Bromley Farm Community Development Trust entered the North West in Bloom Neighbourhood competition in 2014.

The Bromley Farm Youth Club are very grateful for the support of Congleton Partnership. Bromley Farm Community Development Trust entered the North West in Bloom Neighbourhood competition for 2014 funded by the Congleton Partnership. The funding was an initiative of Congleton Youth Forum to actively encourage young people to get involved in the town’s In Bloom efforts. Below is a copy of the press release, for pictures of the children working hard visit here.

 

Bromley Farm Community Development Trust has entered the North West in Bloom Neighbourhood competition for 2014.Bromley Farm Community Development Trust

The Bromley Farm In Bloom efforts have been supported by young people from the Bromley Farm neighbourhood as part of the activities of the Bromley Farm youth clubs.

Around 30 young people from our youth clubs participated in gardening themed youth club sessions and have planted and helped to create a colourful area at Bromley Farm Community Centre on Edinburgh Road.

The plan was to transform a drab area of Bromley Farm Community Centre and Recreational Park into a colourful and welcoming area by creating a range of different planting areas using different types of containers and plants.

Young people have learnt new skills and demonstrated that young people are taking the lead to make a positive contribution.

Funding of £175 was secured from Congleton Youth Forum, a sub group of Congleton Partnership and was supported by Congleton Town Council and Cheshire East Council. The funding was an initiative of Congleton Youth Forum to actively encourage young people to get involved in the town’s In Bloom efforts. The funding has enabled young people from Bromley Farm to highlight the community and young people involvement in the town’s entry into the large town section of the North West in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions. Young people have got directly involved in the design, planting and maintenance of the floral displays. The funding has enabled the purchase of materials to plant up a range of hanging baskets, tubs and wire racks that have been positioned on and around the community centre building and to purchase items that has helped with the on-going maintenance including watering cans and some hand tools.

 

Glen Williams, Chairman of Bromley Farm Community Development Trust said “The North West in Bloom judges were really impressed with the result of the Bromley Farm Youth Club members efforts with the complete transformation of a drab area of the Bromley Farm Community Centre. Young people were at the centre of this project and around 30 young people from the neighbourhood have created a colourful display and have learnt a number of new skills. They have also had a lot of fun being part of this project. We have had many compliments about the floral display and I am really proud telling people that it is young people from Bromley Farm who have created the area. I am very grateful for the support of Congleton Youth Forum and Congleton Partnership which has enabled young people to be involved and make a positive difference to their neighbourhood.”

Bromley Farm Community Development Trust is the resident group of the Bromley Farm neighbourhood and has been making a positive difference for over 10 years providing events, activities and improving the environment. Our aim is to improve the well-being of all residents who live in the neighbourhood.

Congleton Partnership Executive Meeting minutes

The first meeting of the year took place for Congleton Partnership Executive committee on Tuesday 3rd March.

Steve welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year, a special welcome was recorded to Robbie & Ann Brightwell (Team Congleton).

A highlight of the meeting was Robbie & Ann Brightwell (Team Congleton) presentation on both the reasons for and the plans of Team Congleton’s July “Every Step Counts” activity.

He explained the link between activity and the general health of people and how just 1 hours / 5000 steps a day could have a real beneficial effect.

The “Every Step Counts” activity is planned to run from 1st July through to 2nd August and to involve the whole cross section of the community.

The presentation has been made to a wide variety of groups including CeCP, CSG, Congleton Partnership.

Full walking programme being drawn up:-

Primary Schools Activity Programme

Secondary Schools Comp / Award

Nifty Over 50’s TGT 5000 steps a day (approx. 30 mins)

CEO / Staff activity etc etc.

Pedometers to be issued (5000)

Dates for the diary:-

Sunday 10th May – Inaugural Walk – Astbury Mere

Friday 19th June – PR Walk – Astbury Mere

Friday 26th June  – Activity camp Launch – Park

Sunday 26th July – Grand Finale – Skyline Walk Challenge –  Grand Picnic / Band Concert in the Park.

A full media / communications package is being drawn up to support the activity which will include National / Local /Social Media.

The legacy of this activity will be to get more people to “Walk” more often.

 

It was a packed meeting with many activities to report on, please download the full minutes from the meeting.

 

 

Jeanne Whitehurst Fellowship nominations

Linda Minshull briefed the Youth group on the Jeanne Whitehurst Fellowship Award that was currently inviting nominations. The award is to recognise outstanding contribution by a young person in Congleton Town and under 18 on 31st March 2015.

Nomination notes / form were handed out at the meeting, copies can sent out on request to either Mike Smith or Linda Minshull.

Nominations need to be in by 31st March and the Award will be presented at the Mayor Making Evening.

NOMINATION FORM DOWNLOAD.

