered him a different path.

If a person is to take self responsibility, become a good citizen and to not re-offend then they need to become part of a democracy that values law and boundaries, to take their vote seriously and to learn about what the issues are facing the country, rather than the insular, selfish mindset that probably got them to their prison cell in the first place.

Budding MPs could visit prisons and engage those that are about to be released as part of the prisoners 'home run'.


As for smoking - well I used to be a smoker and if anyone had taken away my tobacco in my own 'home' I would've probably threatened some bad behaviour too!

What is it to be? - Do we care enough about their health that we worry so much about the damage of smoking? Oh really? When did that happen?!

Well I do - and I say let them have smoke. There could be smoking cells and non-smoking cells - why not let them come up with a solution that satisfies both parties?

Do we want to make the lives of prison wardens even harder - why don't we start with eliminating illegal drugs first - wow what a random idea that is.

They have been put in prison and often spend hours a day locked in their cells - are we also going to take away the small comforts? Prison and it's regime is punishment enough - and probably a lot more damaging to their health than any tobacco smoke - which I imagine are extremely thin and do less damage than car fumes, from which they do not have to suffer.

Please - why are we bothering to do this in such a lazy way?

Let's be innovative, creative, punish with rehabilitation, deliver training and show some compassion.

We might get more Elroys and wouldnt that be just grand..




Monday 26 October 2015

Ipswich Conservatives go Green for Halloween!

We were talking to residents in Stoke Park this weekend and we showed our support of the NSPCC's campaign for this halloween.

So just for a change for me, I went Green - for Halloween! And so did some of my colleagues including Ben Gummer.

The NSPCC is one of my favourite charities and I give to them regularly but for this particular campaign I am going to search for every bit of change lying around in my house to donate and my husband will be pleased of the clear out. They are in every nook and cranny of our house and weigh down various handbags, including those I dont use any more. Should be fun.

And it will be interesting to see how much it all is!

Hope you will support the charity when you see one of the particpants trying to raise some funds this weekend.

And have fun on Halloween - not my thing but now I have grandchildren of the right age, I might find something to enjoy!








Friday 23 October 2015

Suffolk Community Action

  • I thought this was such a great e-mail from Community Action that I thought I'd share it


Young people in Suffolk vote in biggest numbers yet

‘Make Your Mark’ is an annual consultation run by the UK Youth Parliament where young people aged 11-18 have the opportunity to vote inform UKYP’s campaign for the next year by voting for their top issue from a list of 10. This year, over 920,000 young people voted nationally and Suffolk had a fantastic turn-out of 13,906!

15 Suffolk organisations needed for Social Impact pilot project

We are all aware of the rising need to demonstrate the Social Impact our organisations have and how they add Social Value to our communities. However, the world of Social Impact Measurement can be perceived as complex, resource heavy and expensive! We are seeking 15 organisations across Suffolk to take part in a pilot and be prepared to publicise the fantastic work that we know is happening which improves people’s lives on a daily basis.

Rural communities: The end of the road for local banking?

A new report by The Campaign for Community Banking Services (CBBS) highlights the accelerating rate of bank closures. The CBBS says that 1,200 communities across the UK have lost all their banks and hundreds more will do so in the next five years.

Communities across England are set to benefit from more than £132.6 million

Communities across England are set to benefit from more than £132.6 million after the Big Lottery Fund and EU have joined forces. The Big Lottery Fund is matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 to provide joint investment in 61 local projects tackling poverty, promoting social inclusion and boosting local economies.

Positive meeting held about the future of Castle Hill Community Centre

We were very pleased to hear that there is a strong desire to keep the centre at the heart of the local community, and there was some discussion around getting interested parties to meet together again, to consider whether a partnership might be formed.
 

How do you grow your community?
Let us know!

