Noticeboard Archive
Introducing The Big Lunch
Imagine a summer's day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together in our communities - in the middle of our streets, around our tower blocks and on every patch of common ground. The food, entertainment and decorations we will have grown, cooked or created ourselves. It'll be a day to break bread with our neighbours, to put a smile on Britain's face.
Well, imagine no more. The BIG Lottery Fund is supporting The Big Lunch and invites you to celebrate with your community on Sunday 18th July.
What is it?
The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together. It's a fantastic opportunity to bring your community together and could be used to launch a new project, celebrate achievements or raise awareness of good work that has been happening in your area.
The Big Lunch is an Eden Project initiative, and took place for the first time last year - there were over 8,000 lunches in every kind of community all across the UK. Over 700,000 people took to the streets in the biggest set of street parties since the Golden Jubilee, and over 80% said they felt closer to their neighbours as a result.
"What a fantastic idea. It really brought our community together and I am sure will have done the same throughout the country."
Get started
The Big Lunch website is packed full of information to help kick start your planning, including a handy step by step guide. It offers the tools, inspiration and resources to make it as simple, and fun, as possible. You can also search for existing Big Lunches in your area or add your own to our special Big Lunch map.
Find out more
Visit our website, have a chat with the team on 0845 850 8181 or email info@thebiglunch.com.
To keep up to date with what's happening on The Big Lunch and other BIG Lottery Fund projects in your area sign up to receive your regional email bulletin.
Dear All,
Please find attached and below invitation to a talk about the Criminal Justice System.
Monday 21st June, 2010
Dear Colleagues,
We are continuing our programme of Information Update evenings, which have been very well-received by those attending over the past few months.
The next issue we will be looking at is the Criminal Justice system and the role of the Magistrates Courts. Our speaker is Malcolm Rogers who is a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator in High Roding as well as being an experienced Magistrate on the NW Essex Bench which covers the Uttlesford district. As such, he is responsible for the Magistrates in the Community programme, which aims to explain how the court system works, and is particularly focussed on schools and other influential groups.
We do try to ensure that the topics we choose for these evenings are of both relevance and interest to you and that the evening provides an opportunity for co-ordinators to meet one another.
The evening will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 6th July at the Thaxted Day Centre, which is at the back of the Margaret St, (free) car park in Thaxted. The postcode, for those of you with Sat Nav's is CM6 2RL.
Please could you let me know if you are able to join us for this evening (but don't worry, if you don't intend to come) and do feel free to bring a friend.
Kind regards,
Lindsay Baillie
01376 556 232 lindsay.baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
From Lindsay Baillie, Essex Watch...
Please see below press release which I have also attached as a notice for boards and websites.
Can I please add that most of us do have our back doors open during the summer whilst at home, so this advice applies not just to 82 year olds. It is extremely easy to be drawn into a conversation by a door step caller - these people are well practiced in their profession and can seem very plausible.
If you open the door to people who you don't recognise or haven't made an appointment with, the chances are that they want something from you. The more we keep our doors shut to hard sales people / charity collections and bogus callers, the more chance there is that they'll go some place else, making us all safer in our own homes.
Regards,
Lindsay
WIMBISH: distraction burglary; 16/06/2010
Detectives are appealing for information following a distraction burglary, in which nothing was stolen, at an address in Wimbish, Saffron Walden, on Wednesday June 16, 2010.
At around 7pm on June 16, an unidentified man called at the home of an 82-year-old man in Wimbish, offering to do work in his garden. Whilst the man was talking to the unidentified suspect on his driveway, a second unknown suspect entered the property through the open front door and made a messy search. Nothing is believed to have been stolen.
The unidentified suspect who offered gardening services is described as: a white man, around 20-30 years old, of slim build, with short wavy fair hair, wearing a three-quarters length shirt and trousers. The investigating officer is Ds Angela MCGORRELL.
Detectives are appealing for anyone with information about this crime to contact officers at Braintree on 0300 3334444, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Crime Reduction Adviser Peter Caulfield says: "If in doubt, keep them out! If you feel unsure about the caller do not let them in. If they are genuine they will understand. Please follow the Lock, Stop, Chain and Check rule.
