Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 23 September 2022

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.

Financial Crisis and Energy Cost Survey
We are aware that some groups and organisations which rent or own premises are seeing a large increase in their energy bills and in their operational costs.
If your group/organisation supports people across Lancaster District, we would like to hear your experience of rising costs and how this is affecting your services by completing our short survey.

We know that many of you are already seeing increased service user demand due to the overall financial crisis.

Through this short anonymous survey, your help will help us to gather local evidence to assist us in raising awareness of the growing financial pressures. This collective evidence will help us to:

  • To understand your needs so we can help support you better.
  • Ask local and national funders how they intend to respond to support rising costs.
  • Feed into local strategic meetings to ensure the sector situation is understood.
  • Back up campaign work alongside other local and national infrastructure organisations.
  • Lobby central government.

This survey will remain open for responses until Friday 30th September 2022 and you can begin completing this survey by clicking here.

Community Health Champions Fund – 2 Further Rounds for Funding
A further opportunity for funding has come around for all community groups, charities, faith and social enterprises in the district for grant funding to run health and wellbeing activities within their communities. The Community Health Champions Fund aims to help create education opportunities within the community to promote healthy behaviours, including COVID-19 vaccines and reduce health inequalities across the district. Organisations can apply for grants between £500 and £10,000 to run project and events supporting this aim.

The two additional rounds and deadlines for applications are the 30th September and 31st October 2022 by 5pm.

Please follow this link for further information and application

For further guidance on funding eligibility and applications please contact Sharon Phillips at [email protected]

Friends Provident Foundation Launches Fund to Support a 4-D Economy Across the UK
Groups across the UK can apply for funding to support projects and activities that support the development of new economic ideas and approaches to push for and create a more just and sustainable economy. Friends Provident Foundation is offering grants of up to £100,000 for charities, social enterprises, and private companies to deliver projects that help to create a more fair and sustainable economy based on the four D’s (Diversified, Decarbonised, Democratised, and Decentralised).

The ‘Building a 4-D Economy’ Grants Programme will support projects that focus on the following main priorities for 2022-25:

– Supporting a strong and diverse movement for new economic thinking and acting in the UK.
– Supporting ‘outsider voices’ in pushing for a fair transition to a 4-D economy.
– Transforming financial systems

The next deadline for main grant applications is 31 October 2022, 12pm.

Learn more and apply

Funding for Cycling Events for Beginner and Returning Cyclists Across England
Community groups, voluntary organisations, and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to deliver cycling projects and events that promote cycling to people who do not normally cycle and groups that are underrepresented in cycling activities.

Cycling UK is offering grants of up to £3,000 for voluntary, community, and not-for-profit organisations across England to deliver cycling events for beginners, people returning to cycling after a period of inactivity, and other people who do not cycle regularly or are experiencing challenges and perceived barriers to access.

The Big Bikes Revival Grants programme, funded by the Department for Transport, will support projects that:

• Inspire and encourage the substantial proportion of the population who do not cycle, to start cycling.
• Increase the number of people that cycle by addressing the fact that a high proportion of adults in England own bikes but are not making use of them.
• Increase the number of trips made by bike by addressing the fact that adults in Britain appear to be aware of cycling and its potential for shorter journeys but have safety concerns about using it as a form of travel.
• Improve the perception of cycling safety by providing opportunities for people to access supported cycling activities, training on how to cycle safely and how to keep bikes in safe working order.

Grants can be used for costs associated with project delivery, such as cycling equipment, costs associated with repairing and maintaining bikes, promotional materials, PPE equipment, or refreshments and transport for volunteers and participants.

The deadline for application is 10 October 2022.

For further information and application details click here

Hubbub Foundation Accepting Applications for Community Fridges
A partnership between Hubbub and the Co-operative, the Community Fridge programme has reopened for autumn 2022 applications.

The fund is open to UK not-for-profit groups with their own bank account, providing they:

• Are setting up a new Community Fridge which has not yet opened.
• Establish the Community Fridge within six months and have intentions to sustain the project for at least three years.

Priorities include:

• Supporting applications in regions with a sparsity of Community Fridges (a map can be found on the Hubbub Foundation website).
• Supporting groups in areas with high levels of multiple deprivation.
• Ensuring a fair and inclusive application process with equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background, culture or race.
Each successful applicant will receive £3,000 to cover the initial costs of setting up the fridge, and a further £1,000 one year after opening.

The deadline to apply is 30 October 2022.

Learn more about this Food Waste Funding Initiative

Heritage Trade Up Programme to Support Leaders of Heritage Organisations
Are you leading a heritage organisation or trading project in your community? You could be eligible for free support. In Partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Heritage Trade Up Programme looks to support and promote a stronger heritage sector providing eight months of capacity building support for a broad range of heritage sector organisations from across the UK. The Key benefits are:

• Strengthen your organisation with their free learning programme: Eight days of learning between January 2023 and December 2023.
• Receive a £4000 Match Trading grant that supports your recovery from the Covid pandemic.
• Gain a network of peers, who will help you develop your plans and act as a sounding board.

