South West Chilterns Community Board focuses on supporting whole community

There was something for everyone at the recent South West Chilterns Community Board meeting. Funding was agreed for two local projects, updates were heard on the progress of the board’s two main working groups and presentations were made by speakers on local matters of interest.

Like all 16 community boards in Buckinghamshire, South West Chilterns is working hard at a local level, in partnership with groups and individuals, to make improvements to benefit the whole community.

Key areas being addressed by the board currently include supporting more active travel, improving broadband access and the regeneration and reopening of high streets following the ongoing pandemic.

Under the national Active Travel initiative, local authorities are encouraged to look at ways of helping people to make more journeys on foot or by bicycle rather than by car. The South West Chilterns Community Board is currently looking at a number of schemes including introducing more cycle paths and bike racks and exploring options for linking up towns and villages with green travel networks.

Access to good broadband has become a necessity for many in the current climate where home working and home schooling has become the norm. With this in mind, South West Chiltern’s Community Board has started to map out ‘not spot’ areas, where broadband is patchy or non-existent with a view to working with providers to source a solution. Other community boards are working on similar schemes.

In terms of supporting local businesses and high streets, South West Chilterns Community Board is one of a number of community boards working in collaboration with Bucks Business First to encourage new business start-ups via its Be Your Own Boss initiative. Board Chairman Dominic Barnes explained: “The Be Your Own Boss scheme is designed to help those who through the Covid pandemic, have found themselves out of work or furloughed but have a business idea that they  need professional support with. It’s a great opportunity to tap into a wealth of resources and support available.”

At the board meeting two further local projects were granted funding. Transitions UK were given funding to deliver their Aspire Youth Offending Project which will support four young people from the local area who are at risk of offending or re-offending. The support will span two years with trained mentors working with the young people, offering tailored support and guidance as needed.

The second project to receive funding was the Lady Ryder Memorial Garden. The funding will go towards creating an All Abilities, All Communities Garden providing a tranquil space for anyone with physical or learning disabilities to try their hands at horticulture, learn about wildlife, socialise and prevent the onset of social isolation.

Hearing the news of their grant, Ron Overton, Founder and CEO of Transitions UK said: “I am delighted Transitions UK is working with SW Chilterns Community Board and enormously value the support and partnership at local level that’s expressed by their kind and generous grant of £4,000 towards our Aspire Project. This exciting project will support young people in SW Chilterns and other areas of Bucks; it will prevent offending/reoffending, change young lives and help build a safer community.”

Similarly, the group that runs the Lady Ryder Memorial Garden at St Katherine’s near Lane End were equally pleased to hear the news of their successful bid. Team Leader Robert Rendel said: “What a boost for our volunteers. Thank you to the SW Chilterns Community Board for the grant of the seed capital we so needed. Now we can start to build our garden haven.  Anyone with any sort of disability or none can come and relax by themselves or meet with friends over a cup of tea or, best of all, do some gardening themselves. There will be the warmest of welcomes.”

For further details on South West Chilterns Community Board or to find out more about how to get involved with the working groups, email: swccb@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The board currently has two working groups covering:

• Transport, infrastructure, re-opening of high streets and regeneration
• Covid-19 recovery, young people, older people, environment and anti-social behaviour.

You can also keep up to date with the latest news from the board on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SouthWestChilternsCommunityBoard

View a recording of the board meeting online: https://www.youtube.com/embed/-l9pAnPCsuQ

For more information on the work of Transitions UK visit: www.transitionsuk.org