Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 19 January 2023

We are working with the local voluntary and community sector and Lancashire and District-wide partners to support VCFSE organisations and people living in our communities. We encourage you to share this page with others.

An archive of previous editions can be found here.

Click headings below to expand each section.

Lancaster District Directory
On 22 December we were delighted to “soft launch” the Lancaster District Directory with an email to our stakeholders and colleagues in the voluntary and statutory sectors, inviting them to use this new resource to support communities over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. 

With the return to work for 2023 now fully upon us, we are working to promote directory.lancastercvs.org.uk far and wide across the district, making sure that it reaches everyone who stands to benefit from the platform. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be distributing thousands of promotional postcards and posters to a variety of locations including healthcare sites, local authority buildings, and all our voluntary sector organisations with a directory listing. 

You can also look forward to features in our local media, a social media campaign including graphics which we will distribute for you to use with your own accounts should you wish, and some new videos highlighting the features of the website. 

We’re also working to complete the process which integrates general practice staff into the project, meaning that before very long we will be receiving our first referrals and signposting people to support. Organisations that have indicated they would like to take digital referrals through the online platform will receive initial offers of training and support very soon.  

The project will continue to grow and develop through 2023, so if your organisation is already taking part, please do keep us up to date with your service information and send us your comments and suggestions.  

The directory is a shared resource among our members, partners and communities, so by working together we can make sure it becomes well-used across the district and continues to improve. If you’ve not yet claimed a listing, it’s never too late – just get in touch with Jenny by email at [email protected] or call 01524 555900.  

Save the Date – Volunteer Fairs February 2023
In the first quarter of 2023 we will host two Volunteer Recruitment Fairs.

  • Morecambe Library on Monday 6th February, 10.30am to 1.30pm.
  • Lancaster Library on Thursday 23rd February, 10.30am to 1.30pm

These will be opportunities for local volunteer involving organisations to come along with their banners, leaflets, and other promotional materials to speak directly with people who are interested in volunteering. We will be inviting a variety of people from the local areas to come along and we hope that each will be a busy and worthwhile day.

Invitations to organisations will go out soon, but there is no need to wait – if you would like to book a space (it’s FREE) email [email protected].

We want to accommodate up to 15 organisations with tables at each event, but if you can’t attend on those dates or if you miss out on a space, you can still have your roles represented. Simply make sure that you are registered on our website, with your volunteering opportunities uploaded, and send electronic or hard copies of your promotional materials to Mark at Lancaster District CVS.

Lancaster City Council HAF
The City Council’s Holiday Activity & Food fund reopens on 20 January.

For further information and an application form, email [email protected] 

FaceDonate Lunch & Learn Webinar
FaceDonate Co-Founder, Alberto De Biasio will outline how the fundraising platform makes charitable giving and impact reporting more effective and direct for both donors, social organisations and recipients.

Currently funded by Innovate UK, FaceDonate is working with private, public and charitable partners in Lancashire on food aid and security, supported by the Ethical Small Traders Association

Panel members include Jane Dalton (Groundswell Innovation), Jay Johnson (LARDER), Rory Southworth (Fraser House Hub) and Tarnia Elsworth (TP Financial Solutions).

25 January, 1-2pm

Register here

Social Entrepreneur Funding, Investment & Support from Unltd
UnLtd work with social entrepreneurs, individuals with bold solutions to today’s problems, working with the most impactful ventures.

They are a foundation that offers financial and business support to individuals who want to set up a social venture in their community, and specifically look for social entrepreneurs who have a venture that 

  • is meeting a clear social need/issue
  • is truly inclusive
  • is sustainable/has the potential to be sustainable
  • has impact and will make a difference

Help available includes funding, investment, one-to-one coaching, specialist advice, impact measurement, and other mentoring and pro-bono support.

To find out more, visit the UnLtd website.

James Bond/Henry Welch Trust
Families of children with special needs and disabilities can qualify for help from a Lancaster district charity.

The charity, the James Bond/Henry Welch Trust, encourages grant applications to benefit children with special needs and also adults suffering from chest or lung disease.

Applications are encouraged from residents of the administrative area covered by Lancaster City Council who have limited income to apply for grants towards equipment or services to improve the quality of their lives.

