Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 14 June 2024

Volunteer Recruitment Fair – Thank you!
We had a marvellous time last week at our Volunteer Recruitment Event in St Nic’s Arcade in Lancaster. We were joined by some amazing organisations, all of which do things to benefit local people, from supporting people’s mental wellbeing to offering an opportunity to enjoy nature.

It was a reminder that the district is jam-packed not only with organisations and projects offering a stunning array of opportunities – for volunteers and participants alike – but also so many people who want to help, people who just want to make a positive difference to someone else… Read more

 

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We Asked, You Said: Challenges
Over the last two weeks, we asked you think about some challenges often faced by our sector and tell us which you thought were the most pressing for your organisation.

Thank you to everyone who answered – we’ll use this information to help us better plan our services and support in the future.

Here’s what you said:

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Eric Wright Charitable Trust 2024
Once again, Lancaster District CVS is working with the Eric Wright Charitable Trust to distribute grants of up to £500 to community organisations with an annual income below £50,000. Projects simply need to show how they can make a positive difference to the lives and wellbeing of people of any age.

Unlike previous years, there are no fixed application deadlines. Apply for funding at any time up until midnight on 31 July, and we’ll let you know the result by the middle of the following month. For example, all organisations who submit an application before midnight on 31 January will find out whether or not they have a grant in the middle of February, February applicants will find out in March, and so on until the fund is entirely allocated.

Download full guidance and apply at www.lancastercvs.org.uk/funding or to ask any questions about the fund please get in touch with Sharon Phillips by email at [email protected]

Neighbourhood Watch Recognition Awards
These awards celebrate Neighbourhood Watch volunteers and groups who go above and beyond for their communities, recognising the hard work and commitment of all our volunteers, who make their neighbourhoods a better place to live.

If you know a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer or group who deserves an award, visit the website to find out more

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MBPTC Community Commissioners required
The Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission is recruiting Community Commissioners for its third round. The commission aims to reshape perceptions of poverty, reveal the realities of living in poverty, challenge associated stigmas, share impactful stories, and collaboratively discover solutions to directly address poverty. They invite individuals who have experienced poverty to join and share their insights.

For more information and to get involved please contact the Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission on 07915736131 or email [email protected]  

View the recruitment poster

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BanktheFood App with Morecambe Bay Foodbank
Morecambe Bay Food Bank are asking those in the community to consider downloading the app  “Bank The Food” which will keep you up to date about all items they are short of. The app can be used on your mobile device whilst you are out shopping in your local supermarkets.

BanktheFood is free, easy to download and use and aims to support food banks by ensuring they receive the items they need most. The app alerts users when they’re at a supermarket, reminding them of their local food bank’s requirements. BanktheFood is striving to enlist all food banks nationwide to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.

Download the app here

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Charity Campaigning During the General Election
Following yesterday’s announcement of a General Election, the Charity Commission have issued guidance around charities, political activity and campaigning. There is a short 5 minute introductory guide and more detailed guidance if you need it.

Find out more

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How to Support Disabled Employees in the Workplace 
There are 16 million disabled people in the UK – that’s one in four people. Disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people. This is partly due to a lack of support for disabled employees at work.

Sally Hooper, an expert in disability inclusion at Scope, has written an article for CharityJob about what you should do to support disabled employees at your organisation.

Read the article here 

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Unlocking Finance for Community Business 
Power to Change’s latest report, “Financing the Future Economy,” explores how to unlock affordable, flexible, and accessible finance for community businesses.

The report emphasises the importance of diverse funding sources while highlighting the challenges faced by community businesses in accessing finance, and offers recommendations for funders, social investors, and government to support the growth and sustainability of community businesses. It also outlines why unlocking funding is key for communities to create an economy fit for the future. 

Read the summary here 
Read the full report here 

 

By volunteering your time and vehicle, you can make a significant impact on someone’s life.

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up as a volunteer driver.
• Let us know your availability.
• Transport patients to and from their appointments.
• Get paid for your motoring expenses.

It’s a simple yet profoundly rewarding way to give back to your community. Your kindness and generosity can provide comfort and support to those who need it most. If you’re ready to lend a helping hand and be a beacon of hope for others, get in touch today to learn more about the Volunteer Car Scheme.

View the campaign poster here

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Volunteer roles with Community Mind Connect CIC

New mental health support group, Community Mind CIC, is looking fo some volunteers to help with the following:

• Digital marketing
• Community Outreach Coordination
• Event planning
• Graphic design
• Fundraising

Find out more about these roles on our website

 

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Morecambe Maritime Festival 2024

The 2024 Lancaster Health Festival takes place on 13 and 14 July. Organisers are looking for volunteers to support the event by:

• giving out leaflets and directing people to activities
• general stewarding
• helping out on the smoothie bike

Find out more on our website

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Claver Hill – Tree Nursery Maintenance Volunteers
Claver Hill (LA1 3JY) needs help to maintain our Tree Nursery. We grow fruit trees and bushes to pass on to other community projects and now we are starting a native deciduous tree nursery growing from local seed.

