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14 March 2024
The Government announced recently that more than 1,100 grassroots sport projects will benefit from £93 million of funding as part of the continued drive to get more people active.
Research shows exercising more was the UK’s most common New Year’s resolution for 2024*, and the Government is helping hundreds of thousands more people across the UK keep their resolution and get active by delivering high-quality grassroots sport facilities.
From Belfast to Bracknell, over 1,100 projects are receiving funding that will go towards facilities such as changing rooms, pavilions, state of the art 3G artificial grass pitches, goalposts and floodlights, improving access to sport and physical activity for local communities.
19 projects in Northamptonshire will benefit from the investment totalling over £339,000, towards projects costing £666,601.
In West Northamptonshire, Silverstone Recreational Association, Grange Park Parish Council, as well as grassroots football clubs such as Brackley Athletic, Long Buckby AFC and Weedon Football Club accessed funding for a range of areas such as changing room upgrades, goalposts and grass pitch maintenance equipment. West Northamptonshire’s share of the award across its 8 projects is £285,518.
“Sports and physical activity are fundamental to our health and wellbeing and we are lucky to have such a great variety of grassroots clubs and initiatives in West Northamptonshire.Councillor Adam Brown, Deputy Leader for West Northamptonshire Council“This funding from Central Government will not only help to upgrade and maintain these high-quality facilities but will ensure they continue to be accessible to all as we continue to grow our reputation as a major sporting destination and welcome large-scale events, including the Women’s Rugby World Cup, to West Northamptonshire.
“We hope initiatives like this will inspire even more people to get involved in sports and look into what is available in their local area.”
In North Northamptonshire, 11 projects have received funding from this round totalling £53,508. Grassroots football clubs such as Higham Town, Kettering Ise Lodge and FC Aztec, have benefitted, as well as community organisations supporting grassroots football such as Wellingborough Old Grammarians Sports Association, Kings Cliffe & Area CSP Limited and Woodford Community and Sports Complex.
“I’m delighted that our clubs and organisations have received funding. This money is so important to help them to continue their great work engaging people in our local communities in sports, as activity is vital to our physical health as well as wellbeing and mental health.Councillor Helen Howell. Deputy Leader of North Northamptonshire Council, and Executive member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and TourismFunding such as this gives our North Northamptonshire young people the chance to take part in extracurricular exercise, and also means that older residents can continue to remain involved in sports, either through continuing to play, or through supporting. I’d like to take this opportunity to not only congratulate our clubs and organisations, but also thank them for their efforts."
Since 2021, the Government, along with its partners, have helped deliver new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the UK aiming to get at least 120,000 more people active, through the £325 million programme. This investment is supporting grassroots clubs up and down the country, including women and girls’ teams.
It also follows the Government and The FA announcing an additional £30 million to build 30 new state of the art 3G pitches and facilities to prioritise women’s and girls’ teams across England, following the Lionesses success at UEFA EURO 2022, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Details on how to get facilities investment in your area can be found at the Football Foundation or you can contact Stuart Smith, Head of Facilities & Investment at Northamptonshire FA by email.
To read the full press release, please visit the Government website - Getting active made easier with £93 million funding for over 1,100 grassroots sports projects
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14 March 2024
The public consultation on proposals to improve air quality across West Northamptonshire has been extended, giving people until midnight on 1 April to help shape the plans.
Reducing air pollution is vitally important to local health and environment. All councils have a duty to monitor some types of air pollution and take steps to make sure it meets legal standards. National government also has responsibility for measuring and taking steps to improve some types of air pollution including fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 that has been recognised as a significant contributor to poor health.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) monitors air quality in several locations across the area. The way in which the Council measures air pollution is managed by national government guidance. This ensures that the data is reliable and can be used in making informed decisions to improve air quality.
WNC is in the process of developing an Air Quality Action Plan or AQAP which outlines the steps it will take to work towards improving air quality and reducing air pollution.
“The Air Quality Action Plan will enhance the work we already deliver with partners, such as National Highways, to improve air quality across our area.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Regulatory Services“Our draft Air Quality Action Plan gives information on the actions that the Council is taking to reduce pollution. We are not looking at ULEZ congestion charging like other Councils have introduced. Regulation is only one of the ways in which national and local government can improve air quality and the choices we all make when travelling or heating our homes can also make a big difference. Please share your views on the actions proposed and help shape the plan.”
Residents and businesses across the area are now invited to look at the proposals and share their views. People can have their say until midnight on Monday, 1 April by visiting the WNC website.
The draft AQAP replaces existing plans from former sovereign councils which have produced positive improvements in air quality and builds on them further. Some of the actions producing positive effects include:
- controls around planning to make sure air quality is considered
- reducing vehicle emissions by reducing congestion and encouraging alternative travel choices such as walking, cycling and public transport
- delivering publicly available electric vehicle infrastructure
The feedback from the consultation will inform the final draft which will be submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), who oversees air quality plans. DEFRA will make a decision on the AQAPs suitability. Once in place, the AQAP will be annually reviewed when WNC publishes the Annual Status Report.
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14 March 2024
A new West Northamptonshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy was adopted by Cabinet on 12 March. The document lays out the Council’s vision to provide an improved approach to homelessness prevention, relief, and joint working across the local area, as well as help in meeting the emergency and longer-term housing needs of the most vulnerable residents.
The strategy, which covers 2024 to 2027, also focuses on reducing demand for temporary accommodation by ensuring more effective homelessness prevention and greater opportunities and support to help those who become homeless to move on to settled housing solutions.