If you would like further information or to apply to the Trust for help (preferably by email), contact details can be found here

Lancaster Community Fund 4 Week Application Window
There are only four weeks left to submit applications for the next round of the Lancaster Community Fund. Lancaster City Council and Lancaster District CVS are inviting charity and community groups that need help with developing projects and activities that benefit people in the local area to apply. Grants of up to £1000 are available to non-profit organisations that can show their projects to be contributing in one of the following ways:

  • Increases community involvement and building community wealth and resilience
  • Contributing to carbon reduction and improving sustainability in the district
  • Impacting individual or community wellbeing positively

Please note: We are also encouraging and prioritising applications that can demonstrate a focus on activities addressing the current cost of living crisis.

The application deadline for this round of funding is 10 February 2023, 5pm.

Visit our funding page for further guidance

New £3m Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund Accepting Applications – Deadline of 20 January
Capital grants have become available for village halls in rural areas across England to enhance, upgrade, extend, improve, and construct halls so that, as a result, new activities can take place bringing communities together. The new £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund is provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and administered by the charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).

Announced by Defra to mark the occasion of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in May 2022, the fund recognises the important role that village halls play in supporting rural communities. The £3 million funding pot offers grants of between £7,500 and £75,000 which will be 20% of eligible project costs. The total project cost can be more than £375,000 but the maximum grant available is £75,000. All project work must be completed by 31 March 2025.

The funding aims to support the modernisation and improvement of village halls, so that they are fit for purpose and can provide activities which seek to achieve one or more of their set criteria.

Read more about the criteria and funding application process

Sport England Reopens Small Grants Programme
The Sport England Small Grants Programme has reopened with the aim to support local community sports projects that encourages people in England regardless of age, background or level of ability, to feel able to get involved in sport and physical activity. Grants of £300 to £15,000 are on offer for a twelve-month period to a variety of non-profit and community focussed organisations.

The application deadline is 30 June 2023

Learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply

Find out more and apply

Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022 – Third Report
Earlier this year, we asked our members to complete the Third Sector survey. Third Sector Trends has been running since 2008. The study has been surveying the sector every three years since 2010 and as such is the largest survey of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in England and Wales.

In 2022, 6,071 responses were received across England and Wales (an average of ~600 responses in each region). Designed to complement NCVOs UK Civil Society Almanac, it is the only fully representative longitudinal survey which can produce robust and detailed comparative analysis at a regional and national level.

Third Report – Finances, Assets & Organisational Wellbeing
Reflecting on the report, Rob Williamson of Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland said:

“This report shows that the push since 2010 for the future income of the third sector to be based on trading, contracting, social finance and digital fundraising have amounted to very little. We still see the continued importance of grant funding, indeed the model of social finance has evolved into a blended model relying on a mix of grant funding and social finance.

“The pandemic sped up the modernisation of grant funding through trust-based, less restrictive models increasingly focussed on core funding which is a good thing. As funders we need to continue to work and flex alongside the sector to ensure the best outcomes for our communities.”

Read the full report here, and report author Tony Chapman’s blog on the findings here.

Previous reports can be found on the Community Foundation website.

The Herbert Protocol
The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme being implemented by Lancashire Constabulary in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services and North West Ambulance Service.

It involves carers compiling useful information which could be used by Police and other agencies to search for and locate a loved one in the event of them going missing.

Carers, family members and friends complete the form in advance, giving all vital details including medication required, mobile numbers and places known to visit, along with a recent photograph.

Should that person then go missing, the form can be quickly and easily used to assist the search process.

Find out more on the Lancashire Constabulary website.

Free Cost of Living Support and Advice for Community Businesses
As part of the Resilient Communities Fund, launched last year, Power to Change is offering bespoke advice and support to help community businesses navigate the cost of living and energy crises, build resilience and strengthen local communities in the shift to a fairer, greener future.

Power to Change grantees can book sessions for tailored support from CSE’s broad range of experts. This includes advice about retrofit, energy-efficiency measures, fuel poverty, community action, engagement and building long-term resilience in the energy market.

CSE will also host a series of online resources and webinars, available to the wider community business sector.

Find out more here

Energy Bills Discount Scheme – Government Announcement
The Government has announced a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) to run from 1 April 2023 for eligible non-domestic consumers in Great Britain including UK businesses, charities and the public sector. This replaces the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers, which comes to an end on 31 March 2023 and provided a reduction on wholesale gas and electricity prices. The new scheme will mean all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024.

