News from Harlow Council: Grants for Harlow's year of celebrations

• Published 05/10/2012

Grants of up to £250 are now available for organisations and residents planning Diamond Jubilee, Olympic and Harlow 65^th birthday events.

Harlow Council is offering the money to groups of residents, community and voluntary organisations who want to mark these special occasions. The grant can be used to cover the cost of the following:

• Purchase of equipment and/or materials.
• Administrative costs (paper, postage, ink cartridges, IT equipment) and production of publicity.
• Event activities, entertainment and music.

A copy of the full criteria and an application form which can be submitted online can be found at www.harlow.gov.uk/news/campaigns/street_parties-1.aspx. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2012 and events must be held before the end of 2012.

For 2012, the Council set up a £20,000 Diamond Jubilee and Harlow 65^th birthday fund. The Council has agreed to provide some funding for the Heart for Harlow Party in the Park event which will take place from 4pm – 8pm in Harlow Town Park on Monday 4 June 2012. The event will include the lighting of a beacon to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Council will also be helping to decorate local celebrations with 60 “party in the bag kits” to give away to residents. Each bag contains a mix of Union Jack-decorated items designed to dress a street, community centre or garden and contains:

• 16 Union Jack plates,
• 16 Union Jack cups,
• 16 Union Jack napkins,
• 1 red paper table cover,
• Union Jack bunting,
• 20 Balloons in red, white and blue and curling ribbon.

The Council will be holding a free draw to allocate the boxes. Residents can enter by emailing their name and the details of their planned celebrations to harlows65@harlow.gov.uk by Monday 21 May 2012.

Lynn Seward, Head of Community & Customer Services, said: “This year the town is 65, it’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games take place in London. These are three huge occasions and we are doing what we can to make sure 2012 is a year of celebration for Harlow. Times are tight so we want to help groups and organisations celebrate by providing a one-off small grant.”

Guidance for residents organising local celebrations can be found at www.harlow.gov.uk/news/campaigns/street_parties-1.aspx. Street parties and similar small scale events organised by residents do not need licences. Residents are being encouraged to let the Council know about their plans so it can provide advice and guidance if necessary.

For more information on grants please contact Christine Selby on 01279 446192 or email christine.selby@harlow.gov.uk

One in seven people have not made a Will

• Published 05/1/2012

St Clare Hospice supported by nine local solicitors' firms is urging local people to consider making a Will during Make a Will Month.

Nine firms in 14 offices across the hospice's catchment area are taking part in the initiative in May.

Adams Harrison (Saffron Walden), Tees (Saffron Walden and Bishop's Stortford), Breezeplus, Heckford Norton, Foort Tayler (Great Dunmow), Wade & Davies, (Great Dunmow), Harris Cuffaro & Nichols (Old Harlow), Foskett Marr Gadsby & Head (Loughton and Epping) and Whiskers (Epping and Harlow) have kindly agreed to take part by writing standard wills free of charge, asking only that the person considers making a donation to St Clare.

The suggested donation is £100 for a simple Will or £150 for a pair of mirror Wills.

BISHOP'S STORTFORD, SAFFRON WALDEN, DUNMOW AREAS: Nicola Havers, Assistant Solicitor with Tees Solicitors, said: "Tees Solicitors are delighted to once again be supporting St Clare Hospice with their very worthwhile Make aWill Month scheme.

"We would encourage you to please contact us in order to take up this fantastic opportunity to get your affairs in order whilst donating to charity.We had a very good response last year and would like to try and better this in order to beat the level of donations raised last time."

EPPING, HARLOW AREAS: Gerry Smith, of Whiskers Solicitors, said: "Whiskers solicitors have always been enthusiatic supporters of St Clare Hospice who provide outstanding support to the local community and are delighted to take part in this year's campaign."

SAFFRON WALDEN AREA: Seema Solanki, of Heckford Norton Solicitors, said: "Heckford Norton are delighted to participate in Make a Will month.

"The campaign encourages people to come forward to make a Will whilst supporting a charity at the same time.

"We feel this scheme is valuable in the local community as everyone benefits: people have peace of mind with the assurance of having a solicitor preparing their Will, the charity benefits from the donations and support given to them and the solicitors are introduced to new clients.

"Heckford Norton is a friendly local law firm who will be pleased to assist all new clients."

DUNMOW AREA: Michael Chapman, of Wade & Davies solicitors, said: "We are keen to support the hospice as we take the same holistic approach to our clients and consider not only the contents but all the other implications of a Will and are therefore happy to support the hospice in Make A Will Month."

Tony Smith, Trust and Legacy Officer at St Clare Hospice, said "This is a terrific opportunity. It really is staggering to think that one in seven of us has not made a will.

"Making a Will is a vital issue for everyone and this scheme also helps people contribute to the local community in a meaningful and practical way. "We are immensely grateful to all the solicitors who are giving their valuable time and expertise to help us."

For more complicated Wills or those requiring specialist advice a fee is agreed in advance.

The St Clare Hospice Make a Will Month scheme operates throughout the month of May.

For full information on making a will during Make a Will Month contact Tony Smith on 01279 773756, email: tony.smith@stclarehospice.org.uk or visithttp://www.stclarehospice.org.uk/legacy where you can view details of local participating solicitors and go direct to their websites to make an appointment.

You can also view a list of questions which you may want to consider before your appointment