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Community Partner News
Wellbeing News
Stoptober is back!
Join thousands of other smokers committing to quit this October.
Even if it’s your first time or you’ve tried before, now is the perfect time to quit smoking.
Make it to 28 days smoke-free and you’re 5 times more likely to quit for good.
Worcestershire over-55s above national average for activity
More than half of over-55s in Worcestershire and Herefordshire are meeting physical activity targets, according to the most recent Active Lives Survey by Sport England.
The survey for the year 2023-2024 found that 58.15 per cent of over-55s in Worcestershire and 62 per cent in Herefordshire achieve at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.
Local Events
Spooky House Family Mornings
Join spooky family mornings at The Commandery! Decorate creepy doorways, enjoy messy play, crafts and stories, then follow the Spooky House trail through history. Fun for ages pre-school-11.
Tuesday 28 – Thursday 30 October, 10.30am – 12noon | The Commandery
The family morning is £5 per child
Fungi Town
3-5 OCTOBER 2025
HAY ON WYE
Fungi Town will bring together leading experts, growers, artists, and businesses for an exciting lineup of talks, workshops, films, exhibitions, feasts, art and more.
It is the first event of its kind in the UK - a fungal takeover of an entire town! Hosted in the beautifully renovated Hay Castle, and by shops and venues across Hay, this is a community-led and playful celebration of mushrooms in all their amazingness
Village Hall News
Health and Safety Risk Assessments.
These matters are quite simple in a village hall setting. Halls are generally low risk environments, not much more than a simple box, in which activities take place. The MC is responsible for providing a safe box and the activity provider for running their activity safely and appropriately. The model hire agreement I can supply sets these responsibilities out clearly and is very important.
The most important duty for the MC is to risk assess its hall and to take reasonable steps to mitigate any risks. It does not have to eliminate all risks. Risks include physical injury, fire and other matters like safeguarding, a further risk assessment would help in relation to financial risks and data protection.
Advice notes and templates are available to members of our network for free. Email richardt@comfirst.org.uk for more information
Rural News
Pipeline of more than 2,000 affordable new homes created through national rural housing support scheme
A network of independent advisors working to tackle England’s rural housing crisis has paved the way for potentially more than 2,000 affordable homes to be built across the country
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), in partnership with 34 ACRE Network members working at local level, delivers the UK government-funded programme in which Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) work with rural communities to help meet local housing need.
Why Fair Funding Matters for Rural Councils
Public services are the backbone of this country, quietly carrying on in the background, making sure that our bins are emptied, our children can get to school, and our most vulnerable are cared for.
At the Rural Services Network we believe that every council should have the resources it requires to meet the needs of its residents. We will only succeed if we enable our rural communities to thrive, alongside our cities, and contribute to the prosperity of the nation.
Funding News
Take the Lead community grants
Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has launched new micro-grants for community-led health data activities.
Health data can be used in lots of different ways. Scientists might use health data from the NHS to develop new treatments and understand diseases. A group of friends might use health data from their fitness watches to compete in a step challenge.
Grants for Good
Funding for small charitable organisations
Funding projects that enhance lives and provide greater opportunities
Every year the Foundation funds hundreds of capital projects, both large and small. Trustees like to support those that, regardless of their size or scale, deliver significant impact and benefit.
Community Clean up Grant