Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 3 August 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.

Swop Shop Skill Share Network Workshop Empowers Community Collaboration
Thank you so much to everyone who attended our introductory Swop Shop Skill Share event held on the 12th July at the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, Lancaster, and for making it a success. A diverse range of community organisations came together in an atmosphere of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, all prompted by the evaluation feedback received from delegates at our inaugural FestiVOL and 50th anniversary event last November.

You asked for more opportunities to exchange resources skills, knowledge, and best practice, and expressed a need for time spent together and face to face networking. Everyone gathered with creative enthusiasm, ready to tackle challenges and share ideas resulting in a day filled with productive discussions and fruitful outcomes… Read more

Break the Mould – Residential Weekend
A huge thanks to all the young people that joined us from across Lancaster district and Cumbria to take part in our Break the Mould residential weekend at The Kepplewray Centre on the 17th and 18th June.  The inspiring group of young people worked hard to design a grants programme which will give out £60,000 to local communities.  Thanks also to Buzz and Steve from Think Forward CIC for doing such a fabulous job in galvanising the young people.   

The  ‘Break the Mould’ project is funded by the Francis C Scott Charitable  Trust to celebrate their 60th Anniversary and is delivered in partnership between LDCVS and Cumbria Youth Alliance.

Foundation Launch New Funding Programme – Local Collaborations
The Lloyds Bank Foundation have launched the Local Collaborations programme which provides grants of £100,000 over two years and development support for collaborations led by small charities to influence and achieve change locally around three themes: social security, accommodation and refugee and asylum seeker support. It is recommended to sign up to their webinar on Thursday 13th July for more information.

The programme is now open for applications until Friday 22nd September.  The Panel decisions will be in late February 2024.

Find out more about the grants programme

Next Round of Pots of Possibility Funding Opening Soon
Do you know a local zero waste or regenerative project or enterprise that could grow into something great with a little financial help? Put this date in your diary!  The Pots of Possibility ‘Your Pots’ fund is offering grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 to community organisations to develop regenerative ideas, scale up existing regenerative projects and help our communities and environment to flourish. Applications will be open from 4 September to 6 October 2023.

Find out more about the Pots of Possibility grant programme here

National Lottery Heritage Fund Announces Details of Transition to New Strategy
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), the UK’s largest funder of UK heritage has published the details of its first delivery plan (2023-2026) for its new 10-year strategy, Heritage 2033 with an anticipated £3.6 billion to be awarded to good causes over the next decade. The process will be simplified and more proportionate, and there’s a recognition of rising costs with an increased upper grant limit of £10 million. NLHF will also distribute over £43 million in government funding in 2023-24, invest in 20 locations across the UK through its Place initiative, and support urban nature recovery with Nature Cities and Towns.

Changes to applications for grants between:
£3,000 and £10,000 – Applications will close in December 2023.
£10,000 and £250,000 – Applications will temporarily close in November 2023 and reopen in January 2024
£250,000 and £10 million – Applications for grants will reopen in January 2024

Visit the NLHF website for full details on the Heritage 2033 delivery plan (2023-2026)

Funding for UK Theatres to Improve Environmental Sustainability – Early September Deadline
The Theatres Trust, in association with Wolfson Foundation, is currently accepting applications for grants of up to £20,000 to support not-for-profit theatres in the UK who need financial support to help reduce their environmental impact. This is a small fund with a total budget of £115,000 for this round. Grants support a range of projects that consider different ways theatre buildings can reduce their environmental impact, such as: Sedum roofs, new windows, building management systems and more efficient water heaters.

The deadline for applications is noon on 5 September 2023.

Learn more about this funding option

Government Launches Cladding Safety Scheme for Residential Buildings in England
Grants are available for the remediation of unsafe cladding which poses a fire risk on residential buildings in England where a responsible developer cannot be identified, traced, or held responsible. The Cladding Safety Scheme has been established to meet the cost of addressing fire risks associated with cladding on residential buildings in England. Grants are available to mitigate life safety risks, where this is recommended in a Fire Risk Assessment of External Walls (FRAEW).

Applications are now open. There is no stipulated deadline.

Find out more about this scheme

Neighbourhood Planning Grants and Support Programme Now Open for Applications
The Neighbourhood Planning Grants and Support Programme is now open for applications! The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has allocated funding for the continuation of the programme for another year (2023-2024). Town and parish councils, neighbourhood forums, and prospective neighbourhood forums can apply for grants and technical support to develop a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development. The programme offers basic grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000, and for more complex projects, groups can receive an additional grant of up to £8,000, making the maximum total amount available £18,000.

Expressions of Interest can be submitted before March 2024.

More information on this programme

Screwfix Foundation Accepting Applications for Autumn Funding – Deadline of 10 August
The Screwfix Foundation is now accepting applications for their Autumn funding round. This registered charity, supported by Screwfix customers and employees, has been making a positive impact for a decade, awarding over £11 million to 2,400 local projects across the country. If your organisation supports people in need due to financial hardship, sickness, disability, or other disadvantages, you could be eligible for grants of up to £5,000. The funding is specifically aimed at improving, fixing, and repairing buildings, homes, and facilities used by those in need.

