A quiz night for Compassion on 17th June, combatting domestic abuse in South Suffolk.

Compassion, the local charity that supports victims of domestic abuse,  is holding a quiz night to raise funds on Friday 17th June.  Please try to come along and support this vital work.

Like others I have been following the story of Helen Archer every evening and twice on Sundays on Radio Four.  For those who are not Archers fans I have to reveal that Helen, who is pregnant,  is currently languishing in prison, unable to obtain bail.  She is there because, in circumstances of extreme provocation, she stabbed, and almost killed, her abusive and controlling husband, Rob.  Helen has not only lost her freedom, she has lost access to her 5 year old son, and it is likely that, when it is born, she will also lose her baby.

The inclusion of this robust story line in the radio soap about the implications for a family of domestic abuse has not been without controversy,  Indeed it has permanently alienated some long term listeners to the programme.  The plot has been criticised as over sensational and unrealistic, but actually this is not the case.  All over the UK women and men are living with abusive partners and, from time to time, this leads to situations such as Helen's.

Suffolk is not exempt from the problem.  According to Suffolk Constabulary quarterly reports to Suffolk County Council Domestic Abuse Partnership, In Suffolk alone in 2014/15 there were over 9000 incidents of abuse reported to the police, a 12.5% increase over the previous year. Due to the fact that many incidents go unreported, the figure was probably a lot higher than this.  It is highly likely that someone you know is affected.  The impact on victims and, often, their children, is serious in every case.

For almost 15 years, the local charity, Compassion, has been combatting domestic violence in and around Sudbury by supporting victims and their families, running courses and raising awareness in the community.    Recently the organisation adopted charitable status in order to increase its scope and it now urgently needs to raise funds to pay for necessary growth across the whole Babergh area.

Please think about getting a team of six together for the Quiz Night.  If you want to come individually or as a pair we will try to match you up with others.   The event is to be held at Newton Green Golf Club and tickets at £10.50 will include a glass of wine on arrival and a hot meal.  Drinks and ice cream will be available to purchase.

Full details from me:jenny@antillantill.com (tel: 01787 378310)  or from Elaine at : admin@compass-ion.org

Gainsborough's House welcomes international celebrities

Nicole Farhi with her husband David Hare and her bust of Thomas Gainsborough.

 The fact that Gainsborough's House in Sudbury is absolutely the place to see and be seen was confirmed on Monday afternoon when celebrities, both local and international,  flocked to the museum.

The internationally renowned fashion designer and sculptor Nicole Farhi visited the House with her playwright husband, David Hare and her friend Anna Wintour, the English editor in chief of American Vogue.  Ms Farhi has created a fine bust of Thomas Gainsborough which was on prominent display.  Ms Wintour, who is a friend of the sculptor, unexpectedly called the museum some time ago offering to fund the project.

Trustees, patrons and supporters welcomed the visitors, who toured the House and expressed great appreciation of the works on display.

David Hare made a speech in which he commented on the connections between the two artists, working 250 years apart.   Gainsborough himself was, of course, no stranger to the celebrities of his age, and had close connections with the fashion industry of the day.

Gainsborough's House is currently seeking Heritage Lottery Funding for a major capital project and the generous support of such high profile individuals is particularly welcome at this time.

A more local celebrity, amateur musician Ann Ford, painted by Gainsborough.  Gainsborough's House owns a preliminary sketch for this painting.

Unwanted gifts cluttering your cupboards?

At 10.30am on Saturday 18^th May the Friends of St. Mary’s Chilton will be running the popular auction that allows you to move on those “unwanted gifts” that are cluttering up your space and perhaps to acquire some other things that you really do want instead! Please bring anything suitable along. All proceeds will go to support the Church and tea and coffee will be provided.

This is an event which is always great fun and at which you can sometimes pick up something quite special! (ed.)  

Community projects - funding update

Money is short at present, and local authority budgets are stretched, so it is important to keep up to date with other sources of funding for community projects.   In this connection I have just received the latest funding bulletin from the invaluable Rural Services Network.

Included in the list is the Postcode Trust which has funding available for charities and community groups ranging from £500 to £10,000.  Their criteria are quite broad and would cover a good many projects.  Additionally the Community Sport Activation Fund has grants on offer for a wide range of activities relating to sport, while the Protecting Playing Fields project from Sports England is offering sums of between  £10,000 and £50,000 for the development and enhancement of playing field land.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is looking for projects that carry out urgent repairs to places of worship, and the Sita Trust Enhancing Communities Programme is offering funding for the restoration and repair of community and historic buildings.

If you would like more details of any of these funding opportunities please get in touch with me (antillj@btinternet.com) and I will forward details to you.  While the final date for applications for some are quite a long way ahead, others would need quite a rapid response!

Protecting our local assets

The Community Right to Bid, created by the Localism Act, came into force yesterday. This means that communities can 'stop-the clock' on the sale of valuable local assets and amenities like post offices, village shops or community pubs, giving them time to put in a takeover bid of their own and protect it for the wider community's benefit.

The new right gives voluntary and community organisations and parish councils the opportunity to nominate an asset to be included on a list of 'assets of community value', delaying the sale of a successfully listed asset for six-months, giving communities the time to prepare a bid and get a business plan together. Previously the community had no opportunity or time to gather resources to bid to buy or take them over.

One example of what can be done has been seen in Norden, where local people formed a trust to buy and refurbish a historic old library building and reopen it as a community centre.  Elsewhere in Cranleigh the local community is planning to use the new Right to Bid to turn their old village hospital into a support centre for the elderly in the area.

A few months ago I took myself on a course on this topic at the Local Government Association and so if anyone in the Ward is interested in taking a step of this sort at any time I am well equipped to offer help!  

Pieces of land as well as buildings can be registered, and I can think of one or two places in Waldingfield that could well be included on our own list of ‘ assets of community value’.  I hope that Babergh, who have to maintain the list,  have got themselves organised to receive nominations.

I intend writing to find out today.

Local shops could be taken into community ownership

Defying gravity!

Local hero, John Phillips, of Go Start fame, is planning to abseil down the lighthouse in Southwold on 14th August.

He is raising money on behalf of the RNLI, which is a charity close to my heart because I was was regularly fished out of the water in my youth (although admittedly usually by the yacht club's tender).

When we are at the seaside in Felixstowe we often see the volunteer crews practising, and many people are unaware that the charity gets no public funding.

To donate to this very worthwhile cause go to:-

http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/JohnPhillips6

The RNLI has given the following information about itself on the appeal site:

The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews rescue an average of 22 people every day around the coasts and waterways of Britain and Ireland. From 235 lifeboat stations, they are well trained and equipped to put to sea in the most fearsome conditions when the call comes. RNLI lifeguards patrol more than 140 beaches in England and Wales. As well as rescuing people from the water, they are also on hand for first aid and safety advice, making sure everyone can make the most of their day at the beach. Are you passionate about the water? Do you want to be part of a lifesaving team? Whatever the reason for your interest in our work, we’d love to have you onboard. The RNLI is an independent charity and receives no government funding. We rely on public support.