History

History of CCB

CCB was formed on the 25th September 1973 as the Berkshire Community Service Council. In 1977 the name was changed to the Berkshire Community Council and in 1982 the name was again changed to the Community Council for Berkshire. Today, whilst we stil retain that name we are known throughout the county as CCB.

Originally established to support the Berkshire Voluntary Sector, CCB provided the services of a Council for Voluntary Service across Berkshire until the re-organisation of the county in 1998.  During that time CCB was instrumental in the establishment of the Berkshire Environmental Forum, the Berkshire Community Trust (now the Berkshire Community Foundation), a Charities Information Resource and Voluntary Sector Training Consortium and the formation of Councils for Voluntary Service for Wokingham, Maidenhead & Windsor, Bracknell and Newbury, amongst many other initiatives. 

Berkshire was one of the few counties remaining in England without a Rural Community Council and in 1975 CCB was able to appoint its first Countryside Liaison Officer with a grant from the Development Commission. Work was broadened to include supporting voluntary groups in rural Berkshire and work on rural transport and village halls began.  CCB’s work spanned both urban and rural communities and there was much focus on projects involving employment advice and health and social care.  

Today CCB is once again providing services across all six unitary authority areas of Berkshire.  It is a recognised expert in the provision of rural services and has a dedicated rural team who provide a range of core services including supporting community buildings management committees and working to identify opportunities for the development of affordable rural housing.  CCB has a nationally recognised expertise in community planning working with over 60 parishes and small rural towns in the development of parish plans, market town health checks and the projects which come from these plans.  Accessibility to services is a key area of concern for rural communities and CCB works closely with partners at community, unitary and regional level to seek solutions.  CCB’s work encompasses not just the issues of social justice but also engages with economic issues and solutions to ensure rural communities remain inclusive, vibrant and sustainable. 

The needs of the disadvantaged have, in the past, been tackled through our project work. We have experience of working with Gypsies and Travellers Communities, Migrant Workers, the BME Community, Carers, Young People and the Unemployed. Our work aims to help those who are held back by a lack of opportunity whether that is caused by poverty, lack of skills, isolation or social deprivation. 

CCB manages ‘Action for All’ a community web portal providing access to news, information and offering web sites to the voluntary and community sector.

In addition to its service delivery role CCB is also active in advocating for the communities and individuals it works with and uses its knowledge of local needs to be able to influence the development of policy and service delivery.  It is an active participant at many of the Local Strategic Partnerships across Berkshire and represents rural and disadvantaged communities on a wide range of partnerships and statutory bodies.