Active Gloucestershire operate a directory of clubs which you can browse.

The GRCC village hall database contains details of halls to hire in Gloucestershire.

• www.grcc.org.uk

The responsibility for libraries in the Stroud district lies with Gloucestershire County Council. More information on libraries can be found on the Gloucestershire County Council website.

• View library locations

The following booklet gives basic information about services and agencies available in Stroud District.

• Stroud District Local Services Booklet - 690KB - PDF

If you are a group or organisation looking for project funding, the following pages may be of assistance.

• Search for grants and funding from Funding Central - a free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
• Grants and Funding from Gloucestershire County Council
• Funding advice from Gloucestershire Rural Community Council

Most applications for funding require a range of background information relating to the area you live in, the age of the population, the demographic profile etc.

In order to make accessing this information easy we have created a number of links to websites which provide the most up to date facts and figures on all these areas. Please view our business section for further advice.

• Supporting information - facts and figures - Business support

Chairman of Stroud District Council, John Hudson, said

'I am proud to be signing the covenant on behalf of Stroud District Council. We certainly value the contribution of our men and women in the armed forces and this is one way of recognising their contribution.'

Useful Links

• www.gov.uk/the-armed-forces-covenant
• www.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/gloucestershire/how-we-can-help
• www.poppyfactory.org
• Electoral registration form for a member of the Armed Forces, or their husband, wife or civil partner - PDF

War Memorials

In light of the metal thefts from up and down the country, in 2012 Stroud District Council, working with local parish & town councils and with In Memoriam 2014 completed a process of recording and target hardening all known metal war memorials throughout the district. The aim of the project was to record and maintain the nations war memorials in time for Remembrance Day 2014, and reduce their chances of being stolen.

Neighbourhood Wardens completed a review of all memorials, stone and metal, in the district. All identified memorials were photographed for future prosperity and catalogued. If a memorial was ever stolen or damage, a facsimile of the original memorial would be used to ensure all details of the names of our fallen heroes would be accurately recorded onto a replacement memorial – rather than being lost forever. All relevant data was submitted to In Memoriam 2014 which has since been uploaded onto their website www.inmemoriam2014.org. In addition, Neighbourhood Wardens applied Smart Water to each of the metal memorials to reduce the possibility of metal theft. Smart Water is a clear forensic solution that is similar to DNA, and provides the same irrefutable evidence to prove ownership of lost or stolen items. Criminals avoid it because it significantly increases the chances of them being caught.

War Pensions, War Widow Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Payments

At the Council meeting on 21 February 2013 members overwhelmingly voted that the authority disregards in full the following incomes for the purposes of assessing entitlement to Localised Council Tax Support from 1 April 2013.

1) War Widows Pension;

2) War Disablement Pension;

3) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments.

For further information about the replacement of Council Tax Benefit with Localised Council Tax Support please see: http://www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/change_benefits.asp

Anti-social behaviour covers a range of unacceptable behaviour, nuisance and criminal activity which has a negative effect on the community and the quality of life of members of the community.

Examples of anti-social behaviour include nuisance neighbours, excess noise, vandalism, graffiti, yobbish behaviour, intimidating gatherings of people, as well as littering, fly-tipping, dog fouling and abandoned cars.

Anti-social behaviour on Council land

If you are a housing tenant or are experiencing anti-social behaviour in relation to housing tenants, see Anti social behaviour on Council land for information and advice.

• Anti-social behaviour policy for further information - PDF

More information

For more information about anti-social behaviour, what can be done to tackle it, and how you can report it to the Police, see our the anti-social behaviour leaflet.

This bonfire night your child is more likely to be injured that you.

Watching fireworks can be great fun for children. But figures show that, more often than not, it's children rather than adults who get hurt by fireworks. Over the past five years over 350 pre-school children, some as young as one year old, were treated in hospital for firework injuries.

So don't put your family at risk!

Follow our easy checklist for a safe home firework display

Before the display

• Only buy fireworks from a legitimate retailer
• Inform nieghbours and be aware of their concerns
• Check the fireworks you buy are suitable for the size of garden and conform to British Standards (BS 7114)
• Read the instructions in daylight
• One person - clearly indentified - should be responsible for fireworks

Things you will need on the night

• Torch for checking instructions
• Bucket fo water
• Eye protection and gloves
• Bucket of soft earth to stick fireworks in
• Suitable supports for catherine wheels, proper launches for rockets

During the display

• Don't set off noisy fireworks late at night and never after 11pm
• Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
• Light fireworks at arm's length with a taper
• Stand well back and keep others back
• Never go back to a lit firework
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• Always supervise children
• Store fireworks in a metal box, kept closed between use
• Keep pets indoors