"If the caller displays a photo ID, please do not phone the number on that ID because it may be false. Note the name of the company, look them up in the phone book, and call the company number printed there to check whether the caller is genuine or not. If you have any concerns, please contact Essex Police on 0300 3334444."
LOCK - make sure your doors and windows are secure. Before you answer your front door, make sure your back door is locked in case the caller has an accomplice.
STOP - See who the caller is before answering by looking through a nearby window, and speak through the window. Once you are happy with the caller, go to the door.
CHAIN - If you choose to open the door, make sure you put the chain on the door before opening it.
CHECK - Find out who your caller is. Ask for their ID and check it carefully. Their identity might be fake so look up in the phone book the company they claim to be from and call it to clarify the facts. Don't ring the number on the caller's ID. Or simply tell them to call again at another time.
Any member of the public who would like more information should call Crime Reduction Adviser Trisha Staerck for Chelmsford and Maldon districts, Stephen Armson-Smith for Braintree, and Peter Caulfield for Uttlesford on 0300 3334444.
From Essex Watch...
Shed security
Inevitably (for the time of year), there have been a number of shed burglaries in the district.
We would like to advise you that you can buy effective battery operated motion sensing alarms for sheds from under £10. These can be purchased from D.I.Y stores and many internet sites, and can come with either a key fob or number pad to activate / deactivate the alarm.
Please note also that property marking your garden tools (particularly power tools) acts as an extremely effective deterrent to burglars, since being stopped with stolen property which is postcoded leaves no room for ridiculous explanations. Also, boot sales, second hand tool shops etc are unlikely to want to sell on any items which have obvious postcodes painted on them. If you'd be interested in buying a property marking pen / kit, try entering "property marker pen" into your search engine or check out "CRE Mark" as an example of the many products available. Your property marker should be visible and not Ultra Violet for tools otherwise your burglar will not be aware that your belongings are marked.
Kind regards,
Lindsay
At a workshop between two farms a padlock and hasp were removed from the door to gain entry and steal hedge trimmer. A grey Ford Mondeo Zetec was seen in the vicinity at the time (9.20am) which may have been involved. If you saw this vehicle or any suspicious activity at the time, please let us know.
Several youths were seen swinging from the bandstand causing damage. If you were in the area and recognised any of the people involved, please let us know
A blue and purple ladies pedal cycle has been stolen from outside Barclays Bank, Market Square at sometime between 2pm on Wed 9th June and noon on Thursday 10th. If you saw anybody interfering with a bicycle during these times, please let us know.
A double glazed window at Granta Close has been damaged, possibly in an attempt to break into the property. No suspects were seen at the time. If you saw any unusual activity on Friday before 3pm around Granta Close please let us know.
There are complaints coming in regarding elderly people who have been receiving telephone calls from a mobility company offering equipment for sale. The company uses the ploy they are working with Social Services. This is untrue. They then make an appointments to attempt to get the elderly householder to sign up for some very overpriced equipment; beds, mattresses, baths etc. Several elderly people have paid thousands of pounds for equipment they simply didn't need.
Hard sell security alarms
We have had more calls today in the Takeley area regarding the "you have been chosen for a police approved alarm to be fitted for free" calls. Please remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch. This company, who are very well known to both Essex Police and Trading Standards, use this sales tactic to sell their goods on a contract which has to be paid for monthly and requires expensive annual maintenance and upgrades. Essex Police does NOT recommend that you do business with anyone who calls you either by telephone or in person.
Adult Community Learning Essex
Interested in saving up to £50* a month by making the most of your food?
Essex County Council is running a series of free, Love Food Hate Waste courses, aimed at anyone who is interested in making the most of your food by reducing what you throw away.
Wasted food is wasted money and has a big impact on climate change. A third of the food that we buy in the UK ends up being thrown away and over a year the average family throws away £600* of food shopping – equivalent to an annual utility bill.
Love Food Hate Waste courses are completely free and are being held at Adult Community Learning Centres across the county until 5th July 2010.
