This page is relevant to all villages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nottingham Knockers

A great deal of people, especially the lone elderly, do not like opening their front door to be face to face with a young man selling what most households already have in their possession. If anything, the Nottingham Knocker call is more akin to menacing begging based on some of the Facebook posts regarding this activity. Often, a Facebook post raises the alarm for locals so that they can be more wary of opening the door. Stickers on doors stating 'No doorstep Selling Zone' do not deter these people. Most of the time the Facebook alarm is too late and so a simple Whatsapp group for an instant alert would work better. A simple statement of Road and Village will quickly highlight where these activities are taking place.
If you want to be notified by and/or notify your neighbours of activity in the areas covered by these pages follow the instructions below.
Click here to join if you're reading this on your mobile or scan the QR code with your phone if looking at this on your PC.

 

 

New survey launched to unlock tree planting opportunities across Buckinghamshire

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Buckinghamshire Council is inviting expressions of interest from those with land and large gardens available for tree planting, to help realise the ambition of the Bucks Tree Mission, which aims to plant over half a million trees by 2031 – one for every resident living in Buckinghamshire.

 

Almost half of the target has already been achieved, with 257,000 trees predominantly planted in new woodland created on council-owned land. Now, residents, business owners, public organisations, community groups, farmers and landowners are being invited to support the mission by taking part in a short survey. The survey aims to identify what support would be needed to unlock more tree planting opportunities across the county.

 

Anyone with land potentially suitable for tree planting is encouraged to complete a short, multiple-choice questionnaire that takes no more than three minutes to complete.

 

Participants can also sign-up to receive further information about future funding opportunities and tree giveaways, as well as planting and maintenance advice and guidance on which species are best suited to their location.

 

Any enquiries relating to the project should be emailed to [email protected]

 

Bucks secures £6 million of government adult skills funding

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Buckinghamshire Council has welcomed formal confirmation of the devolution deal it has put to the government, bringing £6 million of Adult Skills funding to the county.

 

It means the council will directly control this money, marking a significant milestone in its ambition to deliver a locally led skills system that responds directly to the needs of local residents, employers and communities.

 

The deal represents a major step forward in devolved decision-making for Buckinghamshire, enabling the council to take greater control locally and ensure that funding decisions are shaped by the specific needs of Buckinghamshire’s residents, employers and communities.

 

Adult Skills funding supports learning and training for adults aged 19 and over, helping people to gain essential qualifications, improve core skills such as English, maths and digital, and access vocational courses that enable them to retrain or upskill. With devolved control of this funding, Buckinghamshire Council can now tailor provision more closely to local priorities and opportunities, supporting people to move into work, remain in employment or progress in their careers. This locally led approach will support inclusion, improve productivity and drive economic growth and prosperity across the county.

 

The devolved funding allows the council to commission high-quality courses that align closely with employer needs, support key growth industries and reflect local priorities. This includes helping to fill skills gaps and supporting people who find it hardest to get work.

 

In the first year of devolution, commissioning will focus on priority areas where skills needs are most clearly evidenced locally. These include English and maths, digital skills and artificial intelligence, health, social care and early years, net zero, construction, work readiness, and leadership and management.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could you become a therapeutic foster carer and help some of Buckinghamshire’s most vulnerable children?

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Buckinghamshire Council is launching a new campaign to recruit foster carers who can support children with the most complex needs.

 

The new recruitment drive is part of the council’s ongoing mission to ensure every child in care receives high-quality, stable and local care.

 

The campaign will focus on recruiting foster carers who can provide specialist support and a welcoming home for children with significant behavioural, emotional or additional needs.

 

Children who require a specialist placement with a therapeutic foster carer might include those ready to move out of residential homes and children who would benefit more from a therapeutic family home environment.

 

While the council continues to open more of its own children’s homes to help children in care stay closer to their communities, residential care is not always the right environment for a child.

 

Children may be considered for therapeutic foster care if they have:

 

• experienced significant trauma
• been subjected to abuse or exploitation
• been involved in, or diverted from, the youth justice system
• previously been sectioned or detained under the Mental Health Act
• struggled to maintain stability in residential homes or standard fostering placements

 

To recognise the commitment involved, foster carers who support specialist placements will receive enhanced training, tailored support and improved allowances of between £48,500 and £56,000 per year, dependent on the age of the child or young person. These foster carers will also be eligible for the existing foster carer perks and benefits package which includes full council tax refunds, free parking in council car parks, and free access to council leisure facilities, and Platinum annual passes to Merlin attractions.

 

Buckinghamshire Council is now inviting people with experience in public services, healthcare, education, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), emergency response, youth or criminal justice, or similar fields, to consider becoming therapeutic foster carers. Many people in these roles have the transferable skills required to support children with complex needs.

 

To learn more or express your interest in becoming a therapeutic foster carer, visit here

 

Council sets out how funding to support residents in need will be allocated

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Buckinghamshire Council has today agreed how crisis funding to support residents in need will be allocated following central Government changes to the process.

 

The Government has replaced the Household Support Fund with the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) which went live from 1 April. The new funding comes with updated criteria for how this financial support for families facing severe financial hardship must be provided. The guidance requires a move away from blanket support to a focus on targeted help for households experiencing a financial shock.

 

The changes that the Government has initiated to the criteria also means families who are eligible for free school meals will no longer get food vouchers during school holidays.

 

To help families prepare, the council has decided to delay making any changes until after May half term. Following this, eligible families will still be able to access the council’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which provides free activities and healthy meals during school holidays.

 

The funding received by Buckinghamshire to support local families in need has reduced significantly over the past two years, however Cabinet members have today reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting those facing financial hardship.

 

Crisis payments to support households who have experienced a financial shock, with essential costs for food and heating homes, will continue via the existing Helping Hand service.

 

Due to the reduction in funding, the council is also introducing a new financial resilience community fund to help local communities manage the cost of living and build resilience. Working in partnership with Heart of Bucks, the fund is being created to support local voluntary and community organisations delivering services such as financial advice, social and digital support, and help into work, strengthening communities and helping people get back on their feet.