Agenda item

·         Questionsfrom membersof thepublic canbe submittedin advance of the meeting to Amersham@Buckinghamshire.gov.uk

·         Buckinghamshire Council updates

Lizzie Wright, Community Board Manager introduced the community matters item. The communications team at Buckinghamshire Council were looking to promote local events taking place this year on social media. Members were encouraged to contact Lizzie with details and pictures of past or future events.

Café 22 the dementia friendly café in Little Chalfont were celebrating their first birthday. The Amersham dementia café based at Amersham Free Church had recruited volunteers and were in the process of appointing a volunteer leader. Roger Funk from Café 22 Little Chalfont highlighted the first birthday party was successful and existing volunteers were hoping to be part of the Amersham café.

Marieke welcomed interested parties to attend a meeting on 27^th February 7pm-8:30pm to discuss increasing biodiversity in Amersham Old Town. The meeting would focus on how local people can work together to protect, encourage and learn about biodiversity. Members and residents were advised to contact Amersham@Buckinghamshire.gov.uk for further information.

Sandra Burns Deputy Head teacher at St Mary’s C of E Primary School highlighted the school was celebrating their 150^th anniversary this year. Further information on volunteering and the celebration plans were appended to these minutes. Interested parties were requested to contact the school at office@stmarysce.bucks.sch.uk.

Catherine Klyhn from Amersham West Guides advised the Guides were seeking volunteers to assist particularly with Tuesday evening Brownies sessions and Friday evening Guides sessions. There were over 200 girl Guides in the west district and activities were focused around serving the local community and fundraising. It was highlighted there was an increasing number of girls wishing to join Guides however, more volunteers were needed.

Lizzie Wright highlighted local bakery Nena were looking to share leftover surplus food to benefit the local community. There were suggestions for them to use food sharing sites TooGoodToGo and Olio which residents could sign up to. Any further suggestions of community groups who could benefit from the offer were advised to contact Lizzie. Further information was appended to these minutes.

Oli O’Neill from Treehouse Amersham updated the Board on the defibrillators installed in the area. The first defibrillator installed at Amersham Free Church went live today. The new and existing defibrillators had been plotted on a map and the information supplied to the British Heart Foundation Circuit. Posters were put up in Amersham asking residents if they understood how to use a defibrillator and to locate where their nearest one is. Defibrillators are automated and test the rhythm of the heart in order to administer the right level of shock. In addition, the emergency services can advise where the nearest defibrillator was located and how to use them. The next stage of the project was to deliver first aid and lifesaving skills training to be held at Amersham Museum, Amersham Free Church and a number of other venues. The Chair thanked Oli for his key work on this project and highlighted details of training sessions would be circulated once arranged.

The Proud of Bucks Awards nominations closed on 12^th February. There were three categories which would recognise fantastic work and contributions in the community. The event will take place on Saturday 22^nd April at Chiltern Lifestyle Centre. The event will host stalls with volunteer groups who have benefited from Board funding. The Bright Ideas grants winners would also be announced at the event.

The Bright Ideas school competition was inspired by a local child who wanted to install a bench locally for her grandmother to use during walks. The Board funded the installation of five benches in the area as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The deadline for applications was extended for six weeks and funding would be awarded for first and second place. The maximum grant for first place was £1,500 however, further funding could be awarded for projects which benefitted the wider community.

The updates from Buckinghamshire Council were highlighted, the information was included in the agenda pack and was appended to these minutes.