Funded Cyber Essentials Programme for Small Charities
This National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is helping organisations in sectors most at risk to implement baseline security controls and prevent the most common types of cyber attacks using the Funded Cyber Essentials Programme. The Funded Cyber Essentials Programme will seek to help UK organisations meet the five technical controls of  Cyber Essentials – firewalls, secure settings, access controls, malware and software updates – by identifying and implementing improvements that are right for the size and needs of the organisation. Small businesses that offer legal-aid services and micro or small charities that processes personal data (GDPR defined) qualify for this scheme.

Find out more about the Funded Cyber Essentials Programme

Veterans UK New Online Claim Service
Veterans UK, part of Defence Business Services (DBS), has launched  a new online claim service to help people to access injury and illness compensation more easily. Veterans UK is responsible for administering compensation and pensions schemes for both serving personnel, veterans and their families.

View guidance on this new service

Read more about the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme

Cost of Living Support Factsheet
With the ongoing cost-of-living challenges that we are faced with, the government have provided a helpful factsheet for supporting households including useful information covering benefits and cost-of-living payments, national living wage, energy price guarantees and more.

Follow this link to view the factsheet

Community Health & Wellbeing Worker Level 3 Apprenticeships
Training 2000, part of the University of Central Lancashire, are offering Community Health & Wellbeing Worker Level 3 Apprenticeships from April 2023.

With the rapid expansion of this workforce, which includes Link Workers and Social Prescribers, two employer information sessions have been announced for organisations interested in taking part.

The sessions will cover recruiting apprentices and upskilling the existing workforce, as well information about course start dates, eligibility, funding and content.

Both sessions take place online via Teams.

8 February 9am – 9:30am – register here

28 February 9am – 9:30am – register here

For further information get in touch with Training 200 at [email protected]

New Year Programme from The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery
The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery is a free Nature and Wellbeing programme for people in Morecambe Bay, helping individuals to improve their wellbeing and tackle feelings of isolation through learning about nature.

The programme includes weekly wellbeing sessions for small groups in Morecambe and Lancaster that individuals can refer onto. Activities link into the 5 ways to wellbeing and include bushcraft, conservation, environmental art, mindfulness and nature walks.

These wellbeing sessions are a great way to beat the January Blues while meeting others and getting hands on with activities.

In addition, look out for The Bay’s new Community Hub in the Arndale Shopping Centre, which will be opening soon to host drop-in events as well as closed-group wellbeing sessions during the week.

To join a Nature and Wellbeing session please contact Alex (Nature and Wellbeing Officer) for more information: 07884 605256 / [email protected] or complete an online referral form: https://www.thebay.org.uk/referral-forms

New Year Programme From Adullam
To refer in or get further information about any of these courses, visit the Adullam website

Living Life to the Full – Fridays, 10am, Hope Church
A 6-week course based on CBT principles to help people with their mental health. This runs on a Friday morning at 10.00am in person and the next course starts on Friday 3rd February.

Adullam are also running two “taster sessions” looking at Anxiety & Worry and A Healthy You on Friday 20th January and 27th January for participants who may prefer to try out the course before the 6 weeks begins.

Social/Community Groups – Tuesdays, 10am, Hope Church
A variety of activities including craft groups, a book club, a monthly trip out, and cook-along sessions.

Walk with a Doc – Tuesdays, 2pm, Millennium Bridge
Walk with a Doc aims to improve physical and mental health by promoting a one hour walk in company. As well as the walk, local GP Nick Johnstone offers a short discussion on a health-related topic and for the rest of the hour, participants can enjoy chatting with the walk leaders and other walkers.

Celebrate Recovery (12 Step) – Tuesdays 7.30pm or Wednesdays 10am
Providing weekly support for anyone struggling with any of life’s hurts, hang-ups and habits (not just addiction). Participants can find help with trauma, depression, bereavement, divorce, low self-esteem, anxiety – the list of issues is very varied.

Budgeting Course – dates TBC
In partnership with LM Debt Centre, this course is much needed at the moment and will be running again this term starting February.

Purpose Workshop – dates TBC, Hope Church
This workshop offers participants the opportunity to work alongside a professional life coach who will help them discover their skills and talents and learn how to navigate through life’s transitions.

Health & Wellbeing Support Coaching – VCFSE Bursary Available
The Morecambe Bay Population Health Team are working with voluntary sector organisations in the Lancaster District to widen access to accredited health coaching skills training, which aims to upskill individuals to have better conversations and support people to reach their self-identified goals.

