PLASTERDOWN GROUPED PARISH COUNCIL

BEATING THE BOUNDS

The last third of this ancient Custom will be starting at 10.00am on Sunday 20 October 2024, from our roadside Boundary stone at the Eastern edge of Riland Plantation, Plasterdown Grid Reference SX 516714. This is just a short walk from the car park at Grid Reference SX517719. We’ll complete our Boundary navigation, where we started, at our Stone near the river bridge, below the Dartmoor Inn, Merrivale. Afterwards, we’ll celebrate this completion of Beating our Bounds at the Inn, with our usual Celebration cake! There will be liquid refreshments and food, available to purchase.

This Centuries-old Tradition was used to remind local communities of their Boundaries.  Children were encouraged to join in as they would have the longest memories of them!  As it began as an annual religious event, around Pentecost, a member of the Clergy  started the proceedings, and everyone would then visit each Boundary stone, beating them with birch and willow twigs.  Simultaneously, young children were held upside down against each stone, to make sure that they didn’t forget it’s position.  Rest assured that we won’t be carrying out that Tradition, but might try our Chairman instead!

• Distance approximately 6 miles
• Wear stout footwear and bring waterproofs
• Children very welcome but must be with an adult
• Bring picnic Lunch and a drink
• Walkers do so entirely at their own risk
• Sorry, NO DOGS, at the request of farmers

Enquiries to Janet Sturmer on 01822 614752 or janetcbsturmer@aol.com

Plasterdown Parish Council is looking to appoint a Trustee to the Whitchurch Community Hall Trust

The Trust manages the village hall for the benefit of the residents of Whitchurch and provides a venue for meetings, community activities, birthday parties, the local polling station and civic functions.

The Trust meets four of five times a year in the evening. The meetings discuss maintenance, bookings, fees, finances and development projects.  The Trust is registered with the Charity Commission.

The Council is looking for a volunteer who is willing to work for the community, help manage this successful hall and to help take the hall forward into the future with new developments.

The successful applicant will represent the Parish Council on the Trust’s management board and like all trustees, can stand for the various offices within the Trust. Ideally the applicant should be a local resident but this is not essential.

Interested applicants should send their C.V. to the Parish Clerk at clerk@plasterdownparishcouncil.gov.uk 

 

 

Grenofren Bus Shelter rejuvenated

Plasterdown Parish Councillors came together to repair and repaint the bus shelter in Grenofren. The paint was kindly donated by Jewson and a new wooden bench and noticeboard have been installed.  

Childcare 

The Government want to make childcare more affordable and accessible to reduce the barriers that may be preventing some parents from working, so are expanding their childcare scheme to include more funded hours per week for more working families.

At the moment, eligible working parents can get:  

• up to 15 hours a week if your child is 9 months to 2 years old
• up to 30 hours a week if your child is 3 to 4 years old

The aim is that, by September 2025, most working families will be entitled to 30 hours of government support with childcare costs from the start of the funding period after their child turns 9 months old until, they start school.

The changes are being introduced gradually, and we've put together this special edition of our newsletter to help you understand what support you might be eligible for. They're also running some free online information session in July  about how to access more early years funded childcare and other financial help. 

Early years funding and help with childcare costs – Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)