Houghton Regis News Desk

​ ​       CVS Volunteering have launched their new online volunteering recruitment system. Potential volunteers are now able to browse and register online for local opportunities 24/7. If your organisation has volunteering roles you want us to promote, then email Paul Atkin today ( paul@cvsbeds.org.uk ) to get set up. To look at the current list of opportunities online click  here   EVENTS AND COURSES Universal Credit  - 11 May and 18 May (10am - 4pm) – A full-day course from Bedfordshire Advice Forum, is aimed at people who give advice on benefits to clients, and who want to know the essentials of Universal Credit. Some knowledge of current benefits is required.  Click here  for more details and prices. Small Charity Week  (19-24 June) is the biggest event in the small charity calendar, providing free initiatives, competitions and support over six days, for charities or local community organisations with an annual turnover under £1.5 million. See  www.smallcharityweek.com  for more in

This is the beech tree that is going to be partially cut down and made into a totem, if planners get the permission they want. Tree is protected by TPO. PLANS: http://cbstor.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/publicportalviewer/publicViewer.html?caseID=CB/TRE/17/00145 PUBLIC NOTICE: https://www.houghtonhallpark.org/documents/PublicNotice.pdf Surveyors Report: 4.0 Recommendations From Tree Surveyor - Management options for the tree are as follows: ◘  A. Remove tree within 12 months to ground level, or retain standing stem only ◘  B. Monitor progress of wood decay at stem base, and at higher levels, by further testing with similar diagnostic devices, commencing in two years' time ◘  C. Limit or exclude access to area within which the tree could potentially fall. Given the prominence of the subject tree in the landscape option B. would be our preferred option." But in the planning application for Houghton Hall Park Management Team, they have applied for th

This is going to be such a great day. Tickets http://www.cali-r.com

In February Houghton Regis Town Council voted in favour of buying special robes and a hat for its Town Mayor to wear at special meetings of the council, and on ceremonial occasions. Neighbouring towns of Luton and Dunstable already have mayors that wear robes. In Dunstable the robes, together with the chain of office, are only worn at Mayor Making, full Council meetings, the Remembrance Day Service and the Mayor’s Civic Service. Last year's Dunstable town mayor, Cllr Liz Jones was also requested by the Mayor of Ely to wear her robes whilst attending the 750th anniversary church service for the air cadets. On other occasions — including the Annual Town Meeting, charity raising functions, attending other Mayor’s functions, attending the Town’s events, visiting schools, opening shops, attending society’s AGMs — the chain of office is normally worn without the robes. After the Houghton Regis Town Council decision was made, Alan Winter invited reactions from past mayors, and th

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are running free "Biker Down" courses throughout the year to give motorcyclists and other road users the skills they need to help bikers who may have been involved in an accident.  Each course lasts four hours and is split into four modules:  • June 17th  • July 22nd  • August 27th  • September 24th  • October 22nd  • November 26th  Please check the course is running and book at place, please don't just turn up.  Module 1 – First on scene – this module includes an introduction into the course followed by detailed input on risk assessment, prioritisation of activities, calling the emergency services & giving accurate details, parking safely on arrival, scene safety, hazards that can be encountered at an incident and how to deal with each, managing adrenaline & generally staying calm & safe.  Module 2 – First Aid – this module covers basic live saving first aid techniques that can be applied when arriving first on

A volunteer litter picker has expressed his concern for Houghton Regis Chalk Pit. Following a weekend of glorious sunshine, many people took to the Chalk Pit to spend time lazing by the side of the Marl Lark, including students from All Saints Academy. But as the crowd left the site, some of the litter did not leave with them.  A regular concerned visitor, who has worked tirelessly as one of the volunteers to help keep the site free from litter for several years has told HRND on Monday morning, "I've been down there this morning and I'm very sad. I litter-picked around the lake between 1pm and 2pm yesterday. I went down there this morning, and the amount of rubbish left in just half a day is heart-breaking. I didn't have enough time or bags to clear-up today. I fear the place is lost to legitimate public use for the next 3 or 4 years." The volunteer preferred not to be named, but supplied the pictures above. Funding to manage the privately owned site