Find out more on our website

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Under 18 Volunteering
We have recently had enquiries from parents and students looking for volunteering opportunities for people aged between 14 and 17. We asked registered VIOs whether they might have roles for under 18s and got a great response, so if YOU know a young person under 18 looking for a volunteering opportunity, we might be able to signpost them to something.

If your organisation has volunteering opportunities for under 18s and you haven’t already let us know, please email [email protected] with the details.

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Volunteer Opportunity Promotion and Recruitment
Have you registered on our website to promote your volunteer roles? By adding your opportunities to our website you will be making them available to the hundreds of people per month who check our site looking for something to do. You will also enable our team to easily and quickly signpost people to your roles, to give them the information that they need to decide whether they would like to apply.

Registering is quick and easy and you can do it here.

Once registered you will be able to add your roles. If you need any help, or have any questions, you can contact Mark by email at [email protected].

In addition to the website, the Volunteer Centre can promote your roles via our bulletins and newsletters; through attendance at in-person events such as volunteer fairs; in 121 meetings with potential volunteers; through visits to various support organisations; drop-in events at local Job Centres; by posting to our social media platforms; and through our bi-weekly column in the Lancaster Guardian.

If you would like to discuss any of this, including having space in our Lancaster Guardian column, please contact Mark.

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Volunteering Opportunity Help Guide
We have produced a guide to help you when adding an opportunity to our website – It is quite detailed and covers every possible question. You don’t need to follow it but please do look at it if you get stuck or if it isn’t clear which option to choose when going through the form to add new opportunities.

You can now also add more users to your account. Once registered, log in, hover on Account at the top of the dashboard and click ‘Users’, where you can add more users. This will be useful if you would like someone else to check applicant info and contact potential volunteers.

You can also now choose which category to add your opportunity under, to help people when searching for roles. If you can’t find an appropriate category just use the ‘default’ category and let us know what categories you would like to see added.

Visit the guide here

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DBS Checks
We offer a DBS check service, working in partnership with Burnley, Pendle, and Rossendale CVS. If you need DBS certificates for your staff or volunteers, please visit our website here.

Health & Wellbeing Support in the Lancaster District 
Discover the Lancaster District Directory, your go-to resource for finding essential services offered by local community groups, the NHS, and local authorities. From health and fitness to mental wellbeing, financial advice, and job skills, this comprehensive directory has it all. Easily browse through detailed listings, contact information, and referral instructions to access the support you need.

Voluntary organisations can also participate at no cost, gaining visibility and facilitating referrals.

Explore the directory at directory.lancastercvs.org.uk and connect with services to enhance your wellbeing. For more information or to join, email [email protected] or call 01524 555900. 

Help could be closer than you think! 

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St Johns Hospice Moonlight Walk
Do something wonderful in memory of someone you love. The Moonlight Walk is a sponsored 15km night time walk around Lancaster and Morecambe. The route will start and end at St John’s Hospice on Slyne Road. This year’s walk will be bigger and better than ever, and everyone is invited to walk in memory of a loved one whilst supporting and celebrating your local hospice! You don’t have to have had friends or family cared for by St John’s Hospice to join in on this Moonlight Walk – this is a chance to celebrate anyone you have loved whilst supporting a vital local charity. As well as friends and families, team, clubs and businesses of all shapes and sizes are welcome to take part. It’s not too late to take part.

The event takes place this Saturday 15 June

Find out more and get involved!

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Loneliness Awareness Week 2024
It’s Loneliness Awareness Week this week from 10 – 16 June 2024, an initiative by Marmalade Trust to raise awareness and promote connections. This year’s theme, “Random Acts of Connection,” encourages simple, daily interactions to help reduce loneliness.

• Random Acts of Connection: Engage in small acts like chatting in a queue or smiling at a neighbor.
• Host Events: Organise events and add them to the Connection Map.
• Share Resources: Use toolkits and workshops to spread awareness.

Millions, including individuals, businesses, and public figures, participate annually, making it a significant event to combat loneliness. Visit the website lonelinessawarenessweek.org for more information and resources.

If you are feeling alone and need a listening ear, browse our Health & Wellbeing Directory for a wide selection of groups and organisations that can provide support – https://directory.lancastercvs.org.uk/

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Trans and Gender Diverse Health Needs Assessment  
Local stakeholders who provide services to the TGD population are being encouraged to take part in a remote interview which will investigate the particular health needs and challenges experienced by TGD individuals across Lancashire.   

