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 The village of Rayne is a large community where the momentum for change and improvement to benefit all is strong and where good links exist with outside agencies to help drive this.
Throughout the year, a range of activities are on offer for the whole community, from fetes and musical entertainment to regular walks and firework displays. Efforts are also made on a regular basis to make sure residents are kept well informed regarding upcoming events and community news. For example, the parish council website is accessible to all villagers and councilors can be contacted by telephone, email, through the website and, most recently, via text message – a development that it is hoped will encourage younger residents to get in touch. There is also a parish magazine which is delivered free of charge to all households, and the Rayne Forum – an online chat room through which parishioners can make their views known.
Newcomers are welcomed to Rayne with a pack distributed by the local church and copies of a district council welcome pack are available at the Community Information Point. Whether new to the village or a long-term resident, there are many opportunities for villagers to get involved in the voluntary work that’s undertaken by the community. This ranges from the editing and delivery of the parish magazine and representation on the village hall management committee, to fundraising and maintenance of public areas.
As the aforementioned parish council website and village chat room have hinted at, Rayne is very adept at using information communication technology (ICT) to its advantage. A PC with Internet access is available for all to use free of charge in the Community Information Point (located in the village hall). For residents whose computer skills require improvement, the village Web Steering Group offers free training covering the use of the Internet as well as more general skills. Along with the parish council website, a complementary village website (www.rayne-info.org.uk) also provides residents with useful information on village life and they can sign up for web alerts regarding upcoming meetings, events etc.
Rayne is situated to the west of Braintree in Essex and has a population of about 3,200.
Visit the Rayne web site at www.rayne-essex.gov.uk
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