The following criteria applies:

  1. The award can be made to a young person aged 18 or under on 31st March 2015.
  2. The young person can be nominated by someone or can nominate themselves
  3. An application form (Link Below) must be completed and submitted to:
    Linda Minshull, Civic Administration Officer
    Congleton Town Council,
    Town Hall,
    Congleton,
    Cheshire,
    CW12 1BN.Tel: 01260 270350,
    Email: lm@congletontowncouncil.co.uk

The committee will make a decision and the successful application will be award a trophy at the Mayor Making Ceremony.

Congleton Sustainability Group Meeting Minutes 2.02.15

Congleton Sustainability Group meeting took place recently on 2nd Feb. Guests from Cheshire East attended the meeting:

CEBC Environmental Protection Air Quality. (Phil Mason / Rebecca Shorrock)

Phil explained that CEBC had been successful in gaining a funding award of around £21k from DEFRA to be used on a campaign to improve sustainable “ transport” in Congleton. Congleton has an above average of homes with 1 or 2 cars (71% v 66%) and a residents survey indicates that only around 23% are satisfied with cycle facilities in and around the town.  Phil and Rebecca are currently meeting up with local groups to discuss gaps in provision and outline some of their initial ideas and budget allocations. They will revisit groups with more detailed plans in the coming weeks. Currently budgets are set around:-

  • Covered Cycle Racks * (5) include Maps /Cycle Route boards
  • Website / Campaign (Interactive like All change at Crewe)
  • Updating Maps & Signage

Will also consider

  • Schools – Competition / Walking Buses / Encourage more cycling etc
  • Events (Food & Drink / Every Step Counts etc)

 

For the rest of the news download the minutes HERE.

Well done Team Congleton! Wins vote for Every Step Counts!

Well done to Team Congleton! Active Cheshire is awarding £5,000 to projects that get people moving in Cheshire and Warrington, Team Congleton has won the vote with  7319 votes to become the winning entry. Team Congleton’s Every Step Counts programme aims to get everyone engaged in regular fun and social walking activities and thereby help the NHS’s fight against obesity in both kids and adults. By taking regular, moderate excercise we can all make a difference and …. literally ….. Every Step Counts !!

 

 

Visit http://www.activecheshire.org/active-anywhere/ for more information.

Senior Forum Meeting Minutes 27.01.14

The 3rd meeting of the Congleton Partnerships latest group the Senior Forum took place on the 27th January. There is a lot of actions to follow up as the group takes shape and moves forward! (Please see the minutes).

Crewe and Nantwich Senior Forum.

During the meeting Adrian Lindop gave a presentation on the Crewe & Nantwich Senior Forum. The forum which has a strap line of ‘No service for us without us’ was constitutionally formed in 2006, meeting every 6 weeks and developing an action plan and some clear goals.

It is now very much resident/volunteer lead, building a very strong ‘family’ ethos along the way. They have strong partnerships and funding support from both local authority, local services and national streams. They involve the public / volunteers by playing / using their individual strengths making sure people feel valued for their efforts. They have created awareness of the forum by being proactive involvement in community events, hosted workshops ,demonstrations and increasing their membership.

With the help of their strong team of volunteers they have organised a number of successful projects ( Slow Cookers / Tree Cozy / Blooming Lovely) to name but a few. Currently they hold a Friday ‘Drop In’  (10 to 12.30pm) each week at a set time and location where residents can go for a drink, refreshments, chat and advice /support/ signposting. Since 2009 they have held a major Health & Wellbeing Fayre which has become so successful that they now have a waiting list of organisations / exhibitors and close on 200 residents coming through the doors.

 

The session certainly gave us plenty to think about and a real direction to aim for.

We certainly need to reach out to the public, grow a bank of volunteers to take our own forum on. The newsletter project and the planned ‘Senior Health Fayre’ planned for Congleton may be good places to start.

 

For all the other news view the minutes here.

Latest Projects and Finance meeting minutes 19.01.2015

The latest Projects and Finance Committee meeting took place on the 19.01.2015. Issues discussed included:

Item 7. Lifestyle opportunity for Congleton.

SF was requested to write to Cllr Jones indicating that we would prefer a 2 centre development. SF to copy in The Town Council so that the issue can again be raised in committee.
The letter of reply from Cllr Jones has been sent to P&F members and a copy retained with these minutes.

Item 8.Youth Hub & Transport.
GW to call a meeting during February to discuss and sign off the operational brief / documents.

Item 9. Funding Requests.
GW to raise the issue with G.Hayes regarding EBA. MS will action when invoices / activity details and supporting material received.