The heritage support programme is available to those whose primary purpose is to protect, preserve or promote the traditions, practices spaces and places. This not only applies to heritage in the more familiar sense of building restoration, artefacts and natural spaces for example, but also for those who promote and preserve the cultural heritage of a community through traditions of art, music, theatre, archives and education.

Applications are accepted by 1pm, Friday 21st October 2022

Read more and apply

Austin & Hope Pilkington Trust Opens for Final 2022 Funding Round
Registered and exempt charities in the UK can now apply to the fourth round of funding from the Trust, which has been arts focused throughout 2022. This current round is dedicated to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) artists and groups. Eligible activities could include supporting BAME performers, outreach projects within BAME communities and/or initiatives to increase participation with BAME communities.

Grants of £5,000 are on offer, though groups must have a minimum income and operating expenditure of £1 million to apply.

Application deadline: 30 September 2022

Learn more and apply

Prince’s Countryside Fund Opens for Autumn 2022 Round
The autumn round for the Prince’s Countryside Fund is now open for not-for-profit community-led projects improving the lives of those living in rural communities. Grants of up to £25,000 over two years are available for projects that can be completed by January 2025. The funding is designed to support community-led projects that are pursuing innovative and strategic solutions to the challenges facing their rural area and which will improve the viability and resilience of their community.

Successful projects will achieve one or more of a selection of goals such as resolving existing and emerging community issues, develop innovative and replicable projects, reduce isolation for people living in rural areas and others.

The deadline for applications is 12pm on 11 October 2022

Read more about the Prince’s Countryside Fund and how to apply

PHP Social Prescribing Fund
This grant programme supports social or charitable activities and services linked to the patients and communities of PHP Health Practice Centres (in our area this is any service taking place within ten miles of the practice at Lancaster University). The programme will consider applications from groups that wish to fund a service which social prescribers can refer patients in to.

Find out more and apply.

Access to Paul Hamlyn Foundation Youth Fund Grants Managers
The PHF Youth Fund offers grants up to £150,000 to orgs that support young people facing complex transitions to adulthood

The next in a series of online Q&As with Grant Managers for organisations interested in preparing an application will take place on Wednesday 5 October.

Find out more and register.

Lancashire Red Rose Responding Fund
The Community Foundation for Lancashire (CFL) are pleased to open the next round of the Lancashire Red Rose Responding Fund. The overall aim of the fund is to support local charities, voluntary and community organisations that are helping vulnerable people – specifically relating to mental health. This funding round is available for community organisations based in Lancaster.

The fund will prioritise projects which directly respond to acute need and are delivered by organisations based within their local community and able to provide appropriate provision for the people they support.

The priorities for this round (in addition to the geographic focus noted above) are:

  • BAME community, LGBTQ+ community, people with physical or learning difficulties. This includes provision from organisations with the understanding of cultural backgrounds and able to offer multilingual support if needed.
  • Older people who experience social isolation
  • Younger people up to the age of 25 where poor mental health is having an impact on social and educational engagement

Any specific criteria?

* As the fund budget is limited and we expect many applications to be received, the focus of the fund is to help build capacity for smaller grassroots organisations with an annual income of under £150,000
* Applicants should have a demonstrable track record in delivering mental health support

Closing date for applications: Friday 7th October, 4pm

Learn more about the fund and how to apply

Intermediary Grant Maker required for £14m Know Your Neighbourhood Fund
The £14 million Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) Fund will support activities enabling volunteering and tackling loneliness in targeted high deprivation local authority areas in England.

Launched on Friday 12 August, the Fund’s ambition is to develop an understanding of how to improve wellbeing and pride in place in communities through volunteering and community initiatives tackling loneliness. Citizens will be able to participate in local projects which build their skills, wellbeing and social networks.

DCMS are inviting bids through an open competition from non profit grant making organisations to take on an Intermediary Grant Maker role to deliver £14m funding to March 2025. Partnership bids are welcome.

DCMS will hold a virtual engagement session for clarification questions from 10:30am – 11:30am on Wednesday 31 August 2022.

The deadline for applications is 10am on Thursday 29 September 2022.

Find out more details on the above

 

Government Energy Scheme
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is aimed at helping to protect non-domestic energy customers, including charities and public sector organisations, from rising energy costs. The scheme will cover energy use for 6 months from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 and is in addition to the Energy Price Guarantee for households.

Organisations do not need to take action or apply to the scheme to access the support. Support (in the form of a p/kWh discount) will automatically be applied to bills and the level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances.

