North Cotswold Community Awareness

Our Story

A group of amazing ladies got together on a voluntary basis in 2010.  They linked with health and education professionals in the North Cotswolds to find out more about what was needed.  Then they went to work raising funds to provide emergency relief for families with primary school age children. Operating through a network of local health and education professionals, we cover Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on the-Water and surrounding villages. In 2017/18 our geographic reach broadened to include Shipston-on-Stour and the surrounding villages of South Warwickshire.

 

The decision was made to become a registered charity in order to maximize tax efficiency and receive the most out of every donation.  Importantly, at least 97% of each donation goes to those who most need the help.  The vast majority of running costs are covered through the generosity of local business partners or from our own resources.

 

We will continue to work with those long-standing partners such as Rotary, Roundabout, Squab Group and Warner Budgens as well as local farmers, schools and other generous donors.  Our charitable status allows us to broaden our reach and to step up our fund raising efforts in order to meet the growing needs of our local communities.

 

We need your support.  Here are some examples of what your money can buy
  • £6 buys a rug for a child’s bedroom to cover a cold floor
  • £10 buys a duvet for a child to ensure they get a proper night’s sleep and are ready for school the next day
  • £25 buys a complete school uniform for a child
  • £35 buys a family counselling session to bring families together
  • £75 buys a specialist therapy session for victims of abuse
  • £80 provides a Santa package for an entire family with food, gifts and toiletries
  • £100 provides a safe and warm meeting place for a whole term for a mother & toddler support group for the survivors of domestic violence

North Cotswold Community Awareness is a Registered Charity Number 1175482

The Facts

Public Health England published a report in early 2017 which warned that Rural communities are in danger of being overlooked when it comes to poverty, deprivation and ill-health.  In England 9.8m people – or 19% of the population – live in rural settings and while on average people in rural areas have better health than those in cities, the popular idea of the affluent country life is a misconception.

Official statistics have failed to capture the reality that many residents scattered across rural communities face deprivation, poverty and poor health.

“Within a rural community there are significant inequalities between parts that actually are very wealthy and parts that are quite deprived,” – Dr Rashmi Shukla, 
Public Health England’s regional director for the Midlands and East of England and lead author of the report.

Research is shedding light on a number of issues affecting the health and wellbeing of rural communities, including low-paid work, unemployment of young people, high costs of housing and fuel poverty.

  • The Cotswolds has been identified as the second worst area to live in this country if you are poor
  • 25% of all children in rural districts live in low-income households
  • 1.1million children in low income households live in rural districts
  • 66% of children in low income rural households live in a family where at least one parent is working

POSTAL ADDRESS

Cotswold Community Awareness
PO box 99
Moreton in Marsh
GL56 9XY