GRCC is a member of a new partnership which has been created to help Gloucestershire’s charities, community groups and social enterprises to work more closely together as they support local people.

Called the Gloucestershire Infrastructure Collaborative, it brings together a range of organisations from across the county, as well as the NHS and Gloucestershire County Council. The aim is to improve how organisations connect, share knowledge and resources, and work together to meet the needs of local communities.

“We are delighted to be part of this important local partnership of VCSE Infrastructure organisations," said GRCC CEO Barbara Piranty. "Collectively we can help build a stronger Voluntary and Community Sector in Gloucestershire.”

Angela Gilbert, GRCC's Community Development Team Manager, added: "Good quality infrastructure helps VCSE organisations to thrive. We are pleased that this collaborative gives the opportunity to better serve VCSE organisations in Gloucestershire that need support and advice.”

As part of Rural Housing Week, our Rural Affordable Housing Team launched a new Gloucestershire-wide online survey of housing needs.  

This online survey is in addition to the postal Affordable Housing Needs surveys which we carry out for individual parishes as part of our work with the Gloucestershire Rural Housing Partnership, such as our survey of Nailsworth parish which will be dropping through every letterbox in Nailsworth over the next few weeks.  

The aim of our Gloucestershire-wide online housing needs survey is to build up a more complete picture of how much affordable housing is needed, of what types, and in which parts of Gloucestershire.   

The survey asks about the ages and needs of the people who live in your household, what sort of affordable housing you are in need of (e.g. social rent, affordable rent, shared-ownership), where you need to live, and how much you can afford. 

There is also the option for respondents to give their contact details so that we can contact them about any affordable housing projects or opportunities that arise in areas where they are looking for an affordable home.

Visit our website for more information about how we can help your community with affordable housing, or use the button below to go to our new online Gloucestershire affordable housing survey. 

Josh Lee has joined GRCC as our new Digital and Technology Navigator for Tewkesbury Borough.  Josh's role includes giving one-to-one support at drop-ins and home visits, and creating resources such as factsheets and step-by-step guides.

"I’ve always enjoyed working with people and being able to support them in a meaningful way," said Josh. "Seeing someone grow in confidence with technology, whether it’s learning a new skill or simply feeling more connected, is incredibly rewarding. It’s a privilege to help bridge the digital gap and make technology more accessible for everyone."

Before joining GRCC, Josh worked as a filmmaker and photographer, and is co-founder of Gloucester Independent Film Festival.  

Louise Fletcher, our ACORN Project Digital Navigator, writes...

"In July, the ACORN team took a trip to Gloucester Docks for a Photography for Wellbeing workshop with a difference.

"These workshops have previously been in countryside locations such as our recent session at Tewkesbury Nature Reserve, with plants and wildlife as the main focus for the photography. However, the team decided to try taking this format to other types of location, giving more people the opportunity to take part.

"The feedback from our first urban session was great, with participants commenting that it was a "relaxed" and "peaceful" walk which gave them "a nice break from things". These and other comments indicated that being outdoors in an urban area, doing a mindful activity such as photography, can have a positive impact on people's wellbeing - you don't have to be out in nature."

If you would be like to hear about our future Photography for Wellbeing sessions, please contact digital@grcc.org.uk to register your interest.

Our Community Resilience Officer Lucy Eccles writes: 

"I recently attended the Cirencester Big Lunch, to showcase GRCC's work in the area, particularly our new project around engaging communities in Natural Flood Management (NFM) in the River Churn catchment.  

"As part of this project, we are running a series of volunteer 'Explore Your River' Days.  These are free opportunities to meet people in your community, explore the local area, and develop practical skills.

"We had lots of interesting conversations about volunteering and the river Churn at the Big Lunch event, and it was great to see so many people taking part and having fun as part of the day.

"Our stand was next to Friends of Gumstool Brook (a local citizen science group) and Cirencester Wildlife Group who are also involved in Churn NFM project.

"Thanks to Cirencester Town Council and their Markets Team for making this great community event possible."

To find out more about the Churn Natural Flood Management project, or to take part in the 'Explore Your River' days, please use the button below. 

The name of the new single council which will be replacing Gloucestershire County Council and all six of the county's borough and district councils has been confirmed by the government as "Gloucestershire Council". 

Ministers have also confirmed that the council will consist of 110 councillors, to be elected in May 2027, ready for the new unitary authority taking over in April 2028.

Jo Walker, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council, has been appointed Senior Responsible Officer for the transition.

"Confirmation of the name Gloucestershire Council is a small but very significant moment in this process, following the representations made by most councils in June," said Ms Walker. 

“A great deal of work now lies ahead to bring services from seven councils together and ensure a smooth transition. For now, nothing changes; all seven existing councils continue to deliver services as normal."

To read more of this story, use the button below. 

CPRE Gloucestershire has set up a new annual prize in memory of Richard Lloyd MBE, who was their Vice Chair for many years. 

The Richard Lloyd Countryside Champion Award is for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to protecting, enhancing, or championing Gloucestershire's countryside.  

CPRE Gloucestershire is seeking nominations for individuals whose dedication, leadership, or enthusiasm has made a real difference to Gloucestershire’s countryside.  

This new individual prize is an addition to the annual CPRE Gloucestershire Awards for local projects which have demonstrated sustainability and environmental quality, and have enhanced community life. 

Nominations can be made online, and need to be submitted by 14th September for the Richard Lloyd award, while nominations for Project awards are accepted on a rolling basis.  For full details of all the CPRE Gloucestershire awards, use the button below. 

The Crisis and Resilience Fund Team at Gloucestershire County Council have published some new posters to make it as easy as possible for residents to access vital support from the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).

They are requesting anyone who runs a community hub, youth centre, or similar venue to print and display these posters on their noticeboards. 

The CRF programme runs from April 2026 to March 2029, and can provide support to people to help with costs due to floods or fires, leaving abusive relationships, illness, redundancy, disrupted benefits and other emergencies - find out more here. 

Download the posters using the button below, or if you wish to start a claim, go to the Family Hubs Crisis and Resilience Fund web portal. 

Grants of between £1,000 and £200,000 are available for organisations and charities supporting farmers' welfare, from the newly launched UK Government "Farmer Welfare Grant Scheme".   Applications opened on 6th August and will close on 9th September. 

Priorities for the grant scheme include:

• Tackling isolation and reaching people who are less likely to access or benefit from existing support 
• Promoting prevention and early intervention, helping people to build resilience before issues escalate 
• Reducing stigma around mental health and seeking support 
• Preventing suicide and supporting those at risk 

See this DEFRA blog post for more examples.  There will be webinars on 13th and 17th August to help prospective applicants - more details and booking links here.

Applications and enquiries can be made via the applications portal - click the button below - but note that the deadline for clarification questions is 28th August, and the deadline for applications is 9th September. 

This promises to be a fantastic day celebrating recovery, resilience, community, and connection, and is open to anyone with an interest in recovery and wellbeing. There will be a wide range of activities and opportunities throughout the day, including:

• Motivational speakers sharing inspiring recovery journeys and lived experiences
• Live music and entertainment
• Mutual aid groups and community organisations showcasing the support available across Gloucestershire
• Five-a-side football tournament – a great opportunity to get involved, have fun, and connect with others
• Information stalls, networking opportunities, and activities celebrating recovery in all its forms

The Recovery Festival is at Kingfisher Church, Moor Street, Gloucester GL1 4NJ.   If you go along, do have a chat with Richard Burdon, our joint GRCC/NHS Mental Health Navigator for VCS and Faith Services in Gloucester.  

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.