The course is for staff and volunteers who perform roles where they have the opportunity to support people to make behavioural changes that will encourage improved health and well-being. It will provide a range of tools and techniques that will help structure conversations to help individuals set and work towards goals that are important to them, whether this is about lifestyle changes that will promote better health and wellbeing, or being better able to manage long term conditions.

VCFSE organisations which would like help to enable their staff or volunteers to access this training can apply to Lancaster District CVS for an attendance bursary. This is to help cover the costs of time taken to attend the course. The bursary totals £87 (£12.50 per hour) which will be paid to the organisation’s bank account once the course has been completed.

Please complete this form to choose course dates and request a bursary place.

Lancaster District CVS will then get in touch with you to confirm the bursary and explain how to make your booking for the course.

Places are limited and subject to a first come first served basis

If you have any questions regarding this training, please contact Jenny by email at [email protected]

The course is currently running as an online workshop delivered over a pair of sessions lasting 3.5 hours each. Course dates are below.

Day 1: Thursday 9 February 9:30 – 13:00
Day 2: Thursday 23 February 9:30 – 13:15

Day 1: Wednesday 8 March 09:30 – 13:00
Day 2: Wednesday 22 March 09:30 – 13:00

Day 1: Tuesday 11 April 13:00 – 16:45
Day 2: Tuesday 25 April 13:00 – 16:45

Day 1: Tuesday 2 May 09:30 – 13:00
Day 2: Tuesday 16 May 09:30 – 13:00

FREE Transport Service to Growing Well
The well-respected mental health charity and horticultural enterprise Growing Well are now offering a no charge minibus service from the Lancaster District for day visits to their organic vegetable farm, just off the M6 near Kendal.  Pick-ups are available from Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and Milnthorpe. The mental health charity provide a hands-on activity-therapy focussed service where you can find help in rebuilding confidence, learn new skills and meet new life goals. 

For more information on their free minibus service contact the team by email at  [email protected] or phone 07903 013 648.

View the Growing Well e-leaflet to learn more

Bay Health & Care Partners – Looking after yourself over Winter
Bay Health & Care Partners have provided a useful guide to looking after yourself during the winter months. With shorter days and drops in temperature, pressures increase across the healthcare system. Promoting local support throughout the winter period, BHCP offer top five ways to look after yourself and your loved ones from managing your heating at home to financial support.

Read more about their guidance over Winter

Become a Citizen Panel Member
Bay Health and Care Partners are looking for participants in Lancashire and South Cumbria to share their views and experiences to help develop and improve services locally. The Citizen Panel membership scheme is an exciting way to have your say and influence decision-making on a whole range of health services that are important to people in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Complete this form to become a member

NHSE Health & Wellbeing Support
The NHSE Social Prescribing team evaluate the value of all the national health and wellbeing offers made available to their NHS colleagues. Access to the following support has been continued for this year, which includes guides, apps and resources that aim to support you and your team’s wellbeing.

Discover more about the support available

Renaissance UK and National HIV Testing Week – Request for Help
Renaissance UK, the commissioned service by Lancashire County Council, that provide HIV Prevention and support service for Lancashire, are looking to bring awareness of the disease and a preventative pill called PrEP, which is free and confidential from sexual health clinics.

The service will be bring their redesigned exhibition van in partnership with the NHS to the Lancaster District during National HIV testing week (6th February to 12th February), to promote the awareness of the medicine PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis). This is a new opportunity for outreach work within communities and raising awareness in the county.

The team are looking for support with a provision of a space to park the van to provide maximum impact for the campaign.  If you are interested in supporting this cause and are able to provide parking space in a suitable location, please contact Jane at Renaisance UK at [email protected] if you can help.

Learn more about PrEP here or for more information on the work of Renaissance UK click here

NHS Autism in Schools Project
The second Community of Practice training session takes place Tuesday 14th March 2023, as part of the autism in schools project for Morecambe Bay.

This will be delivered by Anne Conchie the autism lead, on the Autism in Schools project. 

Places are open to primary and secondary school teachers and staff, mental health support teams working in schools, primary mental health workers, and parent carers.

14 March at Lancaster House Hotel

Register here

Lancaster City Council Young People’s Community Conversation
The conversation will focus on Young People’s mental health and how school and education settings effect this as well as their experience of the Cost of Living Crisis.

January 30, 4:30pm at Morecambe Town Hall

Register here

Lancashire County Council Youth Consultations
The consultations are a chance for young people to voice their opinions on what they want to see in the County Council’s youth offer in cultural services.