Courses will cover:
- The financial and environmental impact of food waste
- How to reduce the amount of food you throw away, through planning understanding and correct portioning of your food
- How to make good use of your food leftovers through home freezing and creating tasty new dishes
- How to recycle what you can’t reuse through a variety of methods including home composting
For more information and to register to attend one of the free courses held across Essex, contact the following participating Adult Community Learning Centres:
LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE COURSES
Dates, times, locations and contact details
21st June 10am to 1pm – Clacton
Course Location: Clacton County High School
Contact to book a place:
Adult Community Learning
St Osyth Road
Clacton
CO15 3BN
Telephone: 01255 424151
Minicom: 01255 223693
24th June 10am to 1pm (Community Groups) - Chelmsford
Course Location: Chelmsford College Princes Road Campus
Contact to book a place:
Adult Community Learning
Beeches Close
Chelmsford
CM1 2SB
Telephone: 01245 494129
25th June 10am to 1pm - Chelmsford
Course Location: Chelmsford College Princes Road Campus
Contact to book a place:
Adult Community Learning
Beeches Close
Chelmsford
CM1 2SB
Telephone: 01245 494129
26th June 10am to 1pm – Basildon
Course Location: Briscoes Community Centre Basildon
Contact to book a place:
Adult Community Learning
Lifelong Learning Centre
Broadmayne
Ely Way
Basildon
SS14 2EQ
Telephone: 01268 520599
28th June 10am to 1pm – Harlow
Course Location: Mark Hall School Harlow
Contact to book a place:
Adult Community Learning
Rivermill
Hodings Road
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1NW
Telephone: 01279 427711
Minicom: 01279 770894
5th July 10am to 1pm – Colchester
Course Location: Wilson Marriage
Contact to book a place:
Adult Community Learning
Wilson Marriage
Barrack Street
Colchester
CO1 2LR
Telephone: 01206 798488
* Source: www.Lovefoodhatewaste.com
How Safe Are your Bank details ?
Recently in Essex there have been reports of the Police
phoning people saying their bank details have been
used illegally. They ask the card owner to confi rm their
bank details.
Essex Police will never ask you for
personal bank details over the
telephone
If anyone claims to be from the police, ask for their
collar number and contact Essex Police
on 0300 333 4444
From Essex Watch...
During the long days of summer it’s all too easy to become forgetful about things that matter – such as keeping your belongings safe and secure.
Police in mid and north Essex are urging residents to think about the security of their property and take sensible precautions during the hot summer weather.
Crime Reduction Adviser (CRA) Trisha Staerck says:
“It’s important to keep cool during the hot weather, but I would urge residents to be sensible at the same time. Unfortunately, passing thieves or burglars can regard an open door or window as an opportunity for them to chance their luck, and attempt to steal your property. It’s also very easy to doze off for a few minutes in the hot weather – providing a thief with the opportunity they’re looking for. So, please be sensible even when you’re at home.
“If you’re leaving your home unoccupied – whilst going to work, doing the shopping, going on the school run – please check all your doors and windows to ensure that they’re closed and locked before going out. Noone wants to come home to the disruption and heartache of a burglary.”
CRA Staerck also has some specific advice in response to a number of recent burglaries in the region where thieves have gained or forced entry to homes from the rear garden:
“I would urge residents to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to gain access to the rear of your property. Please ensure that the locks and bolts to your garden doors are in good condition, and can do their important job of keeping unwanted visitors out.”
One easy way of improving your home security is to fit and use an alarm.
CRA Staerck says: “I would ask residents to consider fitting burglar alarms, which can both deter burglars and help police to catch them. Some people don’t put their alarms on at night, but I would urge everyone to do so by zoning certain areas on the ground floor level. Burglars may try to gain entry to homes overnight, and they will then typically steal whatever they can find in the living room or kitchen – such as televisions, computers, purses or wallets, and the keys to your car. Switching your alarm on overnight is a highly effective way of protecting your belongings from these criminals.”
If you live in mid or north Essex and would like further information on keeping your property and belongings secure, please contact crime reduction advisors Stephen Armson-Smith for Braintree, Trisha Staerck for Chelmsford and Maldon, and Peter Caulfield for Uttlesford, on 0300 3334444.