​   Children who depend on life-saving blood transfusions are encouraging donors to give blood during the Easter holidays to ensure NHS Blood and Transplant has the blood stocks necessary to meet demand.   Eight-year old Sophie Thorne is one of several youngsters contributing a 'thank you' picture to remind people in Luton and Bedfordshire that donating blood saves lives.   Blood stocks are more vulnerable to shortfall around public holidays like Easter as the weather improves, and people go on holiday or enjoy days out with family. It is vital stocks are constantly replenished as blood has a shelf life of 35 days and platelets only seven days. Hospitals across England need more than 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients. Blood or the components of blood are used to treat patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders, and those having surgery.   ​ Catherine Thorne, Sophie's mother, of Wootton near Bedford, said: "Sophie has a rare

​ 'Carers in Bedfordshire' are working with Central Bedfordshire Council to ensure carers' voices are heard more clearly in the design and delivery of services that affect our lives. The next meeting may be of interest if you are a carer in Central Bedfordshire. The theme is Transport.   The first of four meetings in 2017-18 is to be held between 10.30am and 1pm on Wednesday 19th April in the Council Chamber of Central Bedfordshire Council's Priory House office in Shefford, SG17 5TQ. Each meeting will be in a different part of Central Bedfordshire, but carers are welcome to attend all meetings, not just the meeting nearest to them.   The theme of the next meeting is Transport.   Come and have your say about this key issue, and hear the latest from: ·         Central Bedfordshire Council, about their Public Transport Strategy, and School Transport ·         East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) about the change in locations of some key services and the implications for tra

Lands Improvement Holdings (‘Lands Improvement’), one of the UK’s leading strategic land development companies, has promoted James Stone to Managing Director with effect from 1st April 2017. Formerly Land Director at Lands Improvement, James takes over the role of Managing Director from Kevin Moriarty. Kevin has overseen the integration of the Lands Improvement business with Telereal Trillium, following the company’s acquisition by Telereal Trillium from BlackRock Europe Property Fund III, in September 2015 for £120m. With the integration process now complete, Kevin has chosen to leave the company to explore new opportunities. Since joining Lands Improvement in 2004, James Stone has been closely involved across all of the Company’s activities from site acquisition, asset management, and planning, to disposal. He was appointed to the Board in June 2011. Commenting on his appointment as Managing Director, James said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Lands Improvement, o

The Wildlife Trust BCN are offering a new programme of opportunities for volunteers to help in outdoor maintenance tasks. The new programme is for the next 3 months. There are opportunities at Blow's Down, Galley and Warden Hills, Totternhoe Quarry, and Stopsley Common. For the time being, there are no opportunities at Houghton Regis Chalk Pit. Work there had been funded for 5 years from the development at Tilia Park — Lake View — but new funding from developments at Bidwell and Thorn has yet to be made available. Contacts: Direct line: 01525 874317 Office: 01525 874317 Mobile: 07540 669907 Tweet: @wildlifebcn Like: /wildlifebcn Visit: www.wildlifebcn.org The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire Unit 2 St Johns Barn Griffin Farm Conger Lane Toddington Bedfordshire LU5 6BT United Kingdom The information can be downloaded: 1. April-July 2017 Volunteer Programme  (pdf) 2. Midweek Wildlife Team Bedfordshire April - June 20

​​         CVS Update  |  3 April 2017   The launch of the new £1 coin offers some great opportunities to raise funds. Why not encourage people to donate their first new pound coin to charity? The Royal Mint will also be supporting charity fundraising by encouraging people to donate old pound coins on receiving a new one. Check out the hashtag #PoundForPound. Click here. EVENTS AND COURSES The Academy of Socia