The scheme will be available to everyone on a non-domestic contract subject to a small number of exclusions (for example organisations that use gas or electricity for the purpose of generating power that they are selling back to the grid, and those that agreed a fixed contract before the 1 April 2022).

Organisations on variable contracts will receive a discount, but there will be benefit, in particular, for smaller organisations who have recently moved off fixed tariffs to switch back to one.

Take a look at the following video:

For further information on the details of the scheme, see the accompanying guidance.

We appreciate that the above energy announcements (both for households and for organisations) are unlikely to completely meet your needs, and as wider costs continue to increase, we need to monitor what is happening and its impact. Please complete our Cost of Living Survey and if have insights or evidence on demand and costs and the impact they are having, please do share that with us so we add this to ongoing meetings.

Pro Bono Broadcast Support for Groups Supporting People with Cost of Living
An opportunity has arisen for community organisations and groups, charities or services to receive PR agency specialist help with exposure regarding support for people during the Cost of Living Crisis. Example organisations include the likes of food banks, mental health services, debt services, financial support and others.

If you are part of a small community organization that is assisting the local people with the Cost of Living Crisis and are interested in receiving free support to achieve a wider reach, contact Josh at Be Broadcast on 07500845970.

LESS (Lancaster District) CIC Director
LESS is seeking two strategic thinkers to join its board of directors from November 2022 onwards.  This is a voluntary role with the purpose of ensuring effective financial management, governance and development of LESS (Lancaster District) CIC.

Location: Lancaster

To apply download the application pack and email completed applications to [email protected]

Closing date: 30th September 2022

Read more and apply

Equity and the Social Determinants of Health in Lancashire and Cumbria
The report commissioned from the Institute of Health Equity by Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership, examining the extent of Lancashire and Cumbria’s health inequalities and the reasons for them, has now been published.

The report looks in detail at local inequalities, social determinants of health, our local health equity system, and makes a series of recommendations.

Download the report here.

Get ready for the Charities Act 2022 – changes to Charity Commission guidance
The Charities Act 2022 simplifies charity law so that charities can spend less time and resources on untangling legal processes, from amending governing documents, to selling land, merging with other charities, and making use of permanent endowment funds.

The Act will be implemented in three phases over the next 15 months, with the first phase going live in autumn 2022.

To help the charity sector stay informed of the incoming legislative changes this autumn, the Charity Commission for England and Wales has published information about what impact these changes will have on their guidance.

For more information on the full implementation plan over the coming months, visit the DCMS Charities Act 2022 Implementation Plan webpage.

Support on cost of living available via ‘Help for Households’ campaign and toolkit
Government has launched the ‘Help for Households’ campaign and toolkit in response to increasing prices and pressures around the cost of living. Countries around the world are facing rising goods and energy prices, inflation and cost of living pressures after the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The campaign aims to help people to access the range of support available, including new, exceptional one-off payments and existing benefits and schemes.

There are 41 schemes available to support citizens all of which can be found on the Help for Households Support website.

The Help for Households toolkit, includes free-to-download social media assets, newsletter copy, leaflets and FAQs, to help those most in need to access the range of support available at this time.

Critical and Creative Approaches to Mental Health Practice Drop in at the Gregson
Reimagining mental health: A day of talking, reading, viewing and creating.

The Gregson will be hosting a day of activities and opportunities to share knowledge with individuals and community groups in the Lancaster district with the aim of increasing collective confidence to help develop existing services and to intervene in new, creative and supportive ways.

The event will take place on Saturday 22nd October, 10am to 5pm at The Gregson Centre, 33-35 Moor Gate, Lancaster, LA1 3PY.

To learn more click here

For further details contact: [email protected]

CancerCare Services Support for those affected by Cancer or Bereavement
The support group at CancerCare provides a number of services for families affected by Cancer.  Whether it’s anxiety about your health, the sadness of loss or the side-effects of treatment – CancerCare are there to get the kindness and support you need, when you need it.  CancerCare provide a variety of services delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners that are designed to complement treatments from healthcare professionals.

Treatments include: Acupressure, Alexander Technique, Aromatherapy Massage, Counselling, Creative groups (art, jewellery making, woodwork), Hypnotherapy, Indian head massage and more. Centres can be found in Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal and Barrow.

For more information, read their online leaflet

Specialist New Eye Care Service for those with Learning Disabilities and Autism
See Ability are providing a specialist eye service in Lancashire for all ages with learning difficulties and autism. Longer eye tests or multiple appointments are available where needed along with an easy to understand report about your eyes. Local opticians who have had extensive training will be seen. The assessment is NHS-funded and there is help towards the cost of glasses if you’re eligible.

