Free training on community projects

For anyone who would be interested in getting involved in existing or forthcoming community projects but would like more knowledge or confidence. Here is a 3 day course at Trafford Hall. It is residential but you don't have to stay if you live nearby. Ashton Hayes & Mouldsworth Community Shop WILL PAY THE FEES for this course if you live in Ashton, Mouldsworth or Horton cum Peel and are 16 or over. (no upper age limit!).
Please contact the shop before making your application.

The dates are 18th - 20th AUGUST so don't delay!

Setting up a Project
18-20 August 2015

Do you want to set up a project that will have a positive impact within you community?

‘Setting Up A Project’ training is interactive and engaging, by using exercises, group work tasks and toolkits that encourages the development of ideas and strategies for initial project planning to make your project a success.

The three day training provides the opportunity for you to:

Find the right project
Develop mapping support tools
Understand the benefits of consultation and wider community involvement
How to sustain your project
Develop initial start-up project plans
Have access to a range of planning toolkits
Understand funding sources and support networks
Marketing & promotion strategies

Cost to community volunteers: £50 inc VAT for the first delegate from any group. £20 inc VAT per person for subsequent bookings through the same group on the same course.

This price not only includes the training but also all meals and refreshments during your stay and accommodation for the duration of the course in one of our en-suite bedrooms at Trafford Hall.

More on our village Facebook site here

Thailand visitors share ideas

The Going Carbon Neutral project was delighted to welcome (left to right) Chadchawan Muongpruan, Pavarat Kunkuamdee, Pornpol Noithammaraj, (Garry), Assoc.Prof. Ratnarin Nitisoravut to Ashton Hayes on Tuesday 7 July 2015. The group from Thailand's Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DESTA, a public organization) were keen to discuss ways of engaging communities in sustainable tourism that could benefit everone in Thailand's communities. Thanks to Garry, Roy, Kate, David Lamb, Matt Hover (headmaster - see below in blue shirt) and everyone else who chatted to them about life in Ashton Hayes.

School ECO event 25 June

Sounds like a great evening

Students begin survey this week

Left to right: Holly Watson, Emily Chapman, Lucy Holland, Cassy Swain, Karen Elliott, Rebecca Spensley, Emma Haughton, Beth Henderson. 

Eight female students from The University of Chester will be spending a few weeks in the village and hope you will assist them with the End of Decade carbon footprint survey. We want to understand the long term implications of our Going Carbon Neutral Project.

They will begin door-to-door surveying from the 16^th of May, for approximately 3 weeks. Please have ready recent energy utility bills from the last 12 months, as this will be vital information for the survey. You can also download the survey letter and form here

Participation is entirely voluntary and you may withdraw from the survey at any point. The information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential and data on individual properties will not be published.

Full details here

End of decade survey begins 13 May

The Going Carbon Neutral Project is 10 years old this year and to mark the occasion the University of Chester has engaged 8 student volunteers to undertake another carbon footprint survey of the village. The students will arrive on 13 May and issue notices to all residents. As with previous surveys, you will be able to indicate whether you do/don't wish to take part.

This year we the students will be asking a few extra questions about sustainable living in Ashton Hayes. We appreciate your input. During the coming year we also hope to carry out video interviews with people who have lived here for the past decade and who feel able to comment on the impact of the various initiatives such as the Carbon Neutral Project, Community Shop and Community Energy Company.

More soon on this from the students.