There will be an open meeting to discuss the forthcoming Soapbox Derby at 6 pm on 29th May in The Yew Tree.

This will be an opportunity for people to ask questions of the Soapbox Derby organising group and to sign up as volunteers to support the day. The soapbox group will explain how they have addressed feedback from last year’s event including issues such as car-parking and toilets. Sharon and Wayne Marsh will outline The Yew Tree’s plans for the day.

All are welcome and any help will be gratefully received!

The official election results for the district and parish council elections are as follows:

Red Horse

• Allison Aves, Green Party, 226 votes
• John Feilding, Conservative Party, 698 votes
• John Insoll, Liberal Democrats, 135 votes
• Jan Sewell, Labour, 75 votes

Avon Dassett

• Philip Baxter, 48 votes
• Mike Blakeman, 72 votes
• Trevor Gill, 63 votes
• Martyn Heard, 47 votes
• Liz Hirst, 70 votes
• Darrell Muffitt. 58 votes

Congratulations to the successful candidates and thanks and commiserations to those who stood and were not successful.

There are parish and district council elections today. Remember to vote at the Reading Room.

Parish Council Candidates

• Phil Baxter
• Mike Blakeman (Independent)
• Trevor Gill
• Martyn Heard
• Liz Hirst
• Darrell Muffitt

District Council Candidates

• Allison Aves (Green Party)
• John Fielding (Conservative Party)
• John Insoll (Liberal Democrats)
• Jan Sewell (Labour Party)

A caravan was stolen from Piles in Warmington on 23rd April. We have received an update about the theft from Cllr Jacqui Harris of Harbury. There is a professional cross-border team targeting local businesses stealing various types of property. At Piles they had to move an HGV to steal the caravan so they are very determined. Please be vigilant.

Even when it’s expected, an autism diagnosis can have a big effect on the person diagnosed and their family. You might be trying to cope with a condition you don’t know much about and learning to live together in new ways, or supporting people to do this. Thinking about what comes next can be a daunting prospect for everyone.

Grapevine, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups are working with professionals and local families to find different ways of coming together to solve problems early and lay the foundations for a wonderful life.

We’re all on this journey and hope that by looking beyond the process of getting a diagnosis and understanding how getting things right early on, we can build a promising future for all those with autism, their families and the communities they are connected to.

Join us so you can influence these developments and be involved in the Walks and Talks and Ideas Factory that will follow.

The first step is to go for a walk and talk out in the open where families, individuals, professionals, commissioners, community workers can come together and talk about how things are at the moment and tell each other about their experiences and how they have overcome some of the challenges.

The second session is an ideas factory where we will build on some of the ideas and potential solutions that came out in the walk and talk and develop actions to move them forwards.

Children are welcome at the events but please let us know if you plan to bring them and their ages so we can ensure appropriate activities are arranged.   Support with travel expenses can be provided for individuals and their families to attend the events.

Coventry Walk and Talk: Friday 17^th May 09:30-12:30 at Friargate

Coventry Ideas Factory: Tuesday 21^st May 09:30-12:30 TBC

Warwick Walk and Talk: Thursday 23^rd May 09:30-12:30 TBC

Warwick Ideas Factory: Monday 3^rd June 09:30-12:30 TBC

Join Avon Dassett’s thriving Gardening Club or come as a guest. The new programme for the year is now online!

• https://www.avondassett.com/clubs-groups/gardening-club/

The NHS in Warwickshire is changing. With growing pressure on the NHS – people living longer, more people living with long-term conditions, and lifestyle choices affecting people’s health – changes are needed to make sure everybody gets the support they need.

The Government is investing an extra £20bn a year in the NHS. The NHS has produced a Long Term Plan, setting out all the things it wants health services to do better for people across the country. Now your local NHS needs to hear from you about what those changes should look like in your community.

The Long Term Plan sets out what the NHS wants to do better, including making it easier for people to access support closer to home and via technology, doing more to help people stay well, and providing better support for people with cancer, mental health conditions, heart and lung diseases, long-term conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis, learning disabilities and autism, and for people as they get older and experience conditions such as dementia.

Your local NHS needs to hear from you about what it should do to make care better for your community.

• How would you help people live healthier lives?
• What would make health services better?
• How would you make it easier for people to take control of their own health and wellbeing?
• What would you do to make support better for people with long-term conditions?

Share your views with Healthwatch Warwickshire and help make your local NHS better for everyone in Warwickshire.

How can you help?

Fill out this short survey:

https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/what-would-you-do-general

And/or this survey if you have a long-term condition: (mental health, diabetes, dementia, autism, arthritis, heart & lung problem, Cancer, Learning disability)

https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/tell-us-what-would-you-do

If anyone would like an easy-read version of the survey or printed copies, please get in touch with us:

Healthwatch Warwickshire

4-6 Clemens Street, Leamington Spa

Warwickshire

CV31 2DL

Tel: 01926 422823

info@healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk

Save the Dates!

Avon Dassett pop-up produce and craft markets will be held on Saturday 7th September and Saturday 7th December 2019 at The Yew Tree pub.

The autumn market will be ideal for anyone wishing to sell off surplus locally grown fruit, veg and flowers and the Xmas market will offer lots of Xmas gift ideas. The market’s aim is to support local businesses and residents.

All stalls are welcome at a cost of £5 per table and a raffle prize. All proceeds will go to Fenny Compton Scout & Explorer group and Fenny Compton church roof fund.

Stallholders who wish to reserve a place for either market should get in touch via avondassettcommunitywebsite@gmail.com or @AvonDassett facebook page.