Read more about SeeAbility

For more information and how to book your appointment

Minds Matter NHS Self Referral
Are your long-term physical health conditions impacting your mental health? Minds Matter are running a “How to be me again” course, where you will be equipped with coping strategies to help manage the stress that comes with physical health conditions.

Find out more here

NHS flu vaccinations for people with a learning disability
With the autumn season approaching, NHS England are reminding those with learning disabilities about the opportunity to protect themselves from influenza (flu) this winter. Those with learning disabilities are eligible for a flu vaccination free of charge.

Read the letter from NHS England for more information

Lancashire County Council Family Support Access  – Request for Feedback
Lancashire County Council is set to improve their support services in how parents and carers currently contact the council to seek support, access help and share information about their children.  This will look at the use of technology and in ensuring their service is more efficient. County Councillor Jayne Rear, cabinet member for education and skills , said:

“Improving the way we share information with parents, carers and schools will help us to achieve our vision; that children, young people and their families are safe, healthy and achieve their full potential.”  

Before this work can begin, the council are asking parents and carers for feedback on their experiences of support, services and information so that their views are central to any changes made.

Read more and Share your views

National Deaf Children’s Society Offering Grants to Support Deaf Young People
The National Deaf Children’s Society is offering grants of up to £1,000 to support young deaf people that wish to deliver projects and activities that benefit their lives. Through the Make a Change Fund young people are supported to bring to life their ideas so that they can make a positive change for themselves and other deaf young people. Creative projects involving art, drama, music, film and other similar projects that connect their ideas with school projects or youth group activities will also be considered.

Learn more about criteria and application

CancerCare Services Support for Young People affected by Cancer or Bereavement
The young peoples support group at CancerCare provides a number of services for children and families affected by Cancer.  Whether it’s anxiety about your health, the sadness of loss or the side-effects of treatment – CancerCare are there to get the kindness and support you need, when you need it.  Services for young people include Children’s counselling and play therapy, Re-Fresh peer Support Group and a Holiday activities programme including outdoor activities, day trips and pamper days.

Click here to view the CancerCare Support Services leaflet

Children and Family Wellbeing Service – What’s on Guide
The Children and Family Wellbeing service is available to provide early help on a whole range of issues affecting you and your family. Their targeted services for children and young people across the age range 0-19yrs+ aim to ensure that they have maximum impact on achieving positive outcomes for your family.

Take a look at their What’s on Guide to keep up to date on all their upcoming events with useful information on what specific groups and services are available in your local community.

Here is a list of the upcoming sessions:

Baby & You
Development Matters
Infant Massage
Chat, Play & Read
Inside Out (8-11 years)
Move & Groove (1-5 years)
Young Parents to be
Parents to be
Group Triple P
Teen Triple P
Triple P Stepping Stones
Mini Move & Groove

I’m interested, show me more!

Youth Programme events:

EASY Youth Group for those with SEND (12-19 years)
Locality Youth Council (12 to 19 years or up to 25 with SEND)
Youth Impact Group (12 to 19 years or up to 25 with SEND)
Detached Session (12-19 years or up to 25 with SEND)
Open Youth Club (12 to 19 years or up to 25 with SEND)
PYRO (LGBTQ+) (13 – 17 years)

Click here for further details on the events above

Centre location details are:

  • Lune Park Neighbourhood Centre, Ryelands Park – Lancaster
  • Poulton Neighbourhood Centre, The Old Fire Station – Morecambe
  • Westgate Neighbourhood Centre, Langridge Way – Morecambe
  • Carnforth Neighbourhood Centre, Kellet Rd – Carnforth

Click here for full details of What’s on with dates and times

If you require information or support, you can use the ‘key contacts’ on the What’s on guide above.  You can also contact their ‘Talkzone’ service which is available every day of the year from 2pm-10pm.

Call: 0800 511111
Text: 07786 511111
Talk online: www.lancashire.gov.uk/youthzone

For those families with younger children, you can also access a lot of advice and guidance on a full range of childcare services, resources and issues from the Family Information Service. Tel: 0300 123 6712 or email [email protected]

The Prince’s Trust Programme – Doubles it’s offer for Young People
The Prince’s Trust Team Programme is a 12-week personal development opportunity aimed at 16-25 year olds, which aims to improve young people’s confidence and team work skills. It also aims to help unemployed young people back into employment, education and training.

The course is run alternately 3 times per year from Morecambe and Lancaster Fire Stations working with young people from Morecambe, Lancaster and the surrounding areas.

The Prince’s Trust team programme starts on 19th September from Morecambe Fire Station.

The programme consists of:

  • Induction week covering health and safety, food safety, skills assessments and career-related action planning
  • Week-long team building residential to develop team work, problem solving and communication skills
  • 2 week Community Project where the young people will redecorate a community centre or clear an outdoor community space
  • 2 week work placement at a business or organisation that is linked to their future aspirations
  • Leadership week that is run by local Firefighters to develop the young people’s teamwork and leadership skills
  • Several Team Challenges where the young people run activities for vulnerable groups within their local communities
  • Final presentation at a local venue to celebrate the young people’s achievements, which is attended by local business leaders and dignitaries

76% of the young people who complete this programme go into employment, education or training opportunities within 3 months.

Click here to watch a short video about their provision…

In addition – 3 Day Course for those interested in The Construction Industry – In Partnership with Calico

The Prince’s Trust are also in partnership with Calico in looking for 18 – 30 year olds who have an interest in working in the construction industry. This additional course is for 3 days per week for 4 weeks, 10am – 3pm and includes a free CSCS card.  The course ends with a 1 week, on site work experience and the opportunity to apply for potential Apprenticeships.

For more information contact Dave Killeen at: [email protected] 07922887673.

For more information or to refer a young person:

Call Charlie on 07900268708

Free Webinar: Creating the environment for recovery for displaced children, young people and families
David Trickey, Co-Director of the UK Trauma Council (UKTC), will chair this Zoom webinar which aims to provide professionals with a better understanding of the impact of traumatic events such as exposure to war, conflict and forced migration. Including information on how to identify signs of trauma, and how to best support traumatised children and young people, the event includes contributions from keynote speaker, Rachel Calam, Professor Emerita in Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester.

Beck Ferrari, UKTC Clinical Content Lead, will give an overview of the resource portfolio currently in development by the UKTC, supporting professionals working with refugee and displaced children, young people and families. 

This event will be held on Tuesday 11 October, 17:00–18:30

Register for free here 

Multi-Agency Early Help Training Offer
The Children & Family Wellbeing Service is offering a new series of multi-agency training programmes free of charge to all professionals working with children and families in Lancashire.

Several programmes have now been announced.

Early Help Assessment and Analysis Training
Over the 2 days practitioners will be supported:

  • To explain the importance of strength-based practice, be able to recognise and build on protective factors when analysing support needs and addressing risk
  • To know what constitutes a good quality assessment and plan
  • To access resources and tools that capture the voice of the child/family and know where and how to reflect this within the assessment process.
  • To develop an awareness and confidence in applying:
    • Trauma Informed Approaches
    • The Cycle of Change
    • Motivational language
  • With practical support in completing an Early Help Assessment

Delegates must book a day 1 session and a day 2 session:
Day 1: book here
Day 2: book here

Relationship Toolkit – Reducing Parental Conflict
This is a one day programme that will support practitioners to:

  • To understand parental conflict and what the research says about its impact family functioning and outcomes for both adults and children.
  • To recognise that there is a difference between domestic abuse and parental conflict.
  • To feel more confident about couple relationship quality enquiry in everyday practice
  • To become familiar with the with Amity Relationship Solutions toolkit and its contents
  • To understand the variety of tools, pre and post programme assessment and how to use them within the context of parental conflict support
  • To confidently assess, plan, implement and review parental conflict support with couples and/or individuals

Find out more and book

Transforming Lancashire’s Children’s Services: Thresholds & Strength Based Approaches to Practice
This is a one day course that will support practitioners to:

  • Understand the rationale for transforming Children’s Services in Lancashire and where change is happening
  • Demonstrate familiarity with Lancashire’s threshold document ’Working Well with Children and Families’, and the updated Continuum of Need.
  • Describe how thresholds are applied in practice and what factors may influence decision making

Find out more and book

The Voice of the Child
This 3 hour workshop is aimed at any professional providing early help support to children and families.  It will support practitioners to build their confidence and skills to capture the child’s voice and lived experience.  The aims of the workshop include:

  • The importance of capturing the voice of the child
  • Using resources and skills to understand a child’s thoughts and feelings
  • How to evidence the voice of the child in an Early Help Assessment

Find out more and book

Securing Consent and Engagement with Families
This 3 hour workshop is aimed at any professional providing early help support to children and families. It will support practitioners to build their confidence around securing consent and maintaining engagement. The aims of the workshop include:

  • Increasing understanding and the importance of gaining consent
  • Approaches to gaining consent and maintaining throughout the support
  • Approaches for establishing rapport and building a trusting relationship
  • Using communication skills to sustain relationships
  • Understanding barriers to engagement and how to manage these

Find out more and book

Cornerstone Building Re-launch
This Saturday brings the re-launch of the Cornerstone in Lancaster, a ‘safe space in the city’.  Also home to Lancaster CVS, Lancashire Youth Challenge RAIS and others, the Cornerstone has had a number of developments over recent months and this weekend will be an opportunity to find out about the exciting progress and what it has to offer. The day event will be attended by Cat Smith MP, Beyond Radio along with a number of the partners of the Cornerstone showcasing their vision with displays, activities and presentations of all the fantastic work involved. All are welcome so come along and discover The Cornerstone, Lancaster.

When: Saturday 24th September, 10:30am – 3pm
Where: The Cornerstone Lancaster, Sulyard Street, Lancaster, LA1 1PX

To view the event poster click here

Find out more and see the Programme for the day

Community Conversation: The Cost of Living – Virtual Meeting by Lancaster City Council
Lancaster City Council and partners in the health and voluntary/community  sectors are hosting a series of Community Conversations titled ‘Our Wellbeing District’.  This online session aims to find the most effective ways of working together to support the community through the cost of living crisis.  Feedback from local residents is crucial in this process of shaping how we work together in supporting those who may be struggling the most.

The virtual meeting will be held on Tuesday 27th September at 6.30-8pm  

Find out more and register your place in the conversation

Community Conversation: Community Wealth Building – Online event by Lancaster City Council
In it’s series of community conversations, this online discussion will be all about raising awareness of Community Wealth-Building: an approach for local places to build a sustainable local economy that benefits people and organisations. LCC is committed to pursuing a Community Wealth-Building approach in achieving its ‘Plan 2030’priorities (Corporate plan – Lancaster City Council) for the local environment, economy and communities. There may also be consideration for the insights from the Community Conversation on Social Value.  Your participation will influence Lancaster City Council and partners to develop and deliver a Community Wealth Building programme that represents the region.

Register for this event here

Boom and Grow Business Growth Programme for Women – The Growing Club
The Growing Club are set to launch a business growth programme for women running micro-business.  The funded 12 month course ‘Boom and Grow’ is tailored to those running a small business, social enterprise or charity in the local area. The course aims to provide support for the year providing facilitated business skills workshops, a buddy system and peer network structure. It will run on the 1st Monday of each month.

The course starts on Monday, 3rd October 2022, 6.30pm to 8.30pm in Lancaster

Find out more and Sign up

FoodFutures Skill Shares, Community Sessions & Training

Skill share: Facilitation tips and tricks
This FoodFutures online session will be exploring approaches to facilitating online and in person meetings for small and large groups.  They will also be taking a look at the world café model. All are welcome to join online and will welcome Abbie from People Support Coop as a trainer.

For more and how to join

FoodFutures – Citizen Journalism Training
FoodFutures are seeking 10 want-to-be citizen journalists! Citizen journalism is based upon members of the public “playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analysing and disseminating news and information”. This year of training, mentoring and support is open to 10 people in the Lancaster District.

Learn more and register your interest

Read Easy  Morecambe Bay Information Evening
Read Easy are holding a Public Information Evening to share our plan and seek volunteers to help promote their services. Read Easy are setting up a group to offer free, one-to-one, and confidential reading sessions to adults across the Morecambe Bay area including Lancaster.  The evening event is to held on zoom at 7pm on 22 Sept (tonight).

To join the Zoom event, click on the link below using the Meeting ID provided.

Topic: Read Easy Morecambe Bay area Information Evening
Time: Sep 22, 2022 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 816 7298 7259

If you are interested in further details on this event please contact [email protected]

Light Up Lancaster Lantern Making Workshops – FREE Opportunity
The creative team at Light Up Lancaster are looking for people to join in the fun with help making lanterns and/or carrying the swooping lantern birds on the 2 live nights of this ambitious, creative community project. The performances will take place on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th November 2022.  If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, contact [email protected] for more.

More information on Light Up Lancaster 

Purpose Workshop
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. 

28th September – 1pm to 4.30pm – Hope Church, Queen Street, Lancaster

For more information follow this link or contact [email protected] or call 07449373979

Living Life to the Full course
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 14th October.  They are also running two “taster sessions” looking at Anxiety & Worry and A Healthy You on Friday 30th September and 7th October for participants who may prefer to try out the course before the 6 weeks begins.

Fridays (see dates below) 10am to 12pm – Hope Church, Queen Street, Lancaster

Find out more about this course

Job Preparation course
A 6 week course, starting on Wednesday 5th October, for anyone who is unemployed or looking for a new direction in life.  Participants will find support in writing a CV and job application that stands out, as well as interview techniques and other important aspects of how they might prepare themselves for work.

Wednesdays – 1pm until 3pm – Hope Church, Queen Street, Lancaster

I’m interested in this event, show me more!

Social/Community Groups
This term we’ve got a variety of activities planned including craft groups, a book club, a monthly trip out (this term we are visiting Clitheroe and are going Christmas shopping), and Cook-along sessions where we learn to cook something healthy, new and on a budget and then eat together afterwards too.

Tuesdays – 10am until 12pm – Hope Church, Queen Street, Lancaster.

For more information follow this link or contact [email protected] or call 07449373979

Walk with a Doc
Run in partnership with local GP Nick Johnstone

Walk with a Doc aims to improve Physical and Mental Health by promoting an hours walk in company. As well as the walk Nick 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.

Tuesdays – 11am – 12pm – Millenium Bridge (Lancaster side)

Find out more about the course and how to join

Celebrate Recovery (12 step Programme)
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. 

Every Tuesday 7.30pm to 9.00pm or Wednesday 10am to 12pm (term time)

Find out more about this support session

CAP Money & Budgeting Course in partnership with the LM Debt Centre
This is a free 3 week course run in partnership with the Lancaster & Morecambe Debt Centre, which runs each term – usually January, April and September.

The course will look at how we can manage our money better, learn to budget, save and spend well. This is a useful course particularly with the current and upcoming financial challenges. 

This course is run via online access.

Follow this link for further information

Angel by Henry Naylor Showing at The Dukes Theatre
The Dukes theatre will soon be showing another powerful piece of theatre for you to enjoy. ‘Angel’ by Henry Naylor begins on the 29th September 2022. This is a one-woman show telling the true legendary story of Rehana, a woman who chose to defend her home from ISIS by staying to fight as a sniper and defend her town instead of fleeing. Allegedly killing more than 100 ISIS fighters, when her story came out, she became an internet sensation and a symbol of resistance against Islamic State and dubbed the ‘Angel of Kobane’ and today many Kurdish fighters are women for this exact reason.

For more info and ticket bookings

Think CO – An Introductory Workshop to Carbon Monoxide (CO) Risks at Home
The risks of carbon monoxide poisoning increase as we move towards Autumn and Winter. The Gas Safe Charity continues to offer more of their popular and free carbon monoxide awareness workshops. Aimed at front line staff and volunteers, they help people who work in the homes of vulnerable people to be more aware of the risks and to help prevent poisoning taking place. The interactive workshop lasts an hour.

These online vitual Zoom sessions will take place from September through to November.

Find out more and for bookings

Cosy Homes in Lancashire presents WARM Matters
Cosy homes in Lancashire are hosting a multi-agency approach workshop to help residents across Lancashire prepare for and tackle the Cost of Living Crisis. From the perspective of Wellness, Advice, Resource and Money, the morning session, will be hosted by Arif Rajpura – Director of Public Health, accompanied by a selection of guest speakers. There will be an opportunity to network and the chance to share and learn what help is available from partner organisations for their residents.

The event will be held at the The Foyer – Blackpool, Conference & Exhibitions Centre, Winter Gardens, Leopold Grove, Blackpool, FY1 4JR.

Date and Time: Thursday, 24 November 2022, 09:00am – 16:00pm

Read more and Register your place

Preparing for winter pressures webinar
The webinar, hosted by Skills for Care on 5 October, is focused on frontline managers in organisations delivering adult social care. It will provide an opportunity learn about different approaches colleagues across the country are adopting for the winter ahead, particularly around staffing, increasing costs, and COVID-19.

Find out more and register.

For Dom, Bruno & the Amazon at Halton Mill
A month of activities in November 2022 centred around Halton Mill, honouring Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira, and others risking their lives protecting the rain forests.

Environmental journalist Dom Phillips was travelling in Amazonia with indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, investigating the undeclared war on indigenous communities and solutions to tackle the destruction of the rain forest, when they were murdered by people involved in illegal fishing.

Dom’s sister, Lancaster musician Sian Phillips, has led a choir in Halton for many years and her bands have played at the Mill.

Halton Mill is honouring Dom, Bruno and other activists who have lost their lives with an exhibition and other activities – films, talks, arts activities, and a two day conference in partnership with Lancaster University Environment Centre – during November, to coincide with COP27 when eyes will be on the world’s leaders and their responses to the environmental crisis.

Find out more about the events and partnership, sponsorship and volunteering opportunities.

Training Coordinator at Lancashire Mind
Do you want to join a team who are passionate about improving mental health and wellbeing for the people of Lancashire?

Lancashire Mind are looking for a bold and caring individuals to join their Training and Workplace Wellbeing Team, who have experience of delivering training to a range of audiences both in person and remotely. Whilst advertising the post as full-time there will be open discussion around working hours.

The organisation are wanting someone who is hardworking, creative, and able to work on their own initiative to deliver their mental health training courses. Delivery is done both online from home, as well as face-to-face in different settings across Lancashire. You will work closely with colleagues to plan, write and deliver training courses, as well as supporting the wider work of the team.

Salary: £24,423 per annum

Contract: Full-time (35 hours per week), 12 months initially with potential to extension

Location: A mix of home and office working, with the majority of online delivery being done from home, and travel to venues around Lancashire for face-to-face delivery and team meetings

Closing date: 5th October 2022, 9am

For more information and how to apply 

Lancashire County Council Children & Family Wellbeing Service – Various Roles
Lancashire County Council are currently recruiting multiple roles for the Children and Family Wellbeing Service. If you are a people person, have the right values and skills to work with children, young people and families, then there may be a role suitable for you. The varied roles advertised are for multiple locations around the county, for full and part time opportunities, great flexible working policies and competitive salaries, pension and annual leave entitlement. 

Roles being recruited include:

Family Support Worker – £22,129 – £25,927 (Hourly rate up to £13.44)
Delivery Support Worker – £19,264-£20,043 (Hourly rate up to £10.39)
Neighbourhood Group Worker – £19,922 – £22,104 (Hourly rate up to £10.39
Assistant Youth Worker – £19,922 – £22,104 (Hourly rate up to £11.48)

For further details on these roles follow this link

Assistant for Escape2Make
Are you interested in youth work, social work or want to help with creative workshops?  E2M are recruiting for an Assistant to help with their Film Club and Press Club on Thursday evenings. The sessions run every week at The Storey in Lancaster and are free for all 11s-18s. They require a commitment to attend these weekly Thursday sessions from 4:30-7:15pm to aid their facilitators in delivering the sessions. This is a paid position position and a great way to start getting involved with this growing organisation.

Recruitment leaflet here

Director of Finance and Resources – Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Cumbria Wildlife Trust are looking to recruit a self-starting, commercially-minded, Director of Finance and Resources to provide oversight and strategic financial leadership to Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The post holder will be able to operate in a fast-paced and often complex environment and demonstrate good judgement. There will be a focus on implementing systems and procedures necessary for the efficient running of the finance department and the organisation generally.

Salary: £45,101 – £48,859 per annum plus pension contribution

Contract: Permanent

Location: Kendal, Cumbria

Closing date: 26 Septmber 2022

Find out more and apply

BAME Outreach Support Worker – Preston Domestic Violence Services
Preston Domestic Violence Services are seeking a BAME Outreach Support Worker to join their team.  The start date for this job is for as soon as conveniently possible.

Salary: £15,834 per annum (£23,434 pro-rata)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Combination of office (Harbour House, Port Way) and in the community

Closing date: 31st October 2022, 9am

*Please note: This job is open to women only

Find out more and apply

Dementia Advisor with Alzheimer’s Society
The Alzheimer’s Society are seeking an approachable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable community-based Dementia Advisor to join our supportive and compassionate team, focusing on supporting people affected by dementia across Central Lancashire.  This is a community-based role with some homeworking elements.  

The Alzheimer’s Society are a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia.

Salary: £20,875 – £22,143 per annum (Pro rata)

Contract: Contract, Part-time

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Closing date: 07 October 2022, 11pm

Find out more and apply

Catering Assistant with the Richmond Fellowship
The Richmond Fellowship are seeking a Catering Assistant for their community Café. Their aim is to provide a high quality catering experience for customers using the café, as well as employment and volunteering opportunities for individuals with experience of mental health problems.  The role will involve supporting individuals to participate in the running of the café and shop through work placements and volunteering.

Richmond Fellowship is part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence.

Salary: £19,304  per annum (Pro rata for 30 hours)

Contract: Contract, Fixed term post that ends on the 8th of January 2023, Part-time

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Closing date: 29 September 2022, 23:59

Find out more and apply

Business Development Manager with the Preston Domestic Violence Services

*This post is open to women only*

The Preston Domestic Violence Services are seeking a Business Development Manager to join their team in Preston, Lancashire. The main purpose of the job is to maintain the sustainability of PDVS by obtaining income to support and develop current services and provide new ones. Preston Domestic Violence Services is a grassroots charity providing a range of community support services to people experiencing domestic abuse. The successful candidate will be required to be pro-active, self-motivated and with the experience necessary to fulfil the key objectives.

Salary: £21,588 per annum (£38,037 pro rata)

Contract: 21 hours per week

Location: Community Gateway Offices, Harbour House, Portway, Preston, PR2 2DW

Closing date: 5th October 2022

Find out more and apply

Domestic Abuse Caseworker at Victim Support
The role provides a pro-active, short to medium term crisis intervention service, through individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.

Salary: £23,072 per annum
Contract: Full time, fixed term
Location: Blackpool
Closing date: 22 September

Find out more and apply

Several Roles at Trust House Lancashire
Trust House Lancashire work to support people affected by sexual violence or abuse, and with community groups to prevent and increase awareness of these crimes.

There are currently several vacancies in the organisation, with closing dates in September:

  • Senior Children & Young People’s Therapist
  • Children & Young People’s Therapist
  • Sessional Therapist with Language Skills
  • Children’s Sessional Play Therapist

Find out more and apply.

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 upskilling your workforce, contact [email protected]

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

Membership queries: [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]