Clerk

School uniform help available for families

Resources available to help with cost of living

Willingham Parish Council Planning Committee Meeting 5th September 2022

PLN A 20220905

Parish Council Meeting 7th September 2022

FPC A 20220907

A14 C 2 H Road Closures week commencing 29th August 2022

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: major improvements
We are currently carrying out finishing works for which we need to close lanes or
carriageways on the A1, A14 and some local roads at times, usually overnight
between 9pm and 6am, unless otherwise stated. A clearly signed diversion route will
always be in place for closures.
For this week, the planned closures are:
Full closures
Tuesday 30
• A14 Eastbound Exit Slip Milton junction 33
Vehicles will be diverted by continuing to junction 34 to turn around and come
back.
For more information about this scheme, visit https://nationalhighways.co.uk/ourwork/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon/

Cambridgeshire County Council need Volunteer School Appeals Panel Members

Volunteer School Appeals Panel Member

Are you interested in Primary and Secondary School Education and want to be involved?
Do you have excellent listening skills?
Are you able to put people at ease?
Are you able to make balanced decisions?
Would you be interested in being part of an important, impartial service provided to parents and schools?

If you have answered yes to any of the above, please consider applying to be become a Volunteer School Appeals Panel Member

Why be a panel member?

For some people the work is helpful for their career, providing them with relevant work experience.

For others, it is rewarding in itself to give people the chance to state their case.

Appellants often become clearer about the options open to them during a hearing and the reasons why a place was not offered at a preferred school.

What is the role?

All parents or carers have the right to make an appeal to an independent appeal panel if their child is not offered a place at their preferred school.

The role of the panel is to decide whether a child who has been refused a place by an admission authority, should be given a place. All parties involved must be afforded an appeal hearing that is transparent, accessible, independent and impartial.

The appeal panel is independent of the local authority and their decisions are binding on all parties, unless overturned by the courts.

An Appeals Panel is made up of 3 trained panel members:

Lay members – those without personal experience in the management of a school or provision of education in any school (except as a school governor);
Education experienced members – those who have experience in education, are acquainted with educational conditions or who are parents of registered pupils at school.

The Panel is supported by an independent Legal Clerk who advises the Panel on points of law and procedure and takes notes during the Hearing.

What will I be doing?

You will be sitting on independent admission appeal panels
Ensuring that parents feel they have had a fair and independent hearing, have been given every opportunity to put their case and have been taken seriously
Volunteers must be able to listen to two sides of a case and weigh up evidence objectively and impartially.

To ensure impartiality, panel members must not be elected Members or employees of the County Council who work in education, or on the governing body of the school concerned with the appeal. However, they can be on the governing body of an unconnected school. They must also not be involved in the management or provision of education in any school.

What skills or experience do I need?

The following qualities will help you to undertake the work of the Panel:

Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people
Ability to read and assess information and identify key points
Ability to listen to key information
Ability to ask questions to obtain information and clarify points being made
Ability to analyse information and use it to form opinions and conclusions
Ability to obtain and weigh up evidence to reach a reasoned and evidence based decision
Willingness to work as part of a team
Willingness to take advice
Willingness to develop your own skills

Equal Opportunities

Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities
Ability to consider people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs

Panel members will be expected to develop an understanding of:

The admissions process and the guidance /legislation
The role of the Legal Clerk

Will I receive training?

All volunteer Panel Members receive initial and annual refresher training. You will also be fully supported by the Appeals Service.

How much time do I need to give?

This can vary depending on the level of commitment you wish to give. While appeals are held throughout the year, the peak months are between April and July. The appeals are arranged for half a day or a full day.

Location of Hearings

Hearings are currently virtual using Microsoft TEAMS but this will be reviewed in September 2022.

More information

If you require further information or would like an informal to chat to discuss the above, please contact zoe.shanahan@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

POSTPONED – Open Meeting – Willingham Medical Practice Patient Participation Group – 14th September 2022

The above meeting has been postponed. Hopefully it will be rearranged soon and we will update the page when we hear anything further.

Safer Cambs – What happens when I submit an online report?

Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 18 August 2022

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

If this is the first time you are receiving this ‘Support for Ukraine community update’ from us as a host, please note that we send these out on a regular basis. They are issued whenever new and relevant information becomes available to hosts in South Cambridgeshire as well as to District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues. The idea is to share the latest updates that we have to support the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

All information previously shared can be found on our Support for Ukraine webpage – where you will also find our ‘Ukrainian Guest information hub’ which we encourage you to share with your guests. The online information hub is our equivalent of a ‘Welcome pack’ for guests (we are sharing information digitally so that we are able to keep our information regularly updated, and guests should be able to switch to view in their own language if they wish).

Please note that in addition to these emails, all hosts will receive information from us relating to DBS checks, accommodation checks, £350 monthly host and £350 one-off guest payments; hosts should already have received information from us about this through our welcome email.

For any questions not covered in this e-newsletter or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

**IMPORTANT** update for all hosts and guests

As we approach the initial six-month point since the first guests arrived, all hosts and guests will by now have received, or will soon receive, an email from the Government to update them on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The Government update confirms, as expected, that it is encouraging hosts to carry on hosting beyond the initial six-months period. It hopes that hosts will feel able to continue for a year and confirms that the £350 per month thank you payments will continue to be available throughout this time.

The continuing generosity shown by hosts will make a big difference to Ukrainian guests, enabling them to continue to feel settled in our communities, schools and local workplaces, as they work to establish a secure and safe life for themselves while in the UK and during such uncertain times in their homeland.

For a variety of reasons, we know that some hosts will not be in a position to offer continued accommodation to their guests beyond six months (or at any time thereafter). If you are one of these hosts, please be reminded that you should let your guest(s) know in plenty of time, giving two months’ notice prior to the end of the first six-month period or at any date afterwards.

We had expected the Government to ask local councils to rematch guests to new hosts where a host is unable to continue, thereby enabling guests to remain in the hosted scheme for at least 12 months. However, this latest guidance encourages guests to find their own new hosts with less support from the local authorities.

Experience has shown that rematching a guest with a new host is not an easy task and, as your local council, we want and intend to take a far more active role in trying to steer both guests and hosts through this process. We have access to a list of hosts who have expressed an interest in taking guests but are yet to be matched to anyone and we would urge hosts or guests to contact us in the first instance by emailing duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk.

In addition, we MUST conduct DBS checks and home checks on any potential hosts, whether they have been found through the Council or by other means, and for safeguarding purposes these checks are required before Ukrainian guests move on and into new accommodation. Allowing time for the checks to be made should be factored into any planned moving dates.

Hosts and/or guests should contact us in the first instance if unable to continue beyond their initial six-month hosting period.

Guests must be given two months’ notice if hosts are unable to extend their hospitality.

If onward accommodation is found via other means, hosts/guests MUST contact us so that we can carry out DBS and home checks, before guests move in.

We know that some guests might feel they are now ready to move on from being hosted and part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and begin to seek their own accommodation. If this is the case, our teams can support people to consider their options. We have more information on the type of support we can offer in the ‘looking ahead’ section of our host information webpage. As part of our ‘moving on’ work for Ukrainian guests, we are also looking at how we can broaden the support and options available and will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.

We are also asking any groups or organisations which have helped Ukrainian guests and hosts in any way to ask them to contact the Council in the first instance if they are seeking help to move on. We want to be sure that enough time is allowed to carry out checks in advance of any potential moves.

If guests already have plans to move on to alternative accommodation, or have already done so, please let us know so that we can update our records and adjust any payments being made. Email to duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk as soon as possible, and include your name, address and details of the guests who have moved elsewhere. The Government scheme allows the Council to make thank you payments to hosts, but these must stop once a guest moves on.

We would like to thank those hosts who have worked with their guests to complete our survey regarding their plans at the six-month point. This has helped us to understand when guests will need our support. We will be sending a reminder to hosts who have not yet completed the survey and, as we move ahead, a Council officer will begin to contact hosts and guests to see if any further help can be provided, especially those from whom we have yet to hear.