This will cover aspects such as physical and mental health and well-being. For example, rates of smoking, drinking and physical activity. Topics also covered will include housing, employment and education along with healthcare services and barriers to accessing these.   

Interviews will be expected to last about half an hour, will be semi-structured and both audio and visually recorded.   

For further questions, please contact:  Ellie Shackleton, Cumbria and Lancashire Public Health Collaborative [email protected]  / [email protected] 

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Stay Connected with Your Integrated Care Community (ICC) 
Integrated Care Communities (ICCs) are integrated teams of health and care workers, third sector organisations, statutory organisations and wider community assets. We work together with the aim to improve physical & mental health outcomes, promote wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. 

In the Lancaster District we have 3 ICCs, Lancaster, Bay and Carnforth. Each hosts a monthly online networking meeting which is a great opportunity to meet new partners, find out what is happening locally and share updates of your own.  Each ICC also has a Facebook page and a monthly newsletter that goes out far and wide. 

If you aren’t available to go along to a meeting but have something to share – don’t worry! Jenny, our Community Health Officer, attends each ICC and is very happy to update the meeting on your behalf – sharing items of news or events that are coming up.  

Contacts for each of the ICC’s are below. 

Lancaster ICC – Sarah Baines (development lead) – [email protected] / Lorraine Ducket (ICC admin) – [email protected]  

Bay ICC – Anji Stokes (development lead) – [email protected]  / Amy Dawson (ICC admin) – [email protected]  

Carnforth ICC – Hayley Clarke  (development lead) – [email protected]  / Janette Wright (ICC admin) –  [email protected]

Contact Jenny Reddell, Community Health Officer for LDCVS, at [email protected]

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Funding Opportunity for Innovative Early Cancer Diagnosis Projects
The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria is offering funding for innovative projects aimed at improving early cancer diagnosis. Organisations across healthcare sectors are encouraged to apply for grants of up to £100,000 per project. Previous successful projects include initiatives such as self-booking for cervical screening and a pancreatic cancer toolkit.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 24 June. For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Learn more about this funding opportunity

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FREE 2-Day Health Coaching Core Skills Courses
Discover a Core Skills in Health Coaching Programme, tailored for practitioners across health, care, community, and voluntary sectors. This 2-day course equips you with essential skills to integrate health coaching into your role. Accredited by the Personalised Care Institute, the programme emphasises practical tools, interactive learning, and ongoing support. Join us to enhance personalised care and empower your practice.

The 2-day courses will be delivered face to face across areas of Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Learn more about the programme
View the health coaching flyer

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Walk with a Dog – Adullam 
If you fancy venturing outdoors now the weather has turned warmer, Adullam welcome you to their “Walk with a Dog” group. They meet at 2pm on Tuesdays at the Millennium Bridge for a nearby walk and the chance to appreciate the beautiful and varied surroundings in Lancaster. Along with the walk, they offer a short discussion on a health-related topic. For the remaining hour, you can enjoy chatting with the walk leaders and other walkers.  

For more information you can also contact them at [email protected] or call 07449373979 / 07861 653978 

Find out more about Adullam  

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Ways to get involved with Loneliness Awareness Week  
Loneliness Awareness Week is coming up from 10 – 16 June, and DCMS welcomes you to get involved by sharing the Department’s loneliness campaign across your channels.

Loneliness Awareness Week is an annual campaign organised by Marmalade Trust to raise awareness of loneliness. This year’s theme, ‘Random Acts of Connection’, encourages everyday moments of connection to help us feel happier and increase a sense of belonging. Research shows that feelings of loneliness are most prevalent among young people.

The DCMS Better Health – Every Mind Matters loneliness campaign aims to normalise loneliness so that 16 – 24 year olds know that it is OK to feel lonely sometimes, and feel able to speak to someone if they do feel lonely, building a national conversation. 

Find out more here 

Swop Shop Skill Share Network – Making Young People’s Voices Heard
We are inviting colleagues to share their skills and best practice around young people’s voice, so that we can ensure that young people are placed firmly at the heart of Lancaster District Young People’s Foundation.   Organisations will be invited to share what has worked well for them and to problem solve in a peer support space.   

This skill share will take place during our next Children & Young People Multi Agency Forum meeting which will be held on

Thursday 27th June 9.30-11.30 at the Employer Hub, Lancaster and Morecambe College.

Please email [email protected] or call 01524 555900 for more information.

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Wise Up Workshops Drawing and Talking Sessions
Wise up Workshops are now taking discounted bookings for their September sessions of Drawing and Talking. Ran by their newly qualified practitioner, Drawing and Talking is  safe non-intrusive therapeutic method of working with children who may have underlying emotional difficulties or have suffered some form of trauma which is preventing them from realising their full potential.

If you are interested in their 12 week one to one programme, please contact [email protected] or call their office 07506295782.

