The latest community news from Buckinghamshire Council
Welcome to our latest monthly newsletter.
In this edition, you’ll be able to find information on childcare, school transport, VJ Day and recycling. We’ve also got news on Buckinghamshire Lottery, fostering, adult learning and lots more.
We’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter – so please reply and let us know!
Content index:
'Eat Out to Help Out' – help boost our local businesses
30 hours childcare – Apply by 31 August
Start of term school transport update
Recycle more today!
And the good news just keeps coming... (Buckinghamshire Lottery)
Autumn term Adult Learning courses now
available to enrol
Bucks in 100 objects!
Online celebrations for VJ DAY
Supping in the summertime...
Have you seen 'Your Voice Bucks'?
Voter registration – please follow the instructions on your form or email
Could you be a foster carer?
Need to speak to us face-to-face?
Bucks County Museum reopens its garden
'Pop Up' museum exhibition at the Eden
Centre
Book of the Month
‘Eat Out to Help Out’ – help boost our local businesses
Eat Out to Help Out is a national Government scheme which is running from Monday 3 August right up until 31 August and we’re encouraging our local residents and visitors to get out there, make the most of the offer and support our many brilliant hospitality businesses. Anyone can get money off eating out or just having a coffee at a participating bar, café or restaurant. Look out for the special Eat Out to Help Out window stickers or use the online search to discover all the places near you (within a 5-mile radius) who are participating.
As a customer, you can get 50% off your food and any non-alcoholic drinks, up to £10 discount per person. You can get the discount for children too and you can eat out and get the discount as many times as you like on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. You don’t need vouchers as you’ll get your discount taken off your bill at the end.
30 hours childcare – apply by 31 August
If you’re a working parent of a 3 or 4-year-old and you earn at least 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage, did you know you could be entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare? These 30 hours can be used at participating full daycare (nurseries), schools, childminders, sessional providers (playgroups) and after school clubs.
To take up this offer from September, check your eligibility and apply by the 31 August deadline. Here’s how:
Find out if you’re eligible. To find out if you’re eligible for 30 hours (or another childcare scheme), enter your details into the Childcare Choices website.
Apply If you are eligible. Apply for 30 hours via GOV.UK. Do this as soon as you can.
Find participating providers. Search for participating childcare providers in Buckinghamshire using the Family Information Service directory.
Already taking up 30 hours? Reconfirm your eligibility
If you’re already taking up the 30 hours of funded childcare you will need reconfirm your eligibility every three months, you can do this by signing into your Childcare Account (GOV.UK).
Need childcare for September?
If you need childcare from September whether it’s funded or not, find providers with vacancies on our directory. Show me childcare providers in Buckinghamshire that have vacancies.
Start of term school transport update
Students entitled to free school transport on council-run bus services have now had their place confirmed for the autumn term and have been sent their bus pass.
Spare seats were allocated to pupils on the paid-for waiting list by the end of July, and offers sent to parents. Where offers for paid-for seats are not taken up, those seats will be re-offered to people on the waiting list from 14 August. Bus timetables will also be published by 14 August.
Recycle more today!
More and more people in Buckinghamshire are recycling their plastic pots, tubs and trays from the kitchen. But if you need to check if something is recyclable, use our Waste Wizard a free tool designed just for local residents – Recycle more today!
Remember to check the website for any changes to waste collections over the August Bank Holiday. Household recycling Centres are open as usual, including Bank Holidays.
And the good news just keeps coming...
In our last newsletter we shared the news that one lucky Buckinghamshire resident had won the incredible £25,000 jackpot with Buckinghamshire Lottery. Since then, we are also delighted to share that we’ve had a £2,000 winner!
This is more fantastic news for the lottery, which helps support a huge variety of good causes across the county, including sports clubs, animal charities, disability charities, local community centres and schools. Tickets cost just £1 with 60% of all sales going directly to support good causes here in Bucks. Players can choose to support either their favourite good causes or alternatively the general good cause fund, which also supports a wide range of local organisations.
What are you waiting for? Sign up to support a local good cause near you today.
Autumn term Adult Learning courses now available to enrol
Buckinghamshire Adult Learning’s autumn term programme of part-time courses are now available to enrol. Visit their website or call 01296 382403 to book your place. Choose from a wide range of courses which are face-to-face and online including: languages, creatives studies, home improvements and gardening and health and fitness.
Bucks in 100 objects!
In spite of the pandemic there’s still so much culture to soak up here in Buckinghamshire, even if we’re having to do things a little differently! Check out the Bucks in 100 Objects project for example. The aim is to identify the top 100 objects that best sum up Buckinghamshire and we’ve had some fantastic nominations from some very well-known names!
For example, broadcaster Gabby Logan has picked Cliveden, Lord Lieutenant Sir Henry Aubrey Fletcher has nominated the Boarstall Cartulary, and we’ve also seen nominations for many other favourite famous landmarks like the Golden Ball on top of St Lawrence Church in West Wycombe and the Lions in Aylesbury’s market square!
We’ve received over 60 nominations so far, but we still want to hear of more, so if your favourite Bucks object or story is not yet included please get in touch – details of how to submit a nomination can be found on the website. Eventually we want to be able to select a final 100 objects to create an exhibition, public trails, and a website that tell the story of Buckinghamshire through these objects.
Online celebrations for VJ DAY
Saturday 15 August 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day). While celebrations might look different this year due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), Buckinghamshire Council is still keen to mark VJ Day while adhering to the government’s guidelines around social distancing during this time.
Take a look at our online VJDay75 page for creative suggestions, educational resources and fun ideas on how to mark the day respectfully and responsibly. Perhaps you’re decorating your street or planning picnics in the garden? Do keep letting us know by emailing vjday@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.
We’ve been working with local partners and organisations to bring our commemorations online, and will be sharing stories, photos and videos on social media on Saturday 15 August – some featuring a few special guests!
Follow @BucksCouncil on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our VJ Day content and remember to tag us in your own VJ Day celebration photos.
Supping in the summertime...
Whether at a pub, restaurant or BBQ, if you’re drinking alcohol, it can be really easy to lose track of how many beers or glasses of wine you’ve had – especially when it’s warm as a cold drink is so refreshing. Before you know it, you might find that you’ve had three or four alcoholic drinks which can cause you to become unwell in the heat and makes sunstroke or dehydration more likely.
Drinking too much also impairs your abilities and lowers inhibitions often resulting in accidents happening. So, this summer, think about what you drink!
The lower risk guidelines recommend that you do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, that you spread your drinking over three days or more and that you have at least a couple of alcohol free days each week.
Find out how many units are in your drinks as well as support to help you cut down the amount of alcohol you’re drinking by going to the NHS website.
Have you seen 'Your Voice Bucks'?
It’s the county’s online hub for public engagement activities and consultations being run by ourselves and the NHS. Check out who’s asking for the public’s views and see if there’s anything you’re interested in. If you want to know more, please email consultations@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.
Voter registration – please follow the instructions on your form or email
We are currently contacting residents by post or email to ensure the electoral register is up to date, and it’s essential that you follow the instructions provided.
If you need to reply, the quickest and easiest way is online, by text or by phone – this will save paper and postage. However, please read your form carefully as you may not need to reply.
You need to be registered in order to vote, and not being registered could also affect your chances of obtaining credit. Further information can be found on our website.
Could you be a foster carer?
There are currently around 500 children in the council's care, and our foster carers play an important part in helping them towards a good future. If you'd like to find out exactly what's involved in being a foster carer, why not join one of our relaxed and welcoming online information sessions? You can reserve a space by going to our fostering webpage.
Need to speak to us face-to-face?
We’re happy to say that most of our Council Access Points (CAPs) are now open, with strict social distancing (in line with the latest government guidance) in place. This will make it easier for you to get the information and support you need – at a location near where you live or work.
Although we encourage residents to access our services online or to call us, we know that some people would like face-to-face contact, possibly if they need extra support and guidance with their query.
Details of the location of your local CAP, what support is available, and the opening times can be found on our website.
Bucks County Museum reopens its garden
It was smiles all round on Friday 31 July, as Bucks County Museum reopened its garden after closing for lockdown back in March.
The launch marked the start of a summer programme offering yoga, mindfulness, open gardens and family crafts – all taking place in the museum’s popular Victorian walled garden on selected days. The museum’s open gardens continue Thursday afternoons (13 August and 3 September) with pop-up mini events, such as art and mindfulness.
The museum is also excited to announce that their Family Fun Garden Explorer sessions (Fridays and Saturdays) kick off on 14 August and include the Bank Holiday 31 August. Visitors need to pre-book these family dates on the museum’s website. Admission on the day is by donation to the museum by card or cash.
'Pop Up' museum exhibition at the Eden Centre
Wycombe Museum has installed a Pop Up museum in one of the units in the Eden Centre in High Wycombe. The exhibition celebrates Wycombe’s furniture making industry. A local artist is using mid-century furniture, including four Parker Knoll armchairs; and Ercol has kindly supplied an original 1877 Windsor chair. In addition, a local conservator from DesBox has sent a piece of restored furniture, and a local artist has provided a print display of mid-century museum chairs. The Pop Up space includes children’s activity tables and a shop, and is open Wednesday-Friday 11am-4pm throughout the school holidays. Entry is free.
As for the museum itself, the gardens and cafe are currently open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Book a free entry ticket.
Book of the Month
This month’s Book of the Month recommendation from our libraries team is Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo.
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls.
Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it’s the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.
Reserve a paperback copy, read the eBook or listen to the audiobook.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
To contact us online, please use our Contact Us form. If you’re unable to contact us online, please call us on 0300 131 6000. Phone lines are open:
Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 5pm
Please note we’re closed on bank holidays.
To keep up to date with the latest news from Buckinghamshire Council, please follow us on social media:
Buckinghamshire Council
The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF
buckinghamshire.gov.uk
In this edition, you’ll be able to find information on childcare, school transport, VJ Day and recycling. We’ve also got news on Buckinghamshire Lottery, fostering, adult learning and lots more.
We’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter – so please reply and let us know!
Content index:
'Eat Out to Help Out' – help boost our local businesses
30 hours childcare – Apply by 31 August
Start of term school transport update
Recycle more today!
And the good news just keeps coming... (Buckinghamshire Lottery)
Autumn term Adult Learning courses now
available to enrol
Bucks in 100 objects!
Online celebrations for VJ DAY
Supping in the summertime...
Have you seen 'Your Voice Bucks'?
Voter registration – please follow the instructions on your form or email
Could you be a foster carer?
Need to speak to us face-to-face?
Bucks County Museum reopens its garden
'Pop Up' museum exhibition at the Eden
Centre
Book of the Month
‘Eat Out to Help Out’ – help boost our local businesses
Eat Out to Help Out is a national Government scheme which is running from Monday 3 August right up until 31 August and we’re encouraging our local residents and visitors to get out there, make the most of the offer and support our many brilliant hospitality businesses. Anyone can get money off eating out or just having a coffee at a participating bar, café or restaurant. Look out for the special Eat Out to Help Out window stickers or use the online search to discover all the places near you (within a 5-mile radius) who are participating.
As a customer, you can get 50% off your food and any non-alcoholic drinks, up to £10 discount per person. You can get the discount for children too and you can eat out and get the discount as many times as you like on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. You don’t need vouchers as you’ll get your discount taken off your bill at the end.
30 hours childcare – apply by 31 August
If you’re a working parent of a 3 or 4-year-old and you earn at least 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage, did you know you could be entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare? These 30 hours can be used at participating full daycare (nurseries), schools, childminders, sessional providers (playgroups) and after school clubs.
To take up this offer from September, check your eligibility and apply by the 31 August deadline. Here’s how:
Find out if you’re eligible. To find out if you’re eligible for 30 hours (or another childcare scheme), enter your details into the Childcare Choices website.
Apply If you are eligible. Apply for 30 hours via GOV.UK. Do this as soon as you can.
Find participating providers. Search for participating childcare providers in Buckinghamshire using the Family Information Service directory.
Already taking up 30 hours? Reconfirm your eligibility
If you’re already taking up the 30 hours of funded childcare you will need reconfirm your eligibility every three months, you can do this by signing into your Childcare Account (GOV.UK).
Need childcare for September?
If you need childcare from September whether it’s funded or not, find providers with vacancies on our directory. Show me childcare providers in Buckinghamshire that have vacancies.
Start of term school transport update
Students entitled to free school transport on council-run bus services have now had their place confirmed for the autumn term and have been sent their bus pass.
Spare seats were allocated to pupils on the paid-for waiting list by the end of July, and offers sent to parents. Where offers for paid-for seats are not taken up, those seats will be re-offered to people on the waiting list from 14 August. Bus timetables will also be published by 14 August.
Recycle more today!
More and more people in Buckinghamshire are recycling their plastic pots, tubs and trays from the kitchen. But if you need to check if something is recyclable, use our Waste Wizard a free tool designed just for local residents – Recycle more today!
Remember to check the website for any changes to waste collections over the August Bank Holiday. Household recycling Centres are open as usual, including Bank Holidays.
And the good news just keeps coming...
In our last newsletter we shared the news that one lucky Buckinghamshire resident had won the incredible £25,000 jackpot with Buckinghamshire Lottery. Since then, we are also delighted to share that we’ve had a £2,000 winner!
This is more fantastic news for the lottery, which helps support a huge variety of good causes across the county, including sports clubs, animal charities, disability charities, local community centres and schools. Tickets cost just £1 with 60% of all sales going directly to support good causes here in Bucks. Players can choose to support either their favourite good causes or alternatively the general good cause fund, which also supports a wide range of local organisations.
What are you waiting for? Sign up to support a local good cause near you today.
Autumn term Adult Learning courses now available to enrol
Buckinghamshire Adult Learning’s autumn term programme of part-time courses are now available to enrol. Visit their website or call 01296 382403 to book your place. Choose from a wide range of courses which are face-to-face and online including: languages, creatives studies, home improvements and gardening and health and fitness.
Bucks in 100 objects!
In spite of the pandemic there’s still so much culture to soak up here in Buckinghamshire, even if we’re having to do things a little differently! Check out the Bucks in 100 Objects project for example. The aim is to identify the top 100 objects that best sum up Buckinghamshire and we’ve had some fantastic nominations from some very well-known names!
For example, broadcaster Gabby Logan has picked Cliveden, Lord Lieutenant Sir Henry Aubrey Fletcher has nominated the Boarstall Cartulary, and we’ve also seen nominations for many other favourite famous landmarks like the Golden Ball on top of St Lawrence Church in West Wycombe and the Lions in Aylesbury’s market square!
We’ve received over 60 nominations so far, but we still want to hear of more, so if your favourite Bucks object or story is not yet included please get in touch – details of how to submit a nomination can be found on the website. Eventually we want to be able to select a final 100 objects to create an exhibition, public trails, and a website that tell the story of Buckinghamshire through these objects.
Online celebrations for VJ DAY
Saturday 15 August 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day). While celebrations might look different this year due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), Buckinghamshire Council is still keen to mark VJ Day while adhering to the government’s guidelines around social distancing during this time.
Take a look at our online VJDay75 page for creative suggestions, educational resources and fun ideas on how to mark the day respectfully and responsibly. Perhaps you’re decorating your street or planning picnics in the garden? Do keep letting us know by emailing vjday@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.
We’ve been working with local partners and organisations to bring our commemorations online, and will be sharing stories, photos and videos on social media on Saturday 15 August – some featuring a few special guests!
Follow @BucksCouncil on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our VJ Day content and remember to tag us in your own VJ Day celebration photos.
Supping in the summertime...
Whether at a pub, restaurant or BBQ, if you’re drinking alcohol, it can be really easy to lose track of how many beers or glasses of wine you’ve had – especially when it’s warm as a cold drink is so refreshing. Before you know it, you might find that you’ve had three or four alcoholic drinks which can cause you to become unwell in the heat and makes sunstroke or dehydration more likely.
Drinking too much also impairs your abilities and lowers inhibitions often resulting in accidents happening. So, this summer, think about what you drink!
The lower risk guidelines recommend that you do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, that you spread your drinking over three days or more and that you have at least a couple of alcohol free days each week.
Find out how many units are in your drinks as well as support to help you cut down the amount of alcohol you’re drinking by going to the NHS website.
Have you seen 'Your Voice Bucks'?
It’s the county’s online hub for public engagement activities and consultations being run by ourselves and the NHS. Check out who’s asking for the public’s views and see if there’s anything you’re interested in. If you want to know more, please email consultations@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.
Voter registration – please follow the instructions on your form or email
We are currently contacting residents by post or email to ensure the electoral register is up to date, and it’s essential that you follow the instructions provided.
If you need to reply, the quickest and easiest way is online, by text or by phone – this will save paper and postage. However, please read your form carefully as you may not need to reply.
You need to be registered in order to vote, and not being registered could also affect your chances of obtaining credit. Further information can be found on our website.
Could you be a foster carer?
There are currently around 500 children in the council's care, and our foster carers play an important part in helping them towards a good future. If you'd like to find out exactly what's involved in being a foster carer, why not join one of our relaxed and welcoming online information sessions? You can reserve a space by going to our fostering webpage.
Need to speak to us face-to-face?
We’re happy to say that most of our Council Access Points (CAPs) are now open, with strict social distancing (in line with the latest government guidance) in place. This will make it easier for you to get the information and support you need – at a location near where you live or work.
Although we encourage residents to access our services online or to call us, we know that some people would like face-to-face contact, possibly if they need extra support and guidance with their query.
Details of the location of your local CAP, what support is available, and the opening times can be found on our website.
Bucks County Museum reopens its garden
It was smiles all round on Friday 31 July, as Bucks County Museum reopened its garden after closing for lockdown back in March.
The launch marked the start of a summer programme offering yoga, mindfulness, open gardens and family crafts – all taking place in the museum’s popular Victorian walled garden on selected days. The museum’s open gardens continue Thursday afternoons (13 August and 3 September) with pop-up mini events, such as art and mindfulness.
The museum is also excited to announce that their Family Fun Garden Explorer sessions (Fridays and Saturdays) kick off on 14 August and include the Bank Holiday 31 August. Visitors need to pre-book these family dates on the museum’s website. Admission on the day is by donation to the museum by card or cash.
'Pop Up' museum exhibition at the Eden Centre
Wycombe Museum has installed a Pop Up museum in one of the units in the Eden Centre in High Wycombe. The exhibition celebrates Wycombe’s furniture making industry. A local artist is using mid-century furniture, including four Parker Knoll armchairs; and Ercol has kindly supplied an original 1877 Windsor chair. In addition, a local conservator from DesBox has sent a piece of restored furniture, and a local artist has provided a print display of mid-century museum chairs. The Pop Up space includes children’s activity tables and a shop, and is open Wednesday-Friday 11am-4pm throughout the school holidays. Entry is free.
As for the museum itself, the gardens and cafe are currently open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Book a free entry ticket.
Book of the Month
This month’s Book of the Month recommendation from our libraries team is Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo.
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls.
Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it’s the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.
Reserve a paperback copy, read the eBook or listen to the audiobook.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
To contact us online, please use our Contact Us form. If you’re unable to contact us online, please call us on 0300 131 6000. Phone lines are open:
Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 5pm
Please note we’re closed on bank holidays.
To keep up to date with the latest news from Buckinghamshire Council, please follow us on social media:
Buckinghamshire Council
The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF
buckinghamshire.gov.uk
