There’s been a positive announcement from the government about the future of social and affordable housing. Their new plan, Delivering a Decade of Renewal, recognises that some types of housing like homes in rural areas, supported housing, council-built homes, and community-led schemes, can cost more to build, but are still hugely important.
There’s no shortage of passion in Norfolk’s community buildings when it comes to tackling climate change, but knowing how and where to start can be a real challenge. Many are run by volunteers, rely on tight budgets, and serve rural or low income areas where every penny counts.
In an era where digital connectivity is integral to daily life, the UK government has introduced the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps, aiming to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to technology for all citizens.
Under the new energy price cap, average energy bills will be £1,568 a year - a reduction of 7% compared to the previous price cap. That’s good news, right? Except that standing charges will increase by 10%. And, despite these lower prices, typical bills will still be almost 30% higher than in winter 2021-22.
As part of our advocacy efforts for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector in 2022 we identified a need for referrers to voice their concerns and share professional insights. To address this gap, we initiated Referrers' Network Meetings quarterly in Breckland and North Norfolk.
In an effort to uplift rural areas and assist local communities, the government has initiated the Unleashing Rural Opportunity Strategy. As a part of this strategy, a network of Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) have been appointed across England where a need to support the provision of rural homes through Rural Exception Sites. The Rural Housing Enablers will be in post until March 2025 to address the critical need for affordable housing in rural England.
Volunteers managing England’s 10,000+ rural community halls are being encouraged to ‘go green’ as part of the nationwide campaign which begins with a focus on what can be done to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.