Key information is available on our website here: Information for Homes for Ukraine hosts – South Cambs District Council (scambs.gov.uk)

Paid Job Opportunity Available with Wild Minds

We are searching for a Ukrainian-speaking Wellbeing Officer to provide support for special Wild Minds sessions which will run at Wandlebury Country Park from August 24.

Wild Minds is a scheme which was set up three years ago to help improve mental health in young people through outdoor activities, supported by a Clinical Psychologist.

The scheme will be running special ‘Ukrainian-only’ sessions for young people aged from 12 up to 17 who are struggling with issues of depression or worry, particularly related to their experiences since the outbreak of the war.

The Ukrainian-speaking Wellbeing Officer will support the sessions which offer free outdoor activities in small groups in a park setting to make the most of the natural environment, run by skilled activity instructors and youth workers. The right candidate must have prior experience in wellbeing, such as teaching, social work, youth work and therapy. The role entails attending Wild Mind Sessions once a week for eight weeks and providing emotional support to the young Ukrainians taking part. Please register your interest here.

Each session lasts for an hour and a half. Young Ukrainians who would like to take part can find more information and sign up for the sessions at Wild Minds – South Cambs District Council (scambs.gov.uk)

Call-out for volunteers for Conversational English Café

The Conversational English Café in Waterbeach is still on the hunt for multilingual volunteers to help out. The café is a collaboration between SCDC and local volunteers where guests are invited to come and chat to improve their spoken English. Sessions will start in September and run on Mondays from 6pm to 7:30pm and Saturdays from 10am to 12pm.

If you know or are aware of anyone who speaks English/Ukrainian/Russian and can help as a volunteer, then please let us know. We will conduct DBS checks prior to the commencement of these sessions to ensure the safety of our guests.

If the sessions in Waterbeach are a success, the scheme will be expanded to other areas of the district.

Online forums for hosts with traumatised Ukrainian guests

The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT) is arranging a second date for its online forums to support hosts with Ukrainian guests who may be facing psychological trauma from the war in Ukraine.

The first forum is scheduled for August 24, with a second session being arranged for September 28. The virtual meetings will be hosted by Family and Systemic Psychotherapists as a monthly space for hosts to come and reflect on the challenges of having guests who are displaced from home, country and family, and may be traumatised.

The specific content of each session will be decided on the evening by those attending but will include elements related to self-care, preparing for your guests to arrive, challenges and opportunities of hosting, accessing resources in your community, thinking about the impact of trauma and help with anonymised specific challenges.

Sessions are free but hosts will need to register for tickets for

Wednesday 24 August 7-9pm and/or Wednesday 28 September 7-9pm

Marking Ukraine Independence Day

Next Wednesday 24 August is Ukrainian Independence Day, which marks the Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the USSR in 1991.

For Ukrainians across the UK, including our guests and hosts in South Cambridgeshire, it will be a particularly poignant reminder this year as they think of the situation in their homeland.

As part of our continued support for the Ukrainian people, we will be marking the day on our social media channels and by flying the Ukrainian flag at our Cambourne offices.

We would also like to hear from guests and hosts about what they will be doing on the day to mark the occasion, and if there are any messages guests and hosts would like to share, then let us know. We are also inviting children from guest and host families to share their thoughts by drawing a picture with a message, and then sending a photo of the drawing to duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk The messages and drawings will be shared anonymously on our social media channels.

Many thanks for reading this latest bulletin, which I hope will be helpful for you and your guests. We are grateful for your continued support for the Homes for Ukraine programme.

Bill

Bill Handley
Lead Cabinet Member for Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council

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SaferCambs

Speeding, ASB and drug dealing remain priorities for South Cambs

Thank you to the residents of South Cambridgeshire who joined us for our online meeting last week. For those who were unable to join us this time around, we heard from the South Cambridgeshire team about what they have been doing to tackle drugs, anti-social behaviour and speeding in the area.

Speeding – We continue to work closely with Community Speedwatch volunteers and our Vision Zero team to carry out targeted speed checks, issue tickets and seize vehicles. If you live in an area of concern for speeding, please report it to us on the website.