The next consultation takes place on 31 January, 5pm until 6:30pm at the Judges Lodgings.

Find out more or book a place by emailing [email protected]

More Music Girls Can Weekend
Girls Can has joined forces with Loose Articles, a four piece, independent, female punk band from Manchester and artist Emma Colbert of Deco Publique for a weekend packed full of inspirational workshops, Q&A’s and live music for young women aged 14 – 25.

Girls Can The Art of Protest Workshop
Friday 10 February, 4:30pm – 7pm, free
Express what is important to you while discussing and exploring ideas and beliefs

Girls Can Punk Rock Bootcamp
Saturday 11 February, 10am – 5pm
A masterclass in punk rock, this is an opportunity for young women to develop the confidence and DIY spirit to needed to pick up an instrument, form a band, write songs, play gigs and explore pathways into the industry.

Gig – Loose Articles present Kick Like A Girl!
Saturday 11 February, 7pm, £6/£5 advance
Free entry for Girls Can participants

Find out more on the More Music website or by emailing Rachel Parsons at [email protected]

Talk About Alcohol
The Alcohol Education Trust (AET) is offering a fully funded 2 hour Talk About Alcohol (TAA) training session for teachers, and youth work staff looking at evaluated resources for use in secondary schools, PRU’s, SEN Schools and youth provision. The course aims to improve staff confidence in delivering effective alcohol education to young people.

This Training is available for professionals working with young people who would be in years 7-11. A post 16 training is also available.

To take up this training, email [email protected]  by the end of January.

Find your Purpose Project with Lancashire Youth Challenge and the Adullam Programme
With funding from Banks Lyon and the Westminster Foundation, Lancashire Youth Challenge in partnership with the Adullam Programme, has been able to develop another ‘Find Your Purpose’ project for young people aged 16-25 years from the local area. If you are interested in finding out  more or if you have any young people that would benefit from taking part, please contact Ant directly at [email protected].

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Escape2Make FREE Cabaret Workshops
E2M are calling all 11-18s who live in the Lancaster & Morecambe Area to take part in their free creative workshops to try something new and make new friends. Escape2Make are excited to offer you an exclusive invitation to sign up to 1 of 10 FREE workshops as part of their CABARET event! This is a first opportunity to snap up these sought-after spaces, but you will need to be quick as this will go live online in the coming days.

You can meet new people, learn new and exciting skills over 5 workshops through February and March, then deliver a celebratory event at the iconic Alhambra Theatre in Morecambe on 25th March. The experiences include Wild Cooking, Magic, Upcycled Fashion Show, Cartoon Portraits, Mini Musical and much more, and no experience is necessary to get involved…..just turn up and have a go!

If you need any help contact the team at [email protected]

For more info and details of how to sign up

Children’s Nearly New Sale and Table Top Sales at The Centre @ Halton
The Centre @ Halton are holding their ever popular Children’s Nearly New Sale on Saturday 11th March 9am-12pm.

Entry for adults £1 and children free (all tables now sold out). Children’s items, clothes, books, toys and games will be on offer. There will be a raffle and the Coffee Shop will be open to purchase refreshments. Find out more here. 

The Centre’s first Table Top Sales follows on Saturday 25 March 9am – 12 noon. Tables are £15 bookable online here.

Entry for adults £1 and children free. Quality new and second hand household items will be on offer. There will be a raffle and the Coffee Shop will be open to purchase refreshments. Find out more here.

Free Human Rights Awareness-Raising Workshops from BIHR
The British Institute for Human Rights are offering free awareness-raising workshops for community or voluntary groups.

The 90 minute workshops will offer:

  • A chance to learn more about the practical use of the Human Rights Act
  • How the legal duties & rights can be used to challenge the social injustices and disadvantage they are seeking to change
  • Interactive, participatory learning
  • Case studies & real life stories of relevance to your organization and the people you support

Apply by 27 January to request a workshop in your organisation.

Find out more and apply at the BIHR website.

Platform Places – Start a Local Property Partnership webinar
Platform Places is a social enterprise unlocking town centre buildings for amazing ideas that help us live affordably, sustainably and together. They convene and support councils, communities and asset owners to bring buildings into long-term community use or ownership.

