As part of our work to boost rural affordable housing, GRCC co-ordinates the Gloucestershire Rural Housing Partnership (GRHP), which brings together housing associations, local authorities, Homes England, and our own Rural Affordable Housing Enablers to work together on creating more rural affordable housing in the county.

We are delighted that Frazer Bufton has agreed to become the chair of the GRHP.  Frazer is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Gloucestershire, and course lead for the university's new Masters in Architecture course.  

"As an architect, I strongly believe in the power of design to drive positive social change, and I am delighted to be given the opportunity to become Chair of the Gloucestershire Rural Housing Partnership. The GRHP plays a vital role in facilitating discussion between registered providers, landowners, local authorities, communities, and those in housing need, to shape social housing provision across the county, and its work is essential in securing sustainable futures for the communities of rural Gloucestershire," said Frazer.

Frazer's interest in social housing is rooted in his own experience of growing up in local authority housing, and he has led a number of such projects during his career, including family housing, extra-care schemes and housing for the homeless, several of which have received design awards.  

Find out more about our Rural Affordable Housing team on our website, or contact them via affordablehousing@grcc.org.uk.

Our Community Resilience Officer Lucy Eccles writes: "In the past few months I've been involved in a number of 'tabletop flood exercises'.

A community tabletop exercise is a discussion-based, simulated drill where participants can walk through emergency scenarios in an informal and safe setting.

First of all, I was invited to facilitate at a flood exercise in Lechlade, aptly named -Exercise Welly'. This was organised by the Environment Agency, and was an excellent opportunity to get local residents, partner agencies, and flood wardens around the table to discuss the actions that we might take during a flood event.

Then more recently, our Gloucestershire volunteer flood warden meetings have also involved exercising – this time in 'Operation Rising Water', where the fictional town of Floodington endures a series of flood issues, from very minor to 2007-level disaster.

This activity is a really great way to get everybody talking, and test out our community flood plans in a safe environment."

Are you interested in taking part in a tabletop exercise in your community? If so, do get in touch with Lucy today to discuss it further - email cdt@grcc.org.uk

Emma Eccleston has changed roles at GRCC to become our new Technology & Digital Inclusion Social Prescribing Link Worker, based in the five GP practices which make up the NHS North Cotswolds Primary Care Network. 

This innovative Digital Social Prescribing role is designed to reduce digital exclusion among patients whose health may be poor or declining — and for whom digital support can make a significant difference.  Emma will help patients learn to use the NHS App,  set up emergency alarm call buttons and other home safety tech devices, help with communication tools to reduce isolation, set up tech solutions such as voice activated lights to support independent living, and much more, including improving patients' device security and awareness of scams.

Emma's previous role at GRCC was divided between supporting our CASA Community Autism Support and Awareness service, and our DAISI Digital Triage service.  

GRCC's VCSE Advice Officer Guy Dobson was honoured to present the Corporate Volunteering Award at the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards last month.  

Guy co-ordinates the Gloucestershire Volunteering Collaborative (GVC), whose members support and promote all aspects of volunteering in Gloucestershire, with the aim of making Gloucestershire the best place in the UK for volunteering.  The GVC has recently developed the  Employer Supported Volunteering Guide, to encourage Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) schemes in the county.

"As part of Volunteers Week in June each year, the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards aim to shine a light on the amazing volunteers who work tirelessly for important causes across the county," said Guy.

"I was delighted and honoured to be asked to present the award for Corporate Volunteering this year, which was won by APM Fire and Security Ltd for their fantastic work supporting the Pied Piper Appeal."

If your organisation needs support or advice on promoting volunteering or managing volunteers, contact Guy via cdt@grcc.org.uk

Pippa Baker-Walsh of our CASA Community Autism & Support team writes: 

"Many of the autistic people we work with at CASA require work-related support - either help to find employment, or help to keep their employment.  To deliver this support in the best way possible, we're really pleased to have set up a joint programme with the Connect to Work team at the Gloucestershire Employment and Skills Hub.  

We'll be regularly hosting Andrew Gulluck, from the Connect to Work team, at our offices, where he will be able to help CASA clients and other autistic adults with

• 1:1 personalised employment support 
• Vocational profiling and job matching
• Links to local opportunities
• Funding for travel, training, and work costs
• Help before, during, and after starting work

Andrew's first session in the CASA offices here at Community House will be on the 12^th August.  We already have a list of existing CASA clients who are keen to benefit from the Connect to Work scheme's support, but all autistic adults in Gloucestershire who might be interested in this opportunity for autism-friendly employment support are very welcome to email us at infocasa@grcc.org.uk to find out more."   