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Theatre Workshops for Lancaster Footlights Members
Free theatre workshops for members aged 17+. Donations encouraged for the Lancaster Grand Foyer fund here. All sessions will be using the stage at Lancaster Grand, start times vary.

• June 15, 10am-12:30pm: Directing Footlights productions, led by Carol Williamson.
• June 15, 1-5pm: Acting workshop on “Woyzeck” led by Annie Lord

For more information and to participate, visit Lancaster Grand’s website.

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First Tracks Snowsports Experiences
First Tracks provides young people (aged 13-21) with their first experience of snowsports at indoor snow centres in the UK throughout July and August every year. Over two days young people will learn how to ski or snowboard and will take part in life skills sessions focusing on independence, responsibility, confidence and self-esteem.

LABGC can help young people enrol on these courses. If you work with a young person who could benefit, email [email protected]

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The Democracy Classroom
Supporting young people to engage in elections, the Democracy Classroom website holds over 700 non-partisan resources on elections and voting from over 100 organisations in the education, youth and democracy sectors.

The website is being updated regularly and contains lessons, explainers and games, and much more to help you engage with the young people you work with.

Find out more

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Children’s Nearly New Sale
The Centre @Halton is holding a Children’s Nearly New Sale on 9 June at 3pm – 5pm. Tables (reduced in cost to £10) can be booked here.

Included in the sale will be nursery equipment, clothes, toys, games and books. This fundraising event will raise proceeds to further help The Centre’s projects.

Entry is 50p for adults, but children can come along for free!

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Family Hubs Coffee & Connect
The online coffee afternoon for parents and carers takes place every Thursday afternoon from 1pm, providing information and advice, access to help from the Children & Family Wellbeing Service and signposting to local agencies as well as peer support opportunities.

Email [email protected] to get the Teams link.

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Volunteering opportunities for young people under 18
A number of organisations have indicated that they will consider offering volunteering opportunities to people under 18. You can contact CVS or the organisation directly for more information.

Bay Volunteers work with young people to carry out some of their missions

Police Cadet recruitment opened in April, ages 13 to 17.

Marsh Community Centre has a food club that they need volunteers for, Thursdays 10am til 1pm.

The Centre@Halton can possibly offer a couple of hours on either a Saturday or Sunday in the Coffee Shop (open 10am to 5pm) helping to take orders, prepare drinks and snacks.

The Salvation Army charity shop in Carnforth offers volunteering roles to 14 and 15 year olds specifically to support DofE completion, offering different hours on Saturdays and Sundays depending on whether it’s bronze or silver.

The Global Village Cafe have said that they’re open to under 18s taking part, but there is no regular schedule/opportunity. Keep an eye on their website – and contacting around the times when events are coming up.

St Johns Hospice take volunteers for their shops from age 14 upwards.

Ryelands Junior Park Run have said that they can offer various roles for people under 18 to help towards the DofE award.

West Lancashire Scouts (they cover the whole of this side of Lancashire) have roles for younger people as part of their young leaders work.

The YMCA charity shop in Lancaster is happy to take a 15 year old volunteer, however some paperwork will need to be completed by parent/guardian beforehand though. The role is not customer-facing and is mainly sorting/tagging stock (mostly clothing) and tidying the shop.

Claver Hill is a food growing project in Lancaster and they will take people under 18 but only if they are accompanied by an adult.

The NHS has a work placement scheme. It is for people aged 16 and above only and people can check out the ‘placements’ section here. Their next recruitment window has just opened in May.

Please do contact [email protected] if you would like to add your organisation to this growing list.

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Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award with Escape2Make
E2M are offering young people the opportunity to gain their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award complete free, with everything they require for the award offered through E2M’s clubs. There are five spaces left in the 2024/5 cohort, with the overnight expedition taking place over 22/23 July at Gathering Fields.

Find out more and sign up here

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More Music Sessions
Sing it Out
More Music invites 11-18-year-olds to find their voice at Sing It Out! sessions. Led by Emma Williams and Ash Murphy, these Wednesday sessions from 5 pm to 7 pm offer a safe space for singing, promoting positive mental health. No experience is required, making it perfect for those managing social anxieties or seeking to connect with peers. Admission is free, and inquiries can be directed to [email protected].

Time and Date: Running from April 29th to June 28th
Location: More Music, 13-17 Devonshire Road, Morecambe, LA3 1QT
Price: FREE 

Find out more here

More Media Collective
An exciting opportunity is being presented by More Media Collective for young people to join their team for a yearlong exploration into climate change. It will give them both a voice to shape their future and early career opportunities. Being part of the team will mean expanding knowledge of environmental issues, helping develop a new festival along with hands on experience of the live events industry, developing leadership and organisational skills and more!

