This meeting was scheduled to discuss a range of community matters including grant applications, updates on the Hitchin BID and the Churchgate Regeneration project. The forum was also scheduled to hear a presentation from the Communities Team at Everyone Active about their work in Hitchin.

Grant applications

The forum was scheduled to consider four applications for community grants:

Carers in Hertfordshire - £1,393 towards setting up and running a support hub in Hitchin for unpaid carers

Carers in Hertfordshire is a charity for unpaid carers in Hertfordshire. They were seeking funding towards setting up and running a support hub in Hitchin which would be free for unpaid carers to attend.

They are applying for funding towards setting up and running a carer support hub, based in Hitchin, which is free to unpaid carers. They currently have 1,900 unpaid registered carers who live in Hitchin, and they have highlighted that they would like a hub in Hitchin. They currently run a hub in Letchworth, Royston and Stevenage.

Appendix 2. Carers in Hertfordshire

The British Schools Museum - £1,133 towards updating a display room for exhibitions

The British Schools Museum, based in Hitchin, is a museum of the history of education. They were seeking funding towards putting on an exhibition on the childhood story books of the late Queen Mother. The money would have been used to make their display room suitable for exhibiting the books.

For this, they need to ensure that their display room is adequate in terms of heating, humidity, lighting and display for these precious books. There is currently no working heater in this space. This project would also enable them to make this space accessible both for this display and beyond for future exhibitions. As they envision inviting members of the community to collaborate with them in using this display space, to create shared exhibitions that focus on areas of particular interest to different groups.

Appendix 3. The British Schools Museum

Hitchin Town Youth Football Club - £1,300 towards two sets of goal posts

Hitchin Town Youth Football Club is a football club for young people. They were seeking funding towards the cost of two new sets of goalposts, which they said were needed because the goalposts at Holwell Recreation Ground were in a state of disrepair.

They generally use the goalposts provided by pitch owners, however in the case of Holwell, their facilities are in dis-repair and therefore to cover the purchase of two new sets of goalposts, would be beyond their normal expenditure.

Appendix 4. Hitchin Town Youth Football Club

Caudwell Youth - £1,800 towards the salary of a Youth Support Coordinator

Caudwell Youth is a national charity that provides support to young people through volunteer mentoring. They were seeking funding towards the salary of a Youth Support Coordinator who would be responsible for supporting young people in North Herts.

Caudwell Youth support young people at-risk aged 11 to 24 through person-centred volunteer mentoring for up to two years. They support young people with a wide range of needs, primarily in the categories of mental health, care experience, offending behaviour and exploitation.

Appendix 5. Caudwell Youth

Updates

The forum was scheduled to receive updates on the following:

Hitchin BID

The forum was scheduled to receive a verbal update from the Hitchin BID manager on their work in Hitchin town centre.

The Hitchin BID is a business improvement district that works to improve the trading environment in Hitchin town centre. BIDs are funded by a levy on businesses in the BID area.

Churchgate

The forum was scheduled to receive a short written update about the Churchgate consultation, read by the forum Chair.

The Churchgate Regeneration Project is a project to regenerate the Churchgate area of Hitchin, which includes the area around Hitchin swimming pool, Bancroft Hall, and Hitchin market.

Community matters

The forum was scheduled to receive an update from Councillor Ian Albert, also a Herts County Councillor, on the recent flooding and fires in Hitchin.

The forum was also scheduled to be provided with an update from council officers to keep members informed of the work of the Community and Partnerships team. This included an update on the North Herts Heroes Awards, information about community groups that received funding from the North Herts Prosperity Fund, and an update on the Big Draw Festival at North Herts College.

Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 have been approved for a range of community groups across the district using money from North Herts Prosperity Fund, a pot of £210,000 funded by the UK Government.

Appendix 6. Community Updates

Hitchin Mosque

The forum was scheduled to receive an update from representatives of Hitchin Mosque about their search for new premises.

Parking tariff consultation

The forum was scheduled to receive a presentation from Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of North Herts Council, about the proposed parking tariff consultation.

Ward matters & outside organisations

The forum was also scheduled to receive any verbal reports from members and members of the public regarding ward matters and outside organisations.

This is a standard item on the agenda for Hitchin Community Forum meetings. Ward matters are matters that relate to the running of the council in a particular ward. Outside organisations are organisations that are not part of the council but which may be of interest to the forum.