Voting staff needed

Do you want to be part of the democratic process and earn some extra money?
 
We’re looking for people to work at our polling stations or count venues at the upcoming elections:

• Police Crime Commissioner election - 2 May 2024
• General Election (date to be announced)
• Local Unitary and Town and Parish Council elections - 1 May 2025

We’re looking for staff across Cornwall at our 450 polling stations - particularly in North and South East Cornwall. We need a presiding officer and poll clerks at every polling station on the day and count staff able to work from 10pm overnight to help us count the votes.
 
All polling station staff receive full training and are paid a fee plus travelling expenses. The gross fee for a Presiding Officer is currently £295, with Poll Clerks receiving £221 before tax. Count staff receive £12.00 per hour.
 
We welcome applications from all backgrounds, identities and ages (over the age of 18). Don't miss this chance to be part of history and have some fun at the same time!

Could you be Cornwall's first climate commissioner?

Could you be one of the first commissioners for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Commission?

A new Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Climate Commission is recruiting its first Commissioners to work with the region's leaders, organisations and communities to tackle ecological issues. If you'd like to step forward or know someone who'd like to, click the button below. The deadline is 8 April.

The commission is an independent organisation bringing together people and organisations to help drive, support, and track climate action.
 

Do you need a HUG?

Warm up your home with the Home Upgrade Grant Scheme

Are you tired of high heating costs and a cold home? The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) Scheme is here to help. This grant-funded energy efficiency scheme from the Government aims to improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of homes that do not use mains gas as their primary heat source.

We're working in partnership with OVO Energy Solutions to deliver this scheme across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. With a range of energy-saving measures, the scheme aims to reduce heating costs and improve general health and wellbeing.

The scheme runs until March 2025 and aims to help around 500 eligible homes.

Help to beat exam stress

Get registered and check your photo ID for May elections

Are you registered to vote in this year’s Police and Crime Commissioner election?

Cornwall will go to the polls on 2 May and vote for the next Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner. And it's the first time you'll need voter ID to vote in person.

There are a number of ways to cast your vote. You can vote in person at a polling station, by post or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote.

Registering to vote is quick and easy. It only takes five minutes and can be done online. Once registered, you can request a postal vote application.

Remember...the deadline to register to vote is midnight on 16 April.

Help if you're struggling to pay your Council Tax bill

If you have no income, or you're on a low income, you might be able to apply for help to pay your Council Tax bill.

You can claim Council Tax Support if you own your own home or rent.  You can also claim if you are working or unemployed.

Entitlement to Council Tax Support is based on how much income, capital and savings your household has.

If you're already in arrears please get in touch with our team. We can help you work out a plan, which might help you worry a little less. 

We also have lots of information on other financial support that might be available if you, or someone you know, is struggling on our worried about money webpage.

Norovirus is increasing in Cornwall

Cases of the nasty Norovirus are increasing across Cornwall, and we need your help to stop the spread. 
 

If you have sickness and/or diarrhoea, please do not visit a healthcare setting (GP surgery, hospital or care home).
 

Instead stay at home, keep hydrated and keep washing your hands regularly with soap and water (alcohol gels won't kill norovirus). Stay off work (or school) and away from others until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days. 

Why you should get your blood pressure checked

An estimated 4.2 million adults in England are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure. Left untreated, it can significantly increase your risk of a fatal heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or vascular dementia . 

If you're aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at a local pharmacy.  Click on the yellow button below to find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you. There's no need to book!

Fourth CIL fund round launches

Community groups, not-for-profit organisations and local councils can now apply to the fourth round of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund.

With grants available of up to £100,000, the fund aims to support infrastructure projects which help ease the impact of a development or help a new development to happen.

The deadline for applications is 30 April 2024.

Free climate change course

We're offering free climate change training to help individuals and community groups learn more about how to reduce your carbon impact. The sessions will run during March and April.

The one-hour online course is aimed at anyone wanting to learn about:

·   the science behind climate change

·   how global warming will impact Cornwall

·   the role of government, local authorities, businesses and individuals in tackling the issue.

To book a place click the button below or for more information visit Lets Talk Cornwall. 