Drugs – We’ve charged a man in connection with the supply of drugs to children in Cambourne. Another warrant was carried out in Bassingbourn and cannabis found. We charged a man following the discovery of a cannabis factory in Knapwell and an investigation is ongoing into another cannabis factory in Sawston. Thank you for all the information you have shared with us. Please keep sending it to us.

Anti-Social Behaviour – Over the past three months we’ve been engaging with schools and speaking to pupils about ASB. Hot-spot patrols have been carried out across the area. We held a community meeting in Cambourne and have carried out targeted activity. A persistent beggar in Cambourne has also been issued a Criminal Behaviour Order to curtail their behaviour. There’s also ongoing engagement with unauthorised encampments.

Next three months At the end of the meeting we agreed to focus efforts on the below. This will be alongside our daily priorities (which can be viewed here).
Anti-social behaviour – Fen Ditton, Fulbourn, Milton, Waterbeach, Histon and Impington
Drugs – developing intelligence and targeted activity
Speeding – Girton will be a focus but not exclusive

Our very genuine desire is to focus the team on the things that are of the highest risk and concern for you, our residents. The South Cambs Neighbourhood Team will now provide regular updates to these priorities on the force Facebook and Twitter page over the coming weeks and months. We will then look to begin this process again with another meeting held on 1 November. You can register your attendance with us. Thank you for participating in this process. If you have any concerns in the meantime, visit our website.
Inspector Shane Fasey South Cambridgeshire

Podcast: Vulnerable man gave thousands to fraudster he thought loved him

Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 11 August 2022

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

For any questions not covered in this e-newsletter or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

Online forum supporting hosts with traumatised Ukrainian guests

The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice(AFT) is running some online forums for hosts to share ideas on how to help guests who are facing psychological trauma.

The virtual meetings, hosted by Family and Systemic Psychotherapists, will offer a monthly space for hosts to come and reflect on the challenges of having guests who are displaced from home, country and family, and may be traumatised. In many cases they may also experience a sense of dislocation from their own culture and tradition.

The exact content of the session will be decided on the evening by those who come but may include self-care, preparing for your guests to arrive, challenges and opportunities of hosting, accessing resources in your community, thinking about the impact of trauma and help with anonymised specific challenges.

The first session will be on Wednesday 24 August 7-9pm and hosts will need to register for free tickets. Please come prepared to share your own experiences and prepared to think with others about their dilemmas.

Warning for Ukrainian guests to guard against scams

Scammers work at all levels in our society, and no-one is immune from their illegal activities, including Ukrainian guests. One incident which has come to our attention is of two female refugees being told they would have their refugee status revoked if they didn’t each pay up £350. Please do warn your guests to be vigilant, particularly online. General information on how to spot and avoid scams is available from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) which works with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to stop scams and doorstep crime across the county.

Children’s Books in Ukrainian

Cambridgeshire Libraries now has a collection of brand new children’s books in Ukrainian. Those wishing to borrow books can pop into the Cambridge Central Library and have a browse. Collections are also available at St Ives and Ely libraries.

Alternatively, guests can request books for free on a child’s library card to be delivered to their local library anywhere in Cambridgeshire and pick them up from there. You can find the locations of local libraries here Your library – Cambridgeshire County Council You can also browse the library service’s e-book selection on Libby

Help with medical costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)

Ukrainian guests may be able to access help for medical costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

The scheme can help with:

costs for NHS prescriptions
NHS dental treatment
the cost of sight tests, glass and contact lenses
the cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment
NHS wigs and fabric supports.

To apply for the NHS LIS, guests need to complete an HC1 form. If the application is successful, then either an HC2 certificate will be issued (for full help with health costs) or an HC3 certificate will be issued (for limited health with health costs). The certificates detail how much they will have to pay towards their health costs.

If guests have already paid for their prescriptions and later find that they are eligible for free prescriptions, they can apply for full or partial reimbursement of prescription costs depending on income. Receipts for any prescription costs must be submitted in evidence.

If they do not qualify for free prescriptions, and are resident in England, they can buy a pre-payment prescription (PPCs) from the NHS. A three or 12-month PPC covers all prescriptions for that period, no matter how many they need. Prescriptions currently cost £9.35 per item, but a PPC costs £30.25 for three months or £108.10 for 12 months. It is possible to pay in ten monthly instalments if they buy a 12-month PPC.

Looking for a local dentist

With a fall in the number of dentists practising in the UK, many patients are struggling to get dental treatment. If your guests are looking to make an appointment with a local dentist, you may find the NHS Find a Dentist site helpful.

If urgent dental treatment is required, then contact NHS 111, who will be able to direct you to a dentist for urgent care.   

Patients are entitled to free NHS dental treatment if they are:-

Under 18 years of age
Pregnant
Have had a baby within the last 12 months
Are in prison or a young offender’s institution.

Free NHS dental treatment is also available to anyone who has an HC2 or HC3 certificate under the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) – see details above on how to apply. However, guests should continue to pay for any treatment carried out until they find out they are eligible under the NHS LIS and their exemptions are confirmed.

If guests receive treatment and find out within three months of the treatment that they are entitled to receive free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment, they can claim a refund.

For more information, visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs or email to

nhsbsa.dentalservices@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Reminder: High demand for free bicycles

The scheme to offer free bikes for Ukrainian guests via Owl Bikes (part of the Papworth Trust), Camtrust and Tag Bikes, is continuing to work well, although due to the high demand we request that you bear with us if you or your guests have applied and are still waiting to hear. If you have already applied, there is no need to contact us. We would also encourage any residents with spare bikes they no longer need to offer them to Camtrust or TAG Bikes (Owl Bikes is currently working on the stock they have in hand). Donations of unwanted helmets, spare tyres and parts would also be welcomed.

Ukrainian guests who are keen to get out and about on their bikes can join with the CTC Cambridge cycling club where experienced riders from the group will buddy up with guests to help them get to know the area’s roads. Email secretary@ctccambridge.org.uk if your guests would like to take advantage of this offer.

Support Scheme for visiting Ukrainian Postgraduate Research Students and Academics

The Ukrainian Academic Support Scheme – which has been set up to support colleagues from Ukrainian Universities and other Higher Education Institutions who are seeking refuge from the war – has now closed to ‘registration of interest’. However, the scheme hopes to reopen for ‘registration of interest’ again in the future.

The scheme is providing funding for up to 20 Postgraduate research students and academics from Ukraine, irrespective of nationality, to continue their studies and research in Cambridge for a period between 6 to 12 months. It offers financial support, accommodation and access to a range of university services. Applicants are expected to remain employed (academics) or enrolled (Postgraduate Research students) at their home institution in Ukraine.

More details can be found on the University of Cambridge website.

Reminder: Bi-lingual host, community member or guest needed

We are still looking for a bi-lingual adult who would be prepared to volunteer as a moderator for a Facebook group for young Ukrainian people aged 16 to 19. The page would offer a safe place where they can connect and provide support for one another. Anyone with a background in safeguarding, such as a doctor, teacher, or social worker, would be ideal. If you are interested, please contact us via email here.

… and finally – an Outdoor Family Gathering for Ukrainian guests

There will be an outdoor family gathering for Ukrainian guests from across Cambridgeshire in the Orchard area at Milton Country Park this Sunday 14 August, from 12noon to 4pm. Activities will include creative masterclasses for children, face painting and fun contests for all ages, plus refreshments will be available. This is a chance for Ukrainian guests to have a social get-together in wonderful summer weather. All are welcome. Directions of how to get to the park (bus, park & ride, cycle) can be found here.

Many thanks for reading this latest bulletin, which I hope will be helpful for you and your guests. We are grateful for your continued support for the Homes for Ukraine programme.

Bill

Bill Handley

Lead Cabinet Member for Communities

South Cambridgeshire District Council

Disclaimer

Bin collections during the hot weather

During the forecast extremely hot weather, please ensure your bins are put out the night before they are due to be collected. This is because Greater Cambridge Shared Waste crews are likely to be starting work earlier in the day than usual, to try and avoid the worst of the heat. This means your bins may get emptied earlier in the morning than you are used to