£1million County Council funding set to make an impact for Warwickshire’s communities

21 organisations will receive funding from the £1million fund, which aims to harness the power of Warwickshire’s communities to support those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and to help the County step forward from the pandemic.

The successful applications have demonstrated a focus on financial, digital, health, social or cultural inclusion, as well as showing how they focus on community power. The focus on financial inclusion will be especially helpful to residents experiencing pressure on household budgets at the present time.

Have your say – Stratford town centre public consultation

Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council and Warwickshire County Council have been working with the Town Centre Strategic Partnership on ideas for what Bridge Street and High Street in Stratford-upon-Avon could look like in the future, building on ideas originally set out in the Stratford’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Now, local residents, business owners and visitors are being invited to share their views on the proposed changes via an online consultation open from 24 March to 5 June: https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/

Educational transitions webinar to provide support for families in Warwickshire

Hosted by Warwickshire County Council in partnership with Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice, the latest SEND webinar will be focusing on school transitions. Transitions are the steps that each child and young person takes as they move through education. This includes moving from early years to reception, KS1 to KS2, primary to secondary school and secondary school to further education or work.

Moving year groups or schools can be challenging for some children and young people, so it is important that they receive the support they need to ensure their transition goes as smoothly as possible. Simple steps such as taking photos of the new classroom and talking to the young person about what to expect can help familiarise them with new environments and make a real difference.

The theatre company, based at Barrow Road in the town, has been successful in their bid for £75,000 of funding from the CEF, which they plan to use to provide a new fringe stage, bar and reception area at the popular local theatre.

The new flexible performing space will support a diverse range of artistic activities and all areas have been designed to enhance accessibility. The significantly improved facility will enable the theatre to continue and expand its community arts activities, meeting the cultural and artistic needs of the communities of Kenilworth and surrounding settlements.

With less than five months to go until the start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, representatives from the County, District and Town Councils were joined by local school children and former England Lawn Bowls player Georgina Dark to mark Commonwealth Day 2022.

Bright spring sunshine shone over Victoria Park for the raising of the Commonwealth Flag and the chance for year 7 and 8 students from Stratford-on-Avon School to take part in a bowling demonstration on the greens that will host the Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls competitions in July.

Grow your leisure, tourism or hospitality business during English tourism week 2022

English Tourism Week runs from March 18 to March 27 and showcases the diverse, vibrant and exciting sector, of which Warwickshire plays a significant part, with a range of attractions that bring in both domestic and international tourists.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is encouraging businesses to use the week as a catalyst to find out more about Project Warwickshire – a free recovery and growth business support programme to help companies in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality sectors in the County, on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Warwickshire Schools Libraries Service announces primary school winners of the Year 4 Reading Celebration 2022

Across the county more than 30 primary and junior schools took part in the Year 4 Reading Celebration, which runs from January to March each year. Year 4 students are asked to borrow and read any four books from their local library and record their thoughts in a specially designed reading log. Participating Year 4 classes also get involved in a creative challenge in response to their reading, and each school selects a team of four pupils to attend the final celebration events in March of each year.

• The Wellbeing for Warwickshire service is expanding
• Rogue Trader Prosecuted for £100,000 Fraud