The site also includes a dedicated Employer Hub and a Hub for people with special educational needs.

Eat well - spend less

Tune in to episode eight of our Eat Well, Spend Less cookery video series from our Healthy Cornwall team!

We'll give you tips on how to eat healthily on a budget with everyday ingredients from your local shop. In this video we create Cottage Pie - a good option for a completely adaptable meal which could be vegan or veggie - made with any sort of mince.

It's packed full of vegetables too - at least 2, or even 3 of your 5 a day. Perfect comfort food after a busy day.

Join the 'Healthy Families Pilot' Programme

Do you want to help your family live a healthier lifestyle? Do you have a child aged 5-12 who is above their ideal weight? If so, you might be eligible for a new free programme from Healthy Cornwall and Gro Health.

This programme will give you and your family access to the Gro Health app, which is an award-winning tool to track your nutrition, activity, sleep and mood. You will also get personalised support and guidance from a health coach from the Healthy Cornwall team.

To apply you need to have at least one child aged 5-12 in your household who is above their ideal weight for their height and age. You can check this using this easy NHS BMI calculator.

But hurry, this is a pilot scheme and there are only 60 places available. Don't miss this chance to make a positive change for your family's health and happiness!

New jobs and careers website for Cornwall

There’s a new website for jobs, careers, courses, and skills for residents and businesses in Cornwall.
 
The website, created by Cornwall Council, aims to boost the economy by highlighting local career and training opportunities for people of all ages.
 
As well as jobs and apprenticeship opportunities, the website is full of useful information and tools for young people, adults, employers, teachers and parents. It provides information on upskilling, exploring new careers, getting your first step on the career ladder, preparing for interviews and more.

The site also includes a dedicated Employer Hub and a Hub for people with special educational needs.

Little moments together

The more we chat, play and read with our kids, the more we help build their brains. Any time, anywhere, whether at home or out and about, it all adds up.

There’s no need to buy lots of toys or have big days out. Wherever you are, simply chatting back and forth, answering your child’s questions and sharing special moments together all help their brain to grow and develop secure and strong connections. Just what they need to get off to the right start at school.

The Start for Life website is packed with simple ideas from other parents on how to build these little moments into each day. It includes lots of examples of tips and activities for you to do together with your child at different ages, as well as links to find further support in your local area.

New planning rules to limit short term lets in Cornwall

We're welcoming the government’s introduction of new rules requiring planning permission for properties to be used as short term lets.
 
The changes, announced by Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on a visit to St Agnes last week, are aimed at limiting the number of short-term holiday lets.
 
It means that a planning application will be needed for anyone renting out their main or sole home for more than 90 nights a year, and are intended to provide support in areas where short-term lets are preventing local people from renting or buying a home. The new rules also propose other changes including a national mandatory register of  short term lets.

The new rules won't come into immediate effect and we're waiting for more details from the Government. 

Stop. Think Fraud!

Criminals are great pretenders. They may contact you pretending to be a trusted person or company.

A new national campaign Stop! Think Fraud aims to help you understand the different types of fraud and the tactics which criminals can use against you. 
 
The website helps you learn the tactics criminals use so you can see the different types of fraud, how to better protect yourselves and the people you know, as well as ways to report if you have been a victim of fraud. 

Free NHS talking therapies can help

Are you or someone you care about struggling with feelings of depression or anxiety?

Free NHS Talking Therapies could help. They're confidential, delivered by accredited NHS practitioners, and can help if you're suffering with excessive worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

You can access free help - in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course - by referring yourself to an NHS Talking Therapy service, or by asking your GP to.

A brilliant place for children

Pupils from 9 primary schools helped launch a new wellbeing journal at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro this week.

Called My Brilliant Place to be ME! the journal has been created for the young people of Cornwall. It’s all about helping them learn to look after their wellbeing and feel good!

Headstart Kernow have created the journal with help from primary school children across our communities and it contains a range of activities and information that young people can work through at their own pace, at school, at home or on the move. The launch coincided with this week's Children’s Mental Health Week.

The journal is free and available to everyone online. Printed copies will also be available to local children through schools.