View the full minutes HERE

Congleton Sustainability Group meeting 05.01.15

Congleton Sustainability Groups latest meeting took place on the 5th January, it was a busy meeting with lots to report, here are a view highlights:

Vale Allotments

PA reported that the meeting on 3.1.15 which was attended by approx 50 people had proved quite progressive. Another 4 people had pledged to give some time to support the sub group, 3 of which indicated that they would help underwrite the whole scheme. Others were suggesting they could support in some way financially.
The next stages are to :

  •  Find funding to support some legal advice.
  • Arrange a Town Meeting / Event (by the end of January)
  • Investigate the use of social media to raise project profile.
  • Pull together a new Working Party.
  • Look to write to R.Minshull re our offer / bid when appropriate.
  • Set up a Community Interest Company (currently using Beartown Foods as a catalyst)

Deadline for making the bid is 24th April.

Havannah Hydro ( Havannah Village).

 PA has been approached by John Armstrong and Jim Booth re developing a Hydro Scheme on the Havannah Weir.

John who works (ed) for a Hydro Company (the  chair of which is the chair of The British Hydro Association) along Peter Aston had a meeting with Jean Huddleston (site owner) and a Neighbour regarding the project.They indicate their support in principal of a community power generation scheme.

A feasibility study has been produced but requires some more work on it. PA, John Armstrong, Paul Guymer and Chris Brett to investigate the soundness and accuracy of the feasibility study.

CSG indicated agreement for a ‘company’ to be put together to take up this project and that a grant to be sourced to fund a high quality feasibility study before progressing further.

If this gets off the ground it would become the community energy project we have talked about for the last few meetings.

Read the full minutes and catch up on all the latest news here

 

Cheshire Easts Supports The Partnership’s River Dane walkway Scheme.

The Congleton Partnership has had a long held desire to be able to complete the River Dane Walkway scheme . The last piece of the jigsaw is the section form the Town Bridge through to the scout hut in Rope Walk and includes replacing the very steep steps and the bridge end with a gradual ramp to enable pushchairs , wheel chairs and cyclists alike.

Cheshire East has made a very welcome contribution of £25,000 towards the cost of the project

When completed it will be possible to travel from Eaton Bank (Buglawton) through the Park and onto Dane St (near St James’ Church) by only having to cross one major road.

Cheshire East has made a very welcome contribution of £25,000 towards the cost of the project and is also planning to manage the project through to completion via Highways and their Public Rights of Way team.

This is one of a range of project that The Partnership is working on, more information about the projects and The Partnership in general can be found on its website www.congletonpartnership.co.uk

Congleton Partnership Executive Meeting Minutes 2/12/2014

The latest Congleton Partnership executive meeting was held on the 2nd December. Many projects are planned for Congleton in 2015 which the Partnership will be supporting in, a really exciting time to get involved! Some highlights from the meeting include:

New Partnership Website – Cathy Dean (IBD)

Cathy took us through a presentation outlining the new website (www.congletonpartnership.co.uk)  and its features. This was very well accepted, it now gives us both an identity and a platform to use to get our message through to the general public and hopefully gain members and volunteers at the same.

There is also a new social media element. The Twitter Feed is @congopar ; please follow if you are using this form of communications.

Sustainable Living In Cingleton (SLIC) – Mike Taylor.

Mike Taylor (Carbon Reduction Group Chair) took us through the SLIC presentation. SLIC is a course to help people respond to the threat of climate change and other environmental issues in their daily lives. The SLIC workbook (issued to all members on the night) is made up of 7 modules and was developed from the Transition Streets courses used in the transitional town of Totnes

 

Town Centre Report – J.MacArthur.

  1. Town Centre – End of leases, merges, illness and the continued tough time experienced by many on the High Street has led to more changes in the Town Centre. Occupancy is currently at 85% for the Town Centre – 204 units, 183 occupied. If you could exclude Capitol Walk from the equation occupancy rates rise to 90% 223 units 190 occupied.
  2. Shops ceased trading – Hallmark Thornton stopped trading and the owner has started marketing the shop. House moved from 3 High Street to upstairs in Empire Menswear. Nationwide merged with Cheshire Building Society and moved into the CBS building on the pedestrian area. The 25 year lease finished on the building occupied by the YMCA – not sure on the future of the building and whether the owner will invite YMCA back.
  3. Shops opened Delia Metcalf shoe shop (in the former A&A music shop), new hairdressers about to open outside Capitol Walk, Titanic breweries have opened in the Kings Arms. Mr Wendles opened in Lawton Street. Amans opened in West Heath Shopping Centre. Work continues on the former Game Station in the High Street and the new bar in Lawton Street but no date given for new occupiers.

 

  1. £1 million – Cheshire East has committed £1 to the first two phases of Public Realm work in Congleton -the Cheshire East Highways Team will be working up a scheme which will be shared with all interested parties. The timing isn’t clear, but this is great news for Congleton as rather than talking about the need and desire to improve the public realm we now have financial backing to make improvements to the pedestrian area and the space at the crossroads of Moody Street, Market Street, High Street and pedestrian area.

 

For the rest of the updates please download the minutes.

Executive Meeting Minutes