Defra Support

Communication the Key

Village Fact File
County: Leicestershire
Village: Ashby Parva
Location: South of Leicester close to the M1
Population: 176

Communication is key in Ashby Parva, both within the village itself and further out in the surrounding areas. The village happily incorporates people from outside the local community into its events and activities, and some become regular visitors, even lending a hand in the organisation of social functions. Whilst the village does not have a parish council, it does hold Parish Meetings which fulfill the same role, but don’t involve an elected council. Instead, every voter in the village has an equal say on matters concerning the community and, if necessary, they are invited to take part in a vote to reach a democratic decision on a particular issue.

In a small village, virtually everyone knows everyone else and an informal network to provide help and support when people need it has been created. Ashby Parva is a caring community where residents are always willing to help out a friend or neighbour. New residents are welcomed to the village, naturally, by their neighbours, but also with a ‘welcome pack’ containing information on all the village’s services and activities. It is then relatively easy for newcomers to quickly get involved in village life, if they so wish. Information is distributed with a monthly newsletter, regular village hall news sheets are distributed, flyers are used to advertise special events, and of course the local informal ‘grapevine’ – the fastest method of them all!

As with any community, Ashby Parva’s young people are its future. Residents work hard to involve young people in general village life as well as providing specific events and activities for them. The village hall, which has recently undergone a £90,000 refurbishment, is used for a wide range of activities for people of all ages, and typically it is in community use for about 30 hours a week. The village hall committee, which is a registered charity, works hard to organize special events on a regular basis in addition to the hall’s usual uses. Recent examples of this include a ‘Wild West’ night, a Mexican evening and a village murder mystery!

What this small village lacks in size, it more than makes up for in terms of its spirit and sense of community. Ashby Parva is a welcoming village with caring and enthusiastic residents.