During this webinar, attendees will:

  • meet some of the people behind Platform Places
  • learn how to start the journey towards a Local Property Partnership in your town centre
  • meet others looking to do the same where they are
  • get your questions answered

Multiple dates, free of charge

Register here

Charity Digital’s Digital Strategy Webinar
A good digital strategy highlights the tech you need to improve performance, streamline processes, and achieve your mission. Digital strategies specify the direction your charity wants to take, complementing your overall vision for the future, and show how your charity can progress in that direction.

Attendees should expect to learn, among other things, how to judge your current capabilities, conduct user research, establish goals, ensure buy-in, put pen to paper, and much more.

26 January, 1pm

Register here

Cranfield Trust Climate Solutions Accelerator Webinar
This two-hour facilitated training course provides an efficient but effective way to understand the basics of climate change, including an overview of a range of climate solutions, and the associated opportunities and challenges climate change presents to both charities and our personal lives.

Immersing yourself in this course will shortcut large amounts of reading and provide a good basic appreciation of the climate science.

9 February, 12:30pm

Register here

NCVO Webinar: How to Manage Rising Energy Costs
Rising energy bills continue to be a key concern for charities. Following the review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in January and the reduction in long-term support, charities will be asking: what does this mean for us? How can we continue to manage rising energy costs?

Join NCVO and Utility Aid to understand what this means for charities and keeping costs down in the face of the energy crisis.

9 February, 11am

Register here

Making Sense of Digital Support options for Better Youth Mental Health Webinar
BFB Labs are hosting a virtual webinar on how digital health technologies (DHT) can support children and young people’s (CYP) mental health services, in the face of increasing levels of complexity and acuity in cases. This webinar aims to unpack the challenges of commissioning DHT’s to support CYP mental health and examine real world experiences and learnings when embedding digital health technologies.

Learn more about how to register for this event

Community-Based Research Capacity Building Project – Burnley 
Are you curious and/or critical about community-based research undertaken in relation to issues facing Sanctuary Seekers (Refugees and Asylum Seekers)? For example, how a project goes; who is involved and how; what outcomes are intended, and realised?  Maybe you are interested in getting involved in community-facing, community-based research, and want to know more.

A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) based research team are inviting you to attend their second event in Lancashire to share experiences and insights into the challenges and opportunities for community-based research, with a view to building better understanding and capacity for future research for all those involved and interested. At this meeting you will have the chance to connect with others with similar interests. 

This event will take place in Burnley on Wednesday 25th January 2023, 1-4pm.

Find out more and reserve a place

Basic Drug & Alcohol Awareness Sessions
We are Lancashire for Young People are running free online workshops for anyone working with those under 25. The session will be roughly 2 hours long, interactive and fun. You will learn a little more about the services that are available at We Are With You in Lancashire and will talk about current themes and trends.

The group will look at some of the reasons why young people use substances, risks and some harm reduction messages. You will also gain access to their Tier 1 resource booklet & drug use screening tool which includes practical information and worksheets, useful when working with young people.

Sessions dates include:

  • Thursday February 2nd 2023, 10am
  • Thursday March 2nd 2023, 10am
  • Thursday April 6th 2023, 10am

Lancashire LGBT Manspace Online Support Group
Lancashire LGBT are hosting an online support group via Zoom for 18+ year old men who identify as gay, bisexual, trans or transmasculine non-binary.

To join the group completion of the following registration form is required.  

View their event e-flyer here

Volunteer Coordinator & Network Coordinator at Let’s BeFriends
Volunteer Coordinator
Through regular informal contact and more structured reviews the role will assist volunteers through all stages of their journey with us.

The Coordinator will assist the Project Coordinator to match volunteers with suitable beneficiaries and help oversee introductory meetings which start the befriending relationship.

Salary: £12.60 per hour
Contract: 16 hours per week
Location: In the community across the Lancaster district
Closing Date: 1 March

Find out more and apply

Network Coordinator
Let’s BeFriends are looking for a Network Coordinator to lead on planning and organising recruitment campaigns and implement initiatives to attract new volunteers. The post holder will be expected to network, build and maintain relationships with various organisations to aid the sustainability of recruitment.

Salary: £12.60 per hour
Contract: 16 hours per week
Location: In the community across the Lancaster district
Closing Date: 1 March

Find out more and apply

Health Check Adviser at Citizens Advice North Lancashire
This role will work one-to-one with individuals, with families and in group settings to provide personalised and tailored advice to address the practical issues that often cause stress and anxiety and associated health issues.