Karen Price, our Social Prescribing Link Worker for Young People in the North Cotswolds, writes:

My local community has recently been affected by the suicide of a teenager. As I reflect on this tragic event, I think it’s really important to share as much information as I can about the support that’s available - so here's my quick reference list that I hope will be helpful:

Are you worried about someone?

• TAKE NOTICE - have you spotted a change in someone you're close to?
• REACH OUT - tell the person you're worried about them - see How to support someone you're worried about (on the Samaritans website). Often people say "I’m Fine" - ask them again!
• LISTEN - being there and offering your support and listening is one of the most helpful things you can do. They may not have had the opportunity to really talk.

Thinking about suicide?  

• In an emergency call 999, or for non-medical emergencies call 111
• Talk to someone - it could be a trusted friend or family member, your GP, or a support service - see Help for suicidal thoughts - NHS
• Try to keep yourself safe for now
• See List of help | Gloucestershire County Council
• Read If you're having a difficult time | Samaritans
• Contact Suicide Crisis Centre (Gloucestershire)

Are you affected by suicide?

• Sunflowers Suicide Support  
• Winston's Wish (support for children)
• Glos Support After Suicide (support for adults)

Would you like to take part in a half-day workshop to help the Environment Agency improve future flooding services for Gloucestershire? We are particularly looking for participants who are in one or more of the following groups:

• Do not use online services or are less confident using computers and mobile devices
• Are on lower incomes
• Are renters
• Are not involved in current flood preparedness initiatives or haven’t prepared for flooding before

Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and each participant will be sent an £80 voucher by the Environment Agency as a thank-you.  

The event will be on Tuesday 21st July, run by the Environment Agency and supported by GRCC.  

To find out more or book a place, please contact GRCC's Community Development Team via cdt@grcc.org.uk or call 01452 528491.

A village historian suggested recommending this fascinating online tool to historically-minded Newsbites readers during one of the Gloucestershire Village of the Year judging visits. 

The free Know Your Place West of England online heritage mapping resource came about thanks to a Heritage Lottery funded project, and now covers Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Devon - 7,279 square miles in total.

Gloucestershire Archives is a project partner, and several key series of maps (including tithes and enclosures) from their collections were digitised for the resource. Gloucestershire Archives has created a comprehensive training video on YouTube to explain how to use Know Your Place, and there is also a help system built into the Know Your Place tool.

Gloucestershire Archives is also running a free Heritage Matters open day on Saturday 4th July, noon - 4pm - see this link for more information. 

RABI, the charity for farmers, has launched FarmersAid, a pioneering free smartphone app designed to provide clear, step-by-step guidance following a serious on-farm accident.

The app helps farming people take calm, practical action while the emergency services are on their way, during the crucial ten-minute window after an accident where early action can directly influence survival outcomes.  In some scenarios, such as severe bleeding, intervention within 90 seconds can be the difference between life and death.  

The app covers ten common serious on-farm accident types, and has been developed with an expert medical team that includes two professors of emergency medicine.  

The app also provides What3Words location sharing, and information on air ambulance landing sites and defibrillator locations.  

From Edward Gillespie OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire:

This lasting legacy, launched by the Honours and Memorialisation Office in London, will form an important "public history" archive of Britain's longest serving monarch. 

Please click the "Visit the archive" button below to go to the Queen Elizabeth II Digital Archive website, where you can search a map of regional memories about Queen Elizabeth, or contribute your own recollections by clicking the "Share A Memory" button. 

You can also explore a collection of stories and memories about the monarch from famous individuals, and a timeline of events from the Queen's life and reign. 

There are lots of quirky stories to explore in the archive.  For example, did you know that at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's last official engagement together, the Queen fed a banana to an elephant called Donna, and the Queen used a photo of this moment at Whipsnade Zoo for her 2017 Christmas card?

If you've had contact with us, or support from us, or only visited our website to try to find information, we'd really love to know how we're doing!  Were we brilliant, just OK, or not very good? 

Please use this online form to let us know.  All feedback, good and bad, helps us to shape our services to better fit your needs.   

If you're able to support our work financially, you can donate online here, or find out about leaving a legacy here.