The Castle Community Association is a committee that works alongside Patricroft Community Group CIC at The Castle Community Centre. The two work together to build the local community and address the local needs. The CIC will focus on more larger scale projects, like the building work and other long-term plans while the Association focusses on smaller projects and is a voice of the community.

We have our Annual General Meeting (AGM) coming up at the end of October and we want to welcome more people onto the committee of the Association so that we have a good representation of the community.
 
To be a committee member we ask that you understand the needs of the community and a passion to make a difference. We would like to encourage young people to join the committee to be advisors and representatives for the local young people.

This year we are following the government guidelines and restricting physical numbers at the community centre to six so we will be asking others to join us via on Zoom. If you would like join the committee we will ask you to join our AGM via our zoom meeting and there you can be put forward to be elected onto the committee for the next 12 months. We have a maximum of 12 committee members. 

If you would like more information please contact Judy or Jane by emailing thecastlecommunitycentre@gmail.com

​Below is a copy of our code of conduct and the date and time of the meeting will be posted once it is confirmed. 

Code of Conduct

 Management Committee Members should:

• Strive to attend all meetings, sending apologies to the chair for necessary absences.
• Prepare for the meeting by reading the agenda, papers and emails before the meeting.
• Talk to the chair before the meeting if you need to clarify anything.
• Arrive on time.  Stay to the end.
• Participate fully in the meeting;
  • Listen to what others have to say and keep an open mind.
  • Contribute positively to the discussions.
• Have the best interests of the organisation/beneficiaries in mind at all times.
• Draw attention to any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in the meeting.
• Fulfil any responsibilities assigned to you at the meeting and be prepared to report back on your progress at the next meeting.

 
Behaviour

• Treat each other with respect.
• Avoid offensive or insensitive comments or language.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Avoid bringing the organisation/committee into disrepute.
• Express dissent where necessary, but avoid conflict.

 
Management Committee Members should:

• Be active – you cannot be a dormant or ‘sleeping’ management committee member, you are still liable for the decisions the others make in your absence.
• Act jointly – an individual has no powers on their own unless they have been specifically given them by the committee (minuted at a proper meeting).
• Act constitutionally (and within the law) – make sure that you act within the powers and objects (remit) set out in your constitution.  Including following the constitution on how meetings are run and how the committee is recruited.
• Act in the interests of the beneficiaries – put yourself in the beneficiaries’ position and make decisions that are best for them.
• Act reasonably and honestly – remembering to minute discussions and debates so that your reasonableness can be demonstrated.
• Have a duty of care – act prudently and reasonably.
• Not benefit personally – unless allowed specifically in the constitution or by law.
• Avoid conflict of interest – manage actual conflicts of interest through a written process/policy and elsewhere avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.

While our volunteers have been busy in the garden they have also been involved in making craft boxes for local children. Many of the children are missing attending both school and the clubs they come to during the week and school holidays here at the community centre. Earlier this year we we were successful in securing funding from the Wellbeing Fund run by Salford CVS. This was going to fund our holiday clubs but unfortunately, due to the current circumstances, we have not been able to run them. 
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We had a chat with Salford CVS and asked them if they would be willing to support us in making up craft and activity boxes and delivering them to the children who would usually attend our clubs and also to other local children.  They kindly said yes! So, we took the activities to them. We also received a kind donation from a local church which allowed us to help even more children. 
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In the boxes were some basics, like coloured pens, paper etc and lots of activities like puzzles, word searches and a cake mix for baking. 

We are so pleased with the feedback from them. Parents and the children have told us how much they have enjoyed them and have asked us for more. 

We are currently looking into various options to be able to continue with this in the future. We'll keep you posted! 
If you have had a box and have some photos you would be willing to share with us we would love to see them. You can send them to us at: thecastlecommunitycentre@gmail.com
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The last few months have been difficult for everyone, especially during the full lock-down. We are very lucky to have a wonderful team of volunteers who have transformed the outdoor space at the back of the community centre. 
During full lock-down Judy and Dave were busy working away getting rid of all the ivy and emptying planters of all the old soil so that they could be moved and re-filled. Using funds that we received from the Bardsley fund they bought new planters, storage, equipment and a water butt. 
The space started to come together and as lock- down started to ease we were able to have more volunteers into help with painting and tidying. They have all done a fantastic job and we look forward to welcoming people back. 

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