IN OUR democracy, we need to ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. Please keep an eye out for an email or letter from Bath & North East Somerset Council in the coming weeks.

The annual canvass is our way of ensuring that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date. To make sure you can vote at upcoming elections, simply follow the instructions sent to you.

The emails are being sent by the Electoral Registration Officer with the subject line ‘Check and confirm your household voter details’. You can verify the email is not a scam on the council website (www.bathnes.gov.uk/annual-canvass) or by calling the electoral services team on 01225 477333 or emailing [email protected]

We have worked closely with the West of England Combined Authority to highlight our rural communities’ needs. I am delighted that Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, recently announced a new 768 bus service between Radstock and Bath.

The fixed-route WESTlink bus trial will help reconnect our villages with each other and with Radstock and Bath.

The new timetabled bus service connects Writhlington, Radstock, Clandown, Camerton, Timsbury, Tunley, Priston, Nailwell, Englishcombe, Bear Flat, and Bath City Centre.

The former Trinity Church building has been a mainstay in Radstock for 120 years. This hub has been awarded funds for community projects that have a positive impact on the environment.

The second round of the West of England Rural England Prosperity Fund is supporting the Trinity Hub Project with £56k to transform the building owned by Radstock Town Council into a vibrant hub with a library, arts and cultural venue, café, and rentable office accommodation.

The first phase of works will improve the building’s energy efficiency, replace the roof, install rooftop solar panels and furnish the main hall.

The project received £255k for building works and £28.5k for a community hub manager from the West of England UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in a previous funding round.

The funding follows a successful bid by the council working closely with Radstock Town Council and Bath and West Community Energy to be ready to deliver the scheme.

A new council initiative, the Somer Valley Skills Pathway Supported Internship, offers young people aged between 16 and 24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or additional needs a mix of work experience, skills education and support to help find a job with a local employer.

The programme is the result of needs raised during engagement with SEND Parent Carers.

After successfully completing the internships and depending on job availability, the young people could be offered their first paid employment role by Somer Valley employers who have signed up to the scheme, including the council.

The programme will empower young people to achieve their potential in the world of work. For more information, telephone 0300 332 7997 or email [email protected].