To find out more and sign up please email: [email protected]  

Time and Date: 5-7pm, every Wednesday
Location: More Music, 13-17 Devonshire Road, Morecambe, LA3 1QT
Price: £3 (Suggested fee) 

Stages
This is a weekly session on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm, catering to 11-18-year-olds at a cost of £3. Whether you’re interested in learning drums, guitar, or joining a band, refining production skills, or seeking rehearsal space and gig opportunities, Stages has you covered. Led by an experienced team, the session supports musicians at all levels and across various genres. Contact [email protected] for details.

Learn more about Stages

Bay Youth Voices
Bay Youth Voices is a vocal group tailored for 6-12-year-olds who love to sing or want to start. Led by Leroy Lupton, the sessions focus on singing favourite songs, learning harmony, and performing as a group. No prior experience or music reading skills required. For more information, contact Rachel Parsons at [email protected] or call 01524 831997. Sessions take place on Fridays from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at More Music. Tickets cost £1 per session.

Learn more about Bay Youth Voices

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Work Experience – Can You Help? 
Our Lady’s Catholic College are looking for your help with Work Experience placements. Placements provide students with a chance to experience life at work for a week, discover working with new people and develop their confidence and aspirations.

The work experience programme is administrated through Unifrog, which helps to complete and record placement details, insurance requirements, and safeguarding information.

Dates: Year 12 – 17th to 21st of June.

If you can help, please contact: [email protected] 

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Exciting Opportunity for Young Leaders in the West End of Morecambe
Are you a young person aged 15-18 in the West End area of Morecambe? Do you want to make a difference in mental health support for your community? Take part in designing and delivering a grants program worth £20,000 to support mental health initiatives in the West End. Gain valuable experience, receive training, and make a real impact! Each participant will also receive a £100 voucher.

Funded by West End Big Local and facilitated by LDCVS. Contact [email protected] or call 01524 555900 to learn more.

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Aspiring Leaders Programme
Recruitment for the Aspiring Leaders Programme is now open. This is a bespoke 95% funded undergraduate degree which has been created by local organisations (Cumbria & Lancaster District) to support the development of leaders within our voluntary and community sector.

Led by Brathay Trust and a local university, ALP combines academic teaching with experiential learning and mentoring, culminating in a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.

See the programme’s promotional leaflet
Find out more and apply

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Children & Family Wellbeing Service What’s On April – June
Lancashire County Council’s Children & Family Wellbeing Service have published their schedule of activities taking place in their centres at Lune Park Hub, Poulton Neighbourhood Centre, Westgate Neighbourhood Centre, and Carnforth Hub throughout April, May and June.

Download the guide here

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Blue Influencers Scheme
Developed by UK-wide educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust, the Blue Influencers Scheme is a three-year initiative that focuses on reconnecting young people aged 10-14 to their blue spaces.

It will support young people from underserved communities and those living in deprived coastal, estuary and riverside locations, by empowering them to act on environmental issues.

There are now Blue Mentors in post at Global Link and Morecambe Bay Partnership who are seeking to work with groups of young people (target age 10-14 years-olds) on environmental social action projects.

If you are a school (primary and secondary), community space, charitable organisation, or know of a group of passionate young people, contact Ant at Global Link ([email protected] or 07717 655515) or Lauren at Morecambe Bay Partnership ([email protected] or 07505 962212)

Lancaster’s Mid-summer Market
Foodfutures are bringing together a vibrant celebration of local food and crafts at Lancaster’s Midsummer Market on Friday, 14 June, from 10:00-17:00 in the market square. Experience seasonally-inspired food, meet local producers, and enjoy live music and crafts. This market, part of FoodFutures’ seasonal series, highlights summer’s bounty and community spirit.

Find out more details about this event

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Claver Hill Open Day
All are welcome to come and celebrate the opening of the new Accessible Nature Trail.

There will be refreshments, walks, singing, story telling, and lots of activities for everyone. The new Accessible Nature Trail will accommodate wheelchairs and push chairs.

Saturday 27 July, 1pm – 4pm at Claver Hill, Ridge Lane LA1 3JY

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Local Food Hub Pilot
Buying food directly from local producers in North Lancashire is about to get a lot easier as plans for a local food hub are taking concrete shape.

Find out more on the FoodFutures website (including a full feasibility study report) or come along to the Midsummer Market on 14 June, Lancaster Market Square.  

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Six Inches of Soil Film
Six Inches of Soil tells the inspiring story of young British farmers who are using agroecological and regenerative approaches to stand up against the industrial food system; transforming how they produce food.

The film is a story of hope – for healing the soil and our health and to provide nutritious food for local communities. The viewing will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by FoodFutures.