A new campaign, Grow Your Community, has been launched in Suffolk to recognise the positive changes people make to their communities and to inspire others to grow their community.
Community Action Suffolk (CAS) is asking people to visit www.growyourcommunity.org.uk and share how they grow their community to make it a better place. This could be something as simple as looking after a friend’s children, picking up litter on your street or doing some shopping for an elderly neighbour.

Understanding the insurance needs of voluntary and community sector organisations in Suffolk

Community Action Suffolk currently provides an extensive range of insurance products for voluntary and community sector organisations in Suffolk. We now have an opportunity to influence the development of a new insurance project for the sector. CAS is hoping to identify what the insurance needs are of voluntary and community organisations operating in Suffolk. If you are a voluntary and community organisation operating in Suffolk we would be grateful if you could fill out this quick survey. The survey will run until Friday 23 October 2015.

Welcome to new CAS members

We would like to introduce you to new members to Community Action Suffolk every fortnight, and we extend a warm welcome to:

New Horizons Club

Community Action Suffolk events

Upcoming CAS training courses

Whether you're interested in writing a good funding application or need an award in food safety, we have a wide range of courses available. CAS members receive a discount on the cost of training, for example £25 compared to £40 for our Writing A Good Funding Application course. If you would like to book on a course, please click a link below for booking instructions.

22 Oct Introduction to the principles of Youth Participation, Bury St. Edmunds
4 Nov Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace, Lowestoft
11 Nov Project Planning Course, Hadleigh
12 Nov Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work, Ipswich
17 Nov Managing Volunteers course, Ipswich
19 Nov Introduction to Safeguarding Vulnerable People, Ipswich
25 Nov Level 2 Food Hygiene course, Ipswich
26 Nov Risk Assessment Course, Ipswich
7 Dec Writing a Good Funding Application Course , Lowestoft
8 Dec Project Planning Course, Ipswich
10 Dec Trustee Roles and Responsibilities course, Ipswich
14 Dec Fire Awareness Course, Stowmarket

View all our training courses in our events calendar.

Meet and network with local groups

These events are for voluntary and community sector organisations. All locality network and volunteering network events are free to attend and you can book online today. View all our networking events for 2015 in ourevents calendar.
Locality networking events
22 Oct Felixstowe (previously 28 Oct)
3 Nov Stowmarket
19 Nov Bury St. Edmunds
1 Dec Ipswich
3 Dec Framlingham
Volunteering network events
4 Nov Haverhill
17 Nov Stowmarket
24 Nov Ipswich

Suffolk news

Empowering children, young people and vulnerable adults to use digital technology safely

Listening to, and understanding the online experiences of children, young people and vulnerable adults has been fundamental to the success of the annual e-Safer Suffolk Cybersurvey.
 
In 2014, we received over 2,600 responses to the Cybersurvey. Today we need your help and commitment to reach this year’s target of 4,000. Any organisation working with groups of children (min age 10), young people or vulnerable adults can help by encouraging their service users to take part. So if you’re working with these groups – please support them to have their views heard and acted upon. Every organisation that takes part in the Cybersurvey will require an access code. To receive your code please contact: engagement.hub@suffolk.gov.uk
 
The e-Safer Suffolk Partnership is supported by Suffolk County Council, the Local Safeguarding Children Board, Adult Safeguarding Board,  Suffolk Police and Suffolk PCC.
 
Closing date for responses is Monday 30 November
 
If have any questions regarding the content of the cybersurvey please contact: Marisa BatsonCo-Design Lead, Children and Young People's Services, Suffolk County Council. Email:marisa.batson@suffolk.gov.uk

Royal visit to Lowestoft community projects

The Princess Royal visited a number of community projects in Lowestoft on Tuesday 13 October 2015, accompanied by Community Action Suffolk’s Patron, Lady Euston. Her Royal Highness visited CAS members Catch 22DreamworXand Access Community Trust on her visit to the county, her fifth visit to meet Suffolk charities in the last five years.

29 Oct: Improving mental health for BME communities

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and Healthwatch Suffolk have organised a half-day conference - ‘Inspiring progress in improving mental health for BME communities’ - to explain more about the initiative, which has been designed to increase understanding of the issues faced by the county’s diverse communities when accessing and using mental health services. For more information please click here.
 

Sports to support BBC Children In Need

BSC Supplementary School, currently supported by BBC Children In Need, is organising a sports marathon on Saturday 7 November 2015 at St Helens Primary School, Ipswich, IP4 2LT (2pm to 4pm). Children, parents, staff & volunteers will be trying to go around the sports circuit as many times as possible to raise money for the BBC charity event in the week leading up to the main “Children In Need” national fundraising evening on 16 November. BBC Children in Need is the BBC's UK corporate charity and they provide grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged. Covering all corners of the UK they support small and large organisations which empower children and extend their life choices. 

Do you have something to promote in and around Woodbridge?

If you are a local organisation or charity who would like to promote events or encouraging volunteers to join you, then don’t forget to let Woodbridge Library know. There is an information folder where posters can be left, along with an information stand where you can leave leaflets or postcards which people can pick up as they go about their business in Woodbridge. If you would like to drop information in, or send it electronically so that is can be printed off, please let in touch with Helen Scrivener the Library Manager via 01394 446510, Helen Scrivener Helen.Scrivener@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Village Hall chairs for sale

The Ansell Centre in Hadleigh has 50 stackable chairs which they would like to sell. They would be suitable for a village hall. For more information, contact Jan Dicks at the Ansell Centre.
Other Suffolk news:

Funding

Suffolk Community Foundation – High Sheriff’s Fund

Grants up to £1,500 are available for work with young people (aged 8-25) that addresses citizenship, community safety and crime prevention which tackles issues such as:
  • Bullying
  • Vandalism and arson
  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Homelessness
  • Internet safety
  • Personal safety
  • Road safety
  • Knife crime
  • Drug and alcohol abuse/awareness
  • Community cohesion, especially with older people and minorities
The Foundation will consider applications from charities, voluntary and community groups in Suffolk whose primary aim is to improve the quality of people’s lives. For this particular fund, schools can also apply subject to the project being an extra curricular activity.
 
Deadline: 18 December 2015 | Apply

Edge Fund

(short deadline!) Edge Fund supports those taking action for a just, equitable and sustainable world. Funding is available for work that challenges abuses of power and aims to bring an end to the systems that cause injustice. This could be the economic system, political system, or any system that discriminates against people based on their identity or background (eg class, ability, gender, race, nationality, religion, sexuality, age or other factors)
 
Deadline: 25 October 2015 | Apply

Morrisons Foundation

The Morrisons Foundation provides grants towards projects undertaken by registered charities undertaking projects with the aim of improving people’s lives They is no limit to how much you can apply for, although the project must benefit people in the UK. It also supports Morrisons colleagues' fundraising by match funding their efforts pound for pound ­ up to £500­ twice a year.

Further Information
CAS members can sign up to receive our monthly Funding newsletter which contains many more funding opportunities and news. Become a CAS member today.

Local events & training

24-30 Oct The Lullaby Concerts, venues across Suffolk
24 Oct Wheldon's annual Apple Day, Sudbury
24 Oct Red Gables Garden Project fundraising sale, Stowmarket
27 Oct DanceEast, Dare to dance: a workshop for boys, Ipswich
27 Oct Avenues Group, Disability Focus Day, Ipswich
29 Oct Improving mental health for BME communities
31 Oct The Erasmus Foundation, Erasmus Day of Light, Woodbridge
5 Nov Procurement Training Workshop
7 Nov Talitha Koum, Quiz night, Ipswich
27 Nov The 3rd East Suffolk Partnership Annual Forum
4 Dec Community Action Suffolk, Volunteering Summit, Kesgrave

If you are CAS member and would like your event listed here, just email us!

Community Action Suffolk promotes our members' events and training in good faith and is not accountable for their content or organisation.