The next deadline for applications is 10 August 2023.

Read more and apply today

Branching Out Fund Accepting Applications for the 2023 Winter Planting Season
The Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund is now accepting applications for the 2023 Winter Planting Season. This fantastic opportunity offers grants ranging from £250 to £2,500 to support tree and hedge planting projects between November 2023 and February 2024. With the funding, you can purchase a wide range of tree-related resources, including native trees, hedgerow trees, fruit trees, bioplastic tree guards, stakes, mulch, and more. Non-native tree varieties, chosen with climate change resilience in mind, may also be considered. Priority will be given to projects incorporating diverse tree types, so apply early to secure your chance. If you’re looking to create a positive impact on your community’s green space, apply today!

The deadline for applications is 3 December 2023.

Learn more about this fund and how to apply

Cost of Living Fund launched
The £76M Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund has been launched this week.  The fund will support organisations across England to deliver critical frontline services. Organisations will be able to apply for funding to maintain or expand critical cost of living services from now until the end of March 2024. Applications will be for amounts between £10,000 and £75,000. The funding is only open to frontline organisations running critical services in communities, in at least one of the follow areas:

  • Food and emergency supplies – food and other ‘banks’
  • Emergency shelter – homelessness services
  • Safe spaces – domestic abuse services and youth services
  • Warmth – warm spaces / hubs
  • Financial and housing advice.

Applicants MUST be able to demonstrate both increased costs and increased demand.

The application window is now open and will close at 12 noon on Monday 16 October 2023.

Find out more and apply for this fund

Continuo Foundation Launches Round Six of Funding for UK Period Music Ensembles
Period-instrument ensembles can apply for funding to carry out a range of creative projects that will bring live music to communities across the UK, particularly in communities that lack access to high-quality live music. Continuo Foundation is offering grants of between £2,000 and £8,000 for professional ensembles playing period music and instruments to mobilise projects of outstanding artistic merit and create meaningful work for freelance period musicians, whilst engaging a wide range of audiences with historically informed live performances. Round Six will continue to focus on providing the funds and confidence needed for ensembles to plan and carry out a range of creative projects that will bring inspiring live music to communities across the UK, particularly in areas which lack access to high-calibre live music.

Funding is for projects taking place between September 2023 and March 2024.

The deadline for applications is 10 August 2023.

Learn more about this fund and how to apply

Force For Change Programme Accepting Round 2 Applications
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has announced the opening of the second round of its local grants programme, “Force for Change.” This initiative aims to support local community projects that address hidden or compelling needs within Armed Forces communities and foster greater engagement and reduced isolation. This year, the programme is particularly focused on providing funding to projects addressing cost-of-living challenges faced by these communities. Eligible projects can receive grants of up to £15,000 for a one-year duration, starting within a month of award. If you are a registered charity, community interest company (CIC), Armed Forces unit or base, local authority, school, or NHS care coordinator, apply now to make a meaningful difference.

The deadline for applications is 5 pm on 13 December 2023, with decisions expected by the end of March 2024.

More information here

HMRC Offering £5.5 Million in Grants to the Voluntary Sector
Funding to provide advice and support to HMRC customers who need extra help understanding and complying with their obligations and claiming their entitlements. HMRC is looking for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations to help customers to form or rebuild a relationship with HMRC that enables them to engage directly with HMRC in the future. There is a total of £5.5 million on offer for 2024-2027, equating to £1.835 million per year. This will be given out in grants of £30,000 to £600,000 per year, with a maximum threshold set at 50% of an organisation’s annual turnover. Registered charities, voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises, mutual and co-operatives based in the UK can apply, provided they have an annual turnover of no less than £60,000.

There will be live Q&A sessions with the HMRC Grant Funding Team on 26 July 2023 and 8 August 2023.

The fund will open on 24 July 2023 and close at 23.59pm on 21 August 2023.

Learn more about this funding support

New Research Grants from Armed Forces Families Fund
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is offering new research grants from the Armed Forces Families Fund. These grants aim to support research projects investigating key challenges faced by Armed Forces families in the UK. Areas of focus include educational attainment for Service pupils, child welfare, and the welfare needs of Service families. Registered charities and UK-based universities can apply for grants of up to £60,000 over 18 months, with most grants expected to be £30,000 or less. If you’re interested in shedding light on the experiences of Armed Forces families, addressing critical challenges, and fostering understanding, submit your application.

The deadline for applications is 6 October 2023 at 9am.

Find out more about this funding option

NLCF Offering New Grants to Strengthen Community Connections
A brand new funding programme, the UK Fund marks one of the first significant commitments from the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF)’s new strategy, ‘It starts with community’. The grants are intended to develop and expand community links by:

  • Strengthening relationships between people whose experiences of life have not been the same. For example, relationships between people of different ethnic backgrounds, generations