9 June, 6:30pm at The Dukes Lancaster, LA1 1QE

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A Growers’ Co-operative for North Lancashire
The idea for a local growers’ co-operative emerged out of the 2023 FoodFutures FarmStart training. The cooperative would allow people to put in the time that suits their other commitments rather than having to go all in on starting a business. It could also link into other projects through FoodFutures (view FoodFutures’ other collaborative projects here).

If you are interested in this idea as a potential participant, customer or landlord, please contact Andi Chapple at [email protected] or 07891 908025.

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Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership’s One-Year Action Plan
The Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership has published its new One-Year Action Plan to tackle food poverty within the Lancaster District.

The strategic plan celebrates and recognises the partnership’s successes over the last three years while looking to the future and how it can best support the community over the coming year. It focuses on sustaining and strengthening the food network it has worked hard to develop.

Read the full plan here

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Composting food waste from SMEs in North Lancashire
New research into the feasibility of collecting and composting inedible food waste from small and medium enterprises in the Lancaster district has just been published.

Join this session to hear more about the research findings, including four potential models for diverting food waste from SMEs in the district into compost. We’ll then take a deep dive into the recommended models to explore ways to make them a reality.

Whether you are a business owner, council member, researcher, keen composter or otherwise interested, this session will be a great opportunity to understand the research findings and recommended models, to network with others who are interested in making better use of business food waste and to explore tackling the issue as a way to take effective climate action locally.

Tuesday 18 June 10:30am – 1pm
The Reading Room, The Storey, Meeting House Lance, Lancaster LA1 1TH

Book your free ticket
Read the report here

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Lancaster Skill-Share Workshop: Repairing Textiles – Sewing and Darning
Lancaster Skill-Share Workshops are here to empower you with practical skills! Get involved at the Lancaster Sustainability Hub for a series of sessions covering everything from bicycle repair to laptop revival. Learn to maintain, repair, and preserve to avoid unnecessary consumption.

This is the perfect opportunity to become more self-sufficient and resourceful, pick up some new ideas and techniques with different textile materials. People in receipt of benefits can attend at a reduced cost.

Upcoming workshop – Repairing Textiles – 16 June 2024

Find out more and book your place

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Wildlife Wellbeing Walks & Marsh Community Centre
The Pots of Possibility grant programme has funded a collaboration between Wildlife Wellbeing Walks and Marsh Community Centre, which aims to bring people together with themes around connection, food, environment and sustainability.

As well as sessions for the centre’s regular youth groups, Gardening Club, and Coffee & Cake club, a series of events will take place one Saturday a month:

• Bug Hunt & Nature Collaging – 22 June 1.30pm – 3pm, 50p per child
• Cooking for All: Sharing Lunch – 27 July, 1pm – 3pm, £1 per person
• Harvest-time Family Day – 28 September, 1pm – 3pm, 50p per person
• Halloween Pumpkins: Carving & Cooking – 26 October, 1.30pm – 3pm, £1 per child

Tickets for all events are available in the Centre.

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Open Space Assessment in the District Consultation 
Do you live in the Lancaster District and visit our open spaces? 

Lancaster City Council officers in Planning Policy and Public Realm are working together with consultants Ethos Environmental Planning to produce a new Open Space Assessment for the District.

This will be used as a key piece of evidence to help inform the preparation of the Local Plan review, by identifying and assessing open spaces to better understand the needs of the District and where there might be deficiencies in provision, which in turn will be used to establish a set of standards that can be used to calculate developer contributions towards the enhancement of existing open spaces. 

The planning team are keen to understand more about how residents use and value local public open spaces and recreation facilities; and what might improve their attractiveness to local people. This will provide invaluable information to assess if there are any gaps in provision and to ensure that existing facilities and open spaces are managed effectively to meet the needs of the local people.   

It would be much appreciated if you would be able to take 5-10 minutes to complete an online survey which can be found on their consultation hub. 

There is also the opportunity to add any site specific comments you may like to make on an interactive map. 

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The Sew and Sow Boxes Project Needs You!
Food Futures, the Sewing Cafe and Lancaster Seed Library are part of a great joint project, inspired by free book libraries where members of the public can share their resources or pick up some for repairing, making or growing. The boxes are filled with haberdashery items and packets of spare seeds.

More people are being encouraged to get involved to take joint responsibility of a box. This would involve checking the box’s condition, keeping it free of insects, topping it up with supplies and keeping it protected from the weather, with help if required! 

Read more about this great project here and to get involved, please contact [email protected]   

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The Food Champions Celebration
The Food Champions network is hosting a midsummer celebration where people can come together, share a meal and celebrate the wonderful projects and food citizens across North Lancashire.  There will be a guided tour of the site at Claver Hill, an open fire cooking demonstration, a composting/food waste demonstration and the day will finish with music and songs around the bonfire!

Please bring your own plant-based food and plates/crockery and those who play an instrument, please take that along too! 

