Community Council

Contents

Chairman’s Report, November 2022

Background

If we had to characterise this year of the Community Council, we might say ‘challenging’ – as indeed because of Covid it was challenging under the last years of Rodney’s chairmanship. Challenging because we know that Covid is still with us, and we know that increasingly in 2022 money has been tight. Everyone has to make choices about where they spend their money. So it is natural that attendance at our events is under pressure.: we don’t yet know what is the new normal as it applies to the programme of Community Council events.

So it is against that background that we look at our accomplishments in 2022 and look forward to 2023.

Events and Activities

Bouncing back from the effects of Covid and related issues, our Programme of Events was as busy as ever:

January	Hangover Hike
February	Speed Quiz
March	Quiz Night
April	Easter Duck Race
May	Art Show
June	Summer Solstice walk and BBQ
July	Village Fair
September	Bingo
November	Quiz Night
December	Carols by Candlelight
Monthly	Cinema

It shows that despite everything it has been a busy year for our activities. Although we had to cancel the Elvis Tribute and the Sale Trail, the preparatory work to stage both events was put in. I don’t think we could have predicted that neither activity would generate enough interest.

We celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with an evening of live music and dancing. We added a new event – the Bingo night – to our calendar, and we are looking to make this a fixture in the future.

As well as the new events, some traditional ones made a welcome return: the New Year’s Day Hangover Hike and the Easter Duck Race are back after their enforced Covid break and we look forward to more hiking and more duck racing in 2023.

And of course our cinema continues each month. Despite a very low turnout for one of our screenings, numbers are definitely picking up. Hopefully this trend will continue into 2023.

2023 and Beyond

As well as continuing to offer a programme of events for the community, in 2022 we identified some other things we want to do to keep the Community Council relevant and in keeping with its purpose:

We want to engage a broader cross section of the community; to reach out to the newer residents and those who traditionally have not participated in our activities.
We want to revive one of the original aims of the Community Council which has had less attention recently: using funds generated from our activities to support local projects and other worthwhile causes. To help achieve this, in 2022 we saw the need to renew our relationship with the Parish Council. In part this is to help us identify candidates for support based upon future plans for the community.

These issues will be a matter for the incoming chairman and the team, and I wish them well.

Finally I’d like to pay tribute to you, the team of Trustees. Despite the challenges and some setbacks, you have continued to deliver a full programme of events in 2022. Do not undervalue or underestimate your contribution to village life. Thank you for your service to those who are stepping down this year.

Although I am stepping down as Chairman and as a Trustee, I remain a strong advocate of the Community Council and I will continue to help out where and when I can.

With very best wishes to you all,

Neil
Chairman, Cockfield Community Council, November 2021-November 2022

Chairman’s Report to the Annual Parish Meeting, May 2023

Community Council Chair's Report to the Annual Parish Meeting 2023

What does the Community Council do?

Cockfield Community Council was established as a Charity in 1968 with the objective of providing adequate recreational facilities for the benefit of the community residing in Cockfield.

Their first task was to provide a new village hall which was completed in 1978.

Today the Community Council still offers support to the Village Hall and other local projects raising funds by way of various events.

The Community Council also:

Runs Cockfield Community Cinema on a monthly basis
Organises the Annual Art Show
Holds an Annual Village Produce, Flower and Craft Show
Hosts the Easter Duck Race and Carols on the Green in December
Organises a Hangover Hike on the 1st of January
Supports the Earl’s Meadow/ Bruff’s Line Amenity Project
Co-Funds the Cockfield Website
It also holds Quizzes, Bingo Nights, Sales, Auctions and other Entertainments and offers their support to other Village events
The Community Council is governed by 15 Trustees and relies on volunteers to help with our many activities.
All adults in the Village are automatically members of the Community Council and annual membership is currently free.
Profits from our various activities and events are invested in supporting the local community.

For more information, or if you would like to become a member, or make a donation or get involved, please email paulinesmalinsky@gmail.co