After the display

• Use tongs or gloves to collect spent fireworks

Sparklers

• Unsuitable for children under five
• Light one at a time
• Wear gloves when holding sparklers
• Put used sparklers hot end down into a bucket of sand or water

Bonfires

• Should be at least 18 metres (60ft) away from houses, trees, hedges, fences or sheds
• Use domestic firelighters
• Never use petrol, paraffin or other flammable liquids
• For more information visit the following website

www.fireworksafety.co.uk

These free emergency personal information cards can provide important information in the event of an emergency hospital admission to help doctors. The card contains details of the person's name, two contact names, GP's name and telephone number. Call 01543 754276 or email: community.safaety@stroud.gov.uk

An emergency information scheme ideal for anyone who feels vulnerable while living at home. The message in a bottle is stored in the fridge and provides the emergency services with vital details of any illnesses or allergies, plus a contact name.

It is available free, call 01453 754276 or email: community.safety@stroud.gov.uk

Feel free to print them out and use them.

• Poster 1 - PDF
• Poster 2 - PDF

The neighbourhood watch scheme is well known for the work that is does within the local community to prevent crime, help reduce the fear of crime and improve the quality of life. By working together, communities in the UK have so far established over 155,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes covering up to 25% of all households.

How do they work?

Neighbourhood watch schemes can be large or small covering all the houses in one estate or just a few. The scheme is generally lead by a coordinator who is kept in touch with the local police about possible problems in the area or any initiative that are taking place to prevent crime.

How to set up a neighbourhood watch scheme

To set up or join a scheme in your neighbourhood please contact the Stroud Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

• Gloucestershire Hate Crime Leaflet (PDF 230 KB)
• Community Safety 3 Year Plan 2008-11 (PDF 364 KB)

Births, marriages and deaths are administered by Gloucestershire County Council. Please use the links below for further information:

• Register a birth
• Register a death
• Order certificates
• Plan a wedding

The cemetery is set on a hillside with views across the valley to the opposite hillside. The area for Green Burials is set at the top of the site adjacent to open country.

A map is attached to identify the site location.

PDF Cemetery Charges (PDF 57 KB)

PDF Map of Brimscombe Cemetery (PDF 1,353 KB)

Basket/Container etc.

• body or ashes for interment must be contained in a biodegradable coffin, shroud, casket etc.

Plots

• only single plots are issued
• plots can be reserved
• plots will be allocated by the Authority
• plots will be denoted by a metal marker
• the plot will be topped up after initial shrinkage following the interment

Trees

• selection of available trees are Wild Cherry, Rowan, Field Maple, Birch, Hawthorn.

Note : Although any of the above may be chosen the Authority's Arboricultural Officer may override this choice and specify the tree to be planted out of the above selection.

• the tree will be approximately 3.0 - 3.7 metres high and will be planted between November and March, it will be a root balled specimen to Nursery Standard and will be planted with 120 litres of tree potting and mulch compost.
• Undertakers and relatives are encouraged to water the young tree during the first Summer period in addition to that carried out by the Authority.
• watering will be at the rate of 50 litres every 3 weeks during the first Summer period.
• trees which fail will be replaced by the Authority who will also be responsible for tree maintenance.
• the Authority will decide the position of the tree within the plot.

Green Burial Area

• the grass area will be 'rough cut' twice a year and the cuttings will be distributed evenly over the site.
• a grass swathe will be cut every three weeks around used and reserved plots.
  

Applicants living outside the District

Any applications made in respect of persons not resident within the Stroud District area will be considered if there is a tenable link between the deceased and the District (although the Authority does not agree to automatically accept such applications) and costs determined at the discretion of the Council.

Please Note:

The Authority, or its Contractor, does not undertake to supply biodegradable shrouds/coffins etc. or involve itself in the provision of personnel as pallbearers. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or Undertaker to make their own arrangements.

If you are new to genealogy, we would strongly recommend that you read one of the many books on family history available. You may also wish to join a local family history society.

Advice on how to get started is available at www.directgov.uk

Local and Family History Links

• For census returns, wills, military records and other material go to The National Archives website
• You can view an archived version of family records.gov.uk at Direct Gov

Flooding is a natural process that can happen suddenly. While the Environment Agency aims to provide advance warning and local authorities may provide assistance, the person who can do most to help is you.

If you live in a flood risk area do what you can now to prepare for a flood. Don't wait until it happens, you may not have time.

View current local Environment Agency Flood Warning Information

Sandbag Stockists

What should I do if I think my home is going to be flooded?