Day 43 of Lockdown
After a quiet weekend for local news, day 43 (6 weeks and a day!!!), brings us a few bits of news that might interest. Also a rather lovely parody of Cat Stevens’ Father & Son and other light relief. So we have:
- Calling for Community Specials (again),
- Celebrating VE-Day 75th Anniversary,
- Supporting Local Charities & Communities, and
- Music & Humour.
Community Special Constables Needed
The parish has a low crime rate but does suffer from occasional antisocial behaviour and parking issues, along with sporadic rural crime. West Bergholt Parish Council are supporting Essex Police to increase local and visible policing in their area. We nearly had two Special Constables ready to go but one has decided to join the regular force and the other is now on maternity leave so we start again!
A Community Special Constables are more focussed than Special Constables, they dedicate their voluntary service to the area that matters most to them – their town or parish. In return, the local council will pay the allowances and expenses of their officers and they’ll have a say in the issues that their local Specials deal with.
What Are Community Specials?
Community Special Constables will:
- Integrate into a Community Policing Team
- Start and end their duty as close to their community as possible.
- Spend the majority of their time within the council area’s neighbourhoods.
- Be visible and accessible in local communities on uniformed patrol.
- Help address local issues and priorities as informed by the local council and police intelligence-led tasking.
- Patrol hot spots identified through intelligence or which have been deemed to be priority areas.
- Respond to police-related incidents within the council area.
- Engage with local communities and support further recruitment of Specials.
- Attend suitable local council meetings where available to do so.
- Have regard to the Council’s aims and objectives in their voluntary service.
Community Special Constables have the same training as regular officers and will have to complete the same accreditation. Once they’ve got independent patrol status, then they can really get committed to their local communities.
Visit www.essex.police.uk/Specials/WestBergholt to find out more.
Councils across Essex helping residents to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day
Residents of Essex are encouraged to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day even though the restrictions which remain in place during the lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19.
District, Borough and City Councils across the county are making use of online resources to encourage and help residents to celebrate VE Day.
Colchester Borough Council is producing a virtual VE Day experience and is asking residents to commemorate the anniversary online at a website live now. For more go to our Day 39 update.
Your local charities and communities need you to play the Essex Lottery
Today, on Giving Tuesday, why not support the local community by playing the Essex Lottery? ECC created the online Essex Lottery to support local causes across the county.
Over £186,000 has been donated to good causes in the county since the lottery launched in 2017. This is thanks to the thousands of players who buy a weekly £1 ticket – with 60p of every ticket they purchase going to good causes. Many recipients have done great work supporting communities during the lockdown, but they are now struggling due to events being closed down.
Now is the time to support these charities and good causes by buying tickets for the Essex Lottery.
255 Charities & Good Causes Supported
The EssexLottery currently benefits 255 charities and good causes. They represent a diverse range of causes across Essex from animal welfare, education and arts groups to organisations supporting children, disadvantaged groups and the elderly. Players are able to select the good causes they wish to support.
Some causes which have been supported include:
- The Essex Retired Police Dogs Fund,
- The East Anglian Railway Museum,
- South Essex Wildlife Hospital, and
- Colchester Foodbank.
Prize draws take place every Saturday night when a 6-digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2-6 numbers from the winning combination. Match all 6 and you win the JACKPOT, won for the first time in January 2019. Cash prizes are up to £25,000.
Music & Humour
Father & Son (Cat Stevens Lockdown parody)
Latest Ukulele Orchestra of GB – Born This Way