The post holder will deliver personalised support over a number of sessions to help people identify and address their advice needs and manage their own health. The post holder will encourage access to primary care services as appropriate and support vaccination, immunisation and screening uptake.

Salary: £10,710
Contract: 16 hours per week, fixed term to 31 March 2025
Location: In the community across the Lancaster district
Closing Date: 1 February, 5pm

Find out more and apply

Crisis Recovery Worker & Recovery Worker at Richmond Fellowship
Crisis Recovery Worker
Blackpool Crisis: Sycamore House is a community based crisis service, working to a recovery model with the aim to reduce the amount of A&E and Hospital admissions through evidence based CBT interventions.

This role works with people using the Fellowship’s services to help and inspire them to maintain their tenancy and independence in the community by coming up with a personal support plan that will see them achieve their goals and aspirations.

Salary: £20,054
Contract: Full time
Location: Blackpool

Find out more and apply

Recovery Worker
Chapel View is a mental health, supported housing and community based service, working to a recovery model, providing a range of support services for people with mental ill health to access in their local community, including outreach support, peer support and supported housing.

This role works with people using the Fellowship’s services to help and inspire them to maintain their tenancy and independence in the community by coming up with a personal support plan that will see them achieve their goals and aspirations.

Salary: £20,054
Contract: Full time
Location: Kendal

Find out more and apply

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Finance Assistant at Girlguiding
Girlguiding London and South East England (LaSER) and Girlguiding North West England are looking for a full time Finance Assistant to support the work of both regions. The successful candidate will work 2½ days a week for Girlguiding LaSER and 2½ days a week for Girlguiding North West England, based at either of the region offices which are in Wandsworth or Preston.

The role of the Finance Assistant is to undertake the entire bookkeeping requirements of both regions; to support the Finance Manager as required in order to ensure all the accounting activities are undertaken timely, accurately and in line with internal control procedures. 

Salary: £22,800 – £24,000
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Preston or London
Closing Date: 12 February

Find out more and apply

Lifestyle Coach at Groundwork North East & Cumbria
Groundwork are looking to employ someone who will engage in the planning and running of activities that bring everyone in their community closer together, with aims of the provision which are to deliver tailored helping people to maintain a healthy diet, stay warm and well, reaching some of the most vulnerable individuals, and to reduce social isolation.

Salary: £23,748 – £27,825
Contract: Full time, fixed term for 3 months
Location: Barrow in Furness
Closing Date: 31 January

Find out more and apply

Cleaner at The Centre @ Halton
The Centre @ Halton has a position for a Cleaner available for an immediate start.

Flexible hours are available. Please contact the Centre office on 01524 811316 for more information.

Youth Worker at CancerCare
Would you like to help CancerCare transform the lives of young people affected by cancer and bereavement?

If you are bursting with energy, enthusiasm and ideas, the charity is looking for a new youth worker for its Lancaster Re-Fresh Peer Support Group which provides weekly activity sessions for youngsters aged 11-17.

They also run an exciting programme of school holiday trips ranging from riding the rollercoasters at Blackpool Pleasure Beach to sailing Viking boats on Derwentwater in the Lakes!

Salary: £12,045
Contract: 21 hours per week
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: 10 February 2023

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Board of Trustees & Chair – Ludus Dance
Do you share our belief that dance is a tool which can empower children and young people and improve their lives? Based in Lancaster and working across the Northwest, Ludus Dance are working to make access to dance more equitable in the locale and wider region.

They are looking for someone with an academic/professional or personal interest in the following areas:

  • The arts & childhood development;
  • The arts & its impact on the mental health of children and young people;
  • Personal and social vulnerability, isolation & displacement and the role arts can play in improving wellbeing

In addition, the following areas of expertise may be of particular benefit:

  • Experience within the public sector: Police, NHS, Social Care, Youth Work, Arts & Culture, Education
  • Being a parent, guardian, carer, or young person
  • Charitable Fundraising and developing strategic partnerships
  • Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility

If you would like to join their team as a trustee and to share your knowledge and expertise please view their recruitment pack for more information.

RSPB Job Opportunities
Senior Programme Manager
RSPB are looking for a skilled programme manager to lead their land acquisition programme, oversee the management of land-related risks and ensure that they have effective systems for managing the finances of their estate.

Salary: £42,768 – £47,446
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Location: Lancaster, Lancashire
Closing Date: 27 January 2023, 23.59

Visitor Experience and Events Area Consultant
RSPB are looking for someone who will provide leadership in the visitor experience, ensuring a world-class offer across RSPB nature reserves for everyone. The post holder will support reserve teams to enhance their visitor offer.  They will be expected to deliver their strategic aims and set the expected standards on reserves for visitor experience providing direction and support to underpin a high-quality visitor offer and a consistent experience – leading on profitability, experience, exemplary customer service and infrastructure.

Salary: £28,420- £31,529 per annum
Contract: Flexible – WFH
Location: Hybrid in North England – Carnforth, Lancashire
Closing Date: 27 January 2023, 23.59

Find out more about this role and apply

Fundraising Relationship Manager –  Trinity Hospice
Trinity Hospice & Brian House Children’s Hospice are actively seeking a Fundraising Relationship Manager to enhance their highly-successful fund raising team. The purpose of the job will be to lead and develop their newly formed Fundraising Relationship Team, creating a new strategy to maximise income generation from corporate and community supporters, build strong working partnerships with local businesses and community groups and contribute towards annual team targets as well as line manage a small team of fundraisers.

Salary: £31,500-£33,00
Contract: 37 hours per week with some evenings and weekends hours required
Location: Hybrid – a mix of office time with some homeworking
Closing Date: 3 February 2023, 23.59

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Preston Domestic Violence Services Roles
The Charity organisation Preston Domestic Violence Services are seeking a BAME Outreach Support Worker and Outreach Support Worker to join their team. Please note these positions are open to women only.  

BAME Outreach Support Worker
PDVS are looking for a support worker to provide support services for BAME victims of domestic violence and abuse including group interventions.

Salary: 15,834 actual (£23,434 pro-rata)
Contract: 25 hours per week
Location: A combination of in the office (located at Harbour House, Port Way) and in the community including some home visits
Closing Date: Mon 23rd January 2023, 4pm
Interview date: Weds 1st February 2023

Find out more about this role and how to apply

Outreach Support Worker
PDVS are recruiting for a community based support worker to provide individual outreach support for victims of domestic violence and abuse.

Salary: 11,400 actual per annum (£23,434 pro-rata)
Contract: 18 hours per week
Location: A combination of in the office (located at Harbour House, Port Way) and some community work
Closing Date: Mon 23rd January 2023, 4pm
Interview date: Weds 1st February 2023

Find out more about this role and how to apply

Paid positions with FoodFutures
FoodFutures Fundraiser (freelance position)
FoodFutures are looking to recruit a fundraiser to provide as-needed funding advice and support for priority FoodFutures projects, lead on the delivery of the Strategic Fundraising Plan and by extension, their Our Food Futures strategy.

Salary: £15.75 per hour
Contract: As required / Max 30 hours per month
Location: Lancaster/ The Storey Institute and homeworking
Closing Date: 27h January 2023

Find out more and apply

FoodFutures Network Builder & Facilitator
FoodFutures are looking for a Network Builder & Facilitator to work with the FoodFutures coordinator and the Communications and Engagement Working Group to develop a Local Food Champion Network; grow the FoodFriends scheme to reach 500 members; develop a business and enterprise network aligned with the Good Food Manifesto.

Application deadline: Friday 27th January 2023

Salary: £25,350 (37.50 hours for full time) pro rata
Pro-rata for 22 hours per week, £14,929
Contract: 22.5 hours pw. A one year fixed term contract, with intention to extend if funding secured.
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: 28th January 2023

Find out more about this role and apply

Closing Loops REconomy Coordinator
FoodFutures are seeking a Reconomy Coordinator for their ongoing Closing Loops project.  The purpose of the job is to coordinate and oversee the delivery of the REconomy element of work in the Closing Loops project and support the development of a regenerative economy in North Lancashire.

Salary: £15,210 (22.5 hours a week) equivalent to £25,350 (37.5 hours for full time) pro rata.
Contract: 22.5 hours pw starting April 2023 / 4 year fixed term / Some evenings and weekends required
Location: Lancaster/ The Storey Institute and homeworking
Closing Date: 27th January 2023

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Trustees Roles for the Skelton Charity
For over 90 years the Skelton Trust has distributed funds to volunteer led charities to enable them to help more people. Their trustees are now looking to strengthen their membership by recruiting two additional members. They are welcoming applications from anyone who is able to serve as a charity trustee. The charity are interested in applicants who have digital communication skills, and those who can help build more inclusive communities.

For more information please see the role information pack

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]