The strategy, which was co-produced with key partners and stakeholders, has four key themes, these being:
- Improve collaborative partnerships to make homelessness everyone’s business
- Early joined-up intervention and prevention of homelessness
- Increase provision and access to suitable and sustainable settled housing solutions
- Ensure that when rough sleeping occurs, it is rare, brief and non-recurring
A series of actions and objectives are set out in the strategy in order to deliver against the four themes, including the establishment of a collaborative multi-agency approach to dealing with homelessness and securing more investment and grant funding opportunities to maximise the support available.
The strategy also sets out plans to identify and provide appropriate targeted support for people with more complex needs to help sustain tenancies.
“Homelessness is an ever-changing landscape which brings new challenges all the time, however it is an issue which as a council we are committed to tackling.Cllr Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Leisure“Our Housing Teams, alongside partners, already deliver exceptional work to support our most vulnerable residents across West Northamptonshire, however with growing demand and increased pressures on services we need to identify new ways of working to best utilise our resources and meet people’s needs.
“This strategy will be followed by a 12-month Delivery Plan setting out how we will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to deliver these priorities and objectives, with a primary focus on reducing demand for temporary accommodation and ensuring more effective homelessness prevention and support for those most in need.”
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13 March 2024
Smokers in West Northamptonshire are being urged to give quitting a go ahead of National No Smoking Day on Wednesday 13 March with the call to ‘quit smoking and start saving’.
In West Northamptonshire, around 12 per cent of adults smoke (13 per cent average in England), having a significant impact on their health as well as their wealth. Lisa, from Northampton contacted the Stop Smoking Service and has successfully completed the stop smoking programme.
“I have successfully completed this whole program and feel confident about my future as a non-smoker. When you are truly ready to stop, when you've run out of excuses as to why you are still smoking call Niall. He checks in with you every two weeks you can have a "quick catch up" or a long conversation, he lets you lead in what support works best for you. You can still have your "5 minutes peace", you can still take yourself outside, you just don't have to smoke. You have programmed yourself into a routine and you can change that. It's just wherever you are willing to let go of the excuses.”Lisa from Northampton
Stopping smoking not only supports a healthier you, but also a wealthier you. On average smokers spend £47 a week on tobacco, that’s nearly £2,500 a year to spend on other things once you quit. With smoking seeing an instant impact on their funds, they can also expect to see the difference in their health, in as little as 20 minutes!
- After 20 mins: Your pulse will already return to normal
- After 8 hours: Your oxygen levels will start to recover and the harmful carbon monoxide in your body has halved
- After 48 hours: All carbon monoxide is flushed out - your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving
- After 72 hours: Breathing feels easier and best of all you’re feeling more energetic
- After 2 to 12 weeks: Your blood is pumping to your heart and muscles better thanks to improved circulation
- After 3 to 9 months: Your lungs are working 10 per cent better so less coughing and wheezing
- After 1 year: Your risk of a heart attack has halved compared to a smoker.
“It is never too late to quit smoking and take steps to help improve your health and wellbeing. Our Stop Smoking Service is on hand to help offer you free support to help you do this and will provide helpful advice with your quitting journey, as well as options on which support you would prefer to access.”Cllr Matt Golby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at West Northants Council
It is never too late to quit. To get in touch with the Stop Smoking Service at West Northamptonshire Council please visit www.westnorthants.gov.uk/stopsmoking or call 0300 126 5700 (option 1) – people can contact the service directly without a referral from a health professional.
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13 March 2024
Residents who have an annual household income of under £31,000 or less and are not connected to mains gas networks could be eligible for government funding to help to make their homes more energy efficient and save money on heating their homes, reducing fuel poverty. From Tuesday 2 April the criteria will change to less than £36,000 combined gross annual income.
The second phase of the Homes Upgrade Grant, delivered by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), provides Government funding to help those who are eligible to have affordable and energy-efficient heating solutions.
WNC is partnered with Agility Eco to be able to offer this scheme to the people of West Northamptonshire this opportunity by arranging and carrying out the improvement assessment and all the retrofit work.
Local installers in each region will guide customers through the application journey, helping them understand and establish eligibility for the scheme. If eligible, the installer will identify which improvements for the home will provide the greatest benefits and arrange any necessary surveys and installations.
“This vital funding enables low-income households to carry out improvement to make their homes more efficient, helping them save money and reduce fuel poverty.Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council“With fuel costs remaining high, the second phase of this scheme is an important chance for local residents to improve their homes, save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions.”
To be eligible for the scheme, homeowners must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants for the scheme must not use a mains gas connection for heating.
- Applicants must have a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) score of D or below, which can be found in an up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Residents will be supported with this part of the eligibility process during application. Residents will be provided with a free EPC where they do not already have one.
- Applicants must have a total household annual income of £31,000 or below or live in an eligible low-income postcode area. The list of eligible postcode areas has been selected by the Government and you can check your postcode via this link. From Tuesday 2 April the criteria will change to less than £36,000 combined gross annual income.
- For rented homes, tenants must have permission from their landlord, who is required to provide a financial contribution of at least one-third towards the work.
- If you are in a rented property, the financial eligibility criteria relate to you, not your landlord.
- Funding is only available if your landlord has a portfolio of four properties or fewer and the funding cannot be used to meet their existing legal minimum energy efficiency requirements.
How to Check Eligibility:
You can check if your property has an EPC and learn about your SAP score by at Find an energy certificate.
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