Time and Date: 4pm-9pm, Saturday the 22nd of June 2024
Location: Claver Hill, Ridge Lane, Lancaster, LA1 3JY

Please book a place here

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Share the Harvest
This autumn, Share the Harvest will have two sets of fruit pressing equipment available to use. They can come to you – your school, community group, food club etc. to use for free for a fun day of fruit processing. Get in touch if you’d like to host a fruit picking event (from one tree to whole orchards, all are welcome!) or would like to use the fruit press.

Support is available for organisations, community groups and individuals to help with the costs of running an event.

Find out more

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Bee Adventures Summer Calendar 
BEE Adventures have shared their upcoming summer adventure calendar to get involved with from May and beyond. BEE Adventures offers outdoor adventures for both adults and children, focusing on affordable mountain walks. As a non-profit organisation, they use any surplus to provide free adventures to those facing barriers to outdoor activities. Their mission is to create ethical, personal adventures promoting well-being and outdoor exploration.  

Take a look at their upcoming summer adventures, including mountain hikes and camping trips: 

• Snowdon for sunrise: Saturday 22nd June  
• Scafell Pike camping weekend: Saturday 6th-Sunday 7th July  
• Kinder Scout: Saturday 10th August  

Book your outdoor adventures with Bee here 

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Sustainability and Carbon Reduction – Local Resources
If you are interested in sustainability or in reducing your organisation’s carbon footprint, here are some ideas:

Lancaster & Morecambe College have some free environmental courses coming up:

• Carbon Reduction Plans & Net Zero: 8 July,  9am – 12pm
• Environmental Certification for Your Business: 8 July, 1pm – 4pm

Following the above-mentioned Carbon Reduction Plans & Net Zero half-day course the College has a small number of grants available to support businesses with producing a Carbon Reduction Plan. To book or for more information, email [email protected] or call 01524 521483.

UCLan is hosting a Lancashire-wide Climate Action Forum on Thursday 6th June. Climate experts, community groups, businesses and the public get together to share best practice, discuss existing projects and plan future actions. The event is free to attend. Book your place here.  

There is a free monthly meetup in Morecambe for anyone interested in sustainability issues. The next Morecambe Planet Pint is on Thursday 30^th May at Mia Italia. Click here for more information and to book.

Giles Metcalfe offers workshops on CRAB (Carbon Reduction Action Box) and also offers audits and pointers for reducing your website’s carbon output.

Lancaster and Morecambe College, through UKSPF, is dedicated to assisting local businesses in their training and development. They are currently providing a diverse selection of fully funded courses and qualifications tailored to meet the needs of local organisations.

Available courses include:

• Food Safety Level 2 certification
• Food allergen awareness training
• Cyber Security workshops
• Bookkeeping essentials
• Aspiring Leaders program

All these courses are provided at no cost to individuals residing or working within the Lancaster district. For a comprehensive list of available courses and further details, follow this link.

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Think CO! Carbon Monoxide Risk Awareness Workshop
An online workshop called “Think CO” educates frontline workers and volunteers on carbon monoxide (CO) risks in vulnerable people’s homes. It covers CO sources, signs, prevention, and implications for both workers and clients. The workshop, hosted by Gas Safe Charity, is conducted on Zoom and lasts for about an hour. Attendees receive additional resources after the session. Limited places are available, and registration is required via email.

The next available workshops will take place on Thursday 27 June.

Reserve your place here

Volunteer Co-Ordinator for The Lancaster Canal Trust
The Lancaster Canal Trust are looking for an independent contractor and will not be an employee of the Trust. An overview of the responsibilities will include, recruiting new volunteers and managing existing ones. Arranging for appropriate training when needed, keeping detailed records of volunteers’ information and initiating the induction process. 

If you have excellent communication and organisational skills and are great at motivating, supporting and inspiring individuals then you may be ideal for this role!

Salary: for up to 8 hours per week. Initially this will be for a period of twelve months but, subject to achievement and funding opportunities, could be extended.

For a full job spec and to discuss this role please email the [email protected]   

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Place2Be Counsellor Lancaster Girls Grammar School
Place2Be are looking for a counsellor to provide vital mental health support in school. They are seeking a Level 4 qualified therapist/counsellor to work one-on-one with young people, engage with the school community, and promote early intervention. This role can be split between two counsellors and offers comprehensive training, career development, and benefits.

Salary: £23,058 pro rata (from FTE of £28,822 p.a)
Contract: 1 year/ part-time
Location: Lancaster, Lancashire
Closing date: 17 June 2024 at 2.57pm

Find out more and apply

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Senior Community Support Worker at Together Trust
Join Together Trust in Stockport as a Senior Community Support Worker. Provide high-quality, person-centred support for adults with Learning Disabilities, Autism, and Complex Needs. You’ll manage a small team, develop support plans, and ensure safeguarding.

Salary:£27,590.00 per year
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Location: North West
Closing date: 9 July 2024, 10.59pm

Find out more and apply

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Admin and Finance Coordinator for Stomping Ground CIC
Stomping Ground are looking for someone to fulfil their administration and finance requirements, helping them in their mission to reach more people in need of access to nature and green spaces.

Duties include bookkeeping, grant management, production of management accounts, minute taking, DBS administration, and supporting regulatory compliance.

Salary: £30,000 per annum pro-rata
Contract: Fixed term to end March 2025, 5 hours per week
Closing date: 17 June

Find out more and apply

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Chief Executive Officer and Centre Manager roles with Escape2Make
Escape2Make are all about creating safe, inclusive, and free workshops for 11-18 year-olds, fostering skills, creativity, and community connections. From a bustling Craft Club to impactful large-scale events, they aretransforming lives and communities.

Chief Executive Officer
The CEO role will lead the youth charity into its exciting next phase, by shaping its vision and strategic plan, managing the team, expanding its reach, and building strong partnerships.

Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per annum pro rata
Contract: One year, freelance, with potential to transition to a permanent role
Location: Lancaster
Closing date: 1 July

Centre Manager
The manager will oversee E2M’s youth space in Lancaster and support their programmes by overseeing scheduling and health and safety, leading youth workers and volunteers, coordinating Youth Board meetings, and handling other operational matters including insurance and finance.

Salary: £30,000 per annum pro rata
Contract: One year, freelance, with potential to transition to a permanent role
Location: Lancaster
Closing date: 1 July

Find out more and apply for either role

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Freelance Technical & Building Lead at The Gregson
Offered as a flexible freelance role over six months, the role will support The Gregson to implement processes around building management and compliance, lead building projects and key procurement, and scope future capital projects.

A day rate of £175 is offered with a total budget of up to £10,000.

Closing date: 5pm, 20 June

Find out more

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Family Worker with Love Barrow Families
Love Barrow Families is hiring a part-time support worker to provide social care, emotional support, and practical help to vulnerable children and families in Barrow. The role involves early intervention, crisis support, and community activities. Candidates should have at least 2 years’ experience with children and families, a Level 3 qualification, and knowledge of Child Protection Procedures.

Salary: £25,000 – £28,000 per year
Contract: Part-time (28 hours a week) /
Temporary (12 months (may be extended with funding))
Location: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria (Hybrid)
Closing date: 22 June 2024, 2pm

Learn more about this role and apply

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Director of Housing and Facilities with Peridot Partners / One Fylde
Join One Fylde as Director of Housing and Facilities to enhance the lives of those with learning disabilities and autism. Lead housing strategy and operations, shape the charity’s future, and manage a small team. Ideal candidates have housing management experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for inclusivity.

Salary: £65,000 plus
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Location: Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre
Closing date: 27 June 2024, 9am

Find out more and apply

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Lancaster Floating Support – Accommodation Finding Officer with Gateway 
The Calico Group’s Gateway are looking for an Accommodation Finding Officer to support customers to source affordable, private rented accommodation, and provide casework support to set up and maintain their accommodation for the long term.

The role will include building up networks with private landlords to increase move on provisions and maximise outcomes for customers.  Further responsibility will be to provide support to Landlords engaging with the scheme to ensure their tenants receive effective support to avoid risk of eviction and homelessness. 

Salary: £24,355 per annum 
Contract: Fixed until 31 March (extension opportunity)  
Location: Lancaster & Morecambe 
Closing Date: 17 June 2024 

Find out more about this role and apply

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Caretaker Role with The Rainbow Centre
The Rainbow Centre in Morecambe is seeking a Caretaker to maintain cleanliness and carry out minor repairs. The role, aimed at reducing social isolation and enhancing wellbeing for over-50s, involves daily cleaning, waste management, and building security, along with weekly tasks and occasional additional hours. Contact [email protected] or call 01524 415502 for more information. 

Salary: Circa £5,000 per annum 
Contract: Mon – Fri 44 weeks a year, over 12 months 
Location Morecambe 
Closing date: Friday 14 June 

View the role job description 

If your organisation needs support whether it be working with volunteers, completing accounts and payroll, finding funding, solving governance issues, or just want a listening ear, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team:

Funding and governance support, contact [email protected]

Volunteering and DBS,
contact [email protected]

Payroll, bookkeeping and independent examinations, contact [email protected]

Health and social prescribing, contact [email protected]

Children and young people, contact [email protected]

Membership queries to: [email protected]

Partnerships, networks and strategic development, contact [email protected]

Alternatively, call us on 01524 555900

To promote your events, training, jobs, and sector news, email [email protected]