View this email in your browser

Welcome to the tenth edition of Melksham Town Council's newsletter for Community Groups in the Melksham Area

No. 10: October 15 2020 Editors: Miriam Zaccarelli David McKnight
01225 704187 www.melkshamtown.co.uk

Melksham Town Council Grants Reminder

Thank you to the groups who have already got their application and monitoring form in for the Melksham Town Council grants. The closing date for applications is 28 October 2020.

We are asking that groups who received a Melksham Town Council grant last year fill in a monitoring form along with an application form this year. We have a very easy digital application process, and both forms are here, along with the application guidelines:

Monitoring Form for last year's Melksham Town Council grant
Melksham Town Council Grant Application 2020
Grant Application Guidelines

If you have any questions about the process, or to request a paper copy of the form, you can call Miriam on 07865 065925 or email miriamzaccarelli@melksham-tc.gov.uk.

Remembrance in Melksham this year

The Town Council recently announced plans for a reduced Remembrance Event at the War Memorial on Sunday 8th November. However, since the Melksham News went to print, a new direction has been received from the Government, prohibiting the attendance of military personnel, which means we are unable to hold an event in Melksham. People are instead encouraged to pay respects from their doorsteps at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.

Alternatively, if you wish to make a private arrangement to lay a wreath at The War Memorial, please do so, but take great care to observe prevailing government guidelines concerning coronavirus precautions at the time of your visit.

We trust you share our disappointment that the event cannot go ahead in these circumstances, but the Town Council can only respect the instructions of the government and, as a result, cancel this year's service. We must prioritise the safety of the people of this town. Many of our veterans too, will be of increasing years and therefore potentially more vulnerable to bad outcomes from the virus.

Focus on a group: AFC Melksham

Amateur Football Club Melksham has been providing weekly football coaching sessions for disabled people in the Melksham area for many years.

The group has been happy to get back to training over the last couple of months, with social distanced sessions taking place at Melksham Oak and the Bowerhill Pavilion. Mike Rogers, Chairman, said, ‘We normally go indoors in winter but that option is not available due to the restrictions so we’ve had to improvise and gone to the astroturf outside at Melksham Oak. We’ve also worked with Melksham Without Parish Council and got an FA grant for sanitiser in the pavilion at Bowerhill for the Sunday teams. Our volunteer coaches have gloves and sanitiser to clean the footballs. Around fifteen different people attend each week. It’s a great social time, parents and carers come along too, and everybody stays two metres apart, but they’re still able to chat to each other. Because we’re registered with the FA, all regulations are in place.’

‘It’s hard work, but it’s great to see the difference the club makes to people. There are lots of stories of how people who weren’t able to join in with activities have been able to make friends and get involved here. We give them kit and provide the space and professional coaches, and they feel part of the spirit. We see them growing up into fine young people. We try to say yes to everybody, just come along.’
The free sessions are for people between the ages of 11 and 30-ish with disabilities, and are run by fantastic FA trained volunteer coaches Pat Johnson and Brian Evans. Participants have the opportunity to represent the club at Wilts FA county league tournaments in a league basis.
For more information get in touch with Mike Rogers on rogersafc@mail.com.

If you would like to feature your group in a future newsletter please let us know.

Inspiration for Community Leaders: The Easiest Way to Help Other People
This week in our series of talks for community leaders, we share a 15 minute talk by Blake Canterbury on his simple method of making a huge difference.

Blake is the Founder of beremedy, an organisation that connects people who need help with those who are willing to provide it. It is based on the concept that there are the resources within each community to meet the needs of that community, that each of us can see the need and be the remedy. Blake believes everyone has an innate need to give, and that, 'For a movement to have impact, it must belong to those who join in, not those who lead it.'
Listen to his inspirational story of how he connects people to each other to make a huge difference.
The full talk is here.

Staying in Touch
We are always working to make sure we include all groups, clubs and charities in the Melksham area, so if you know of any organisations who are not receiving our newsletter, please ask them to get in touch so we can keep everyone up to date. Also, if you have any news that you would like to share with other groups, please let us know by emailing miriamzaccarelli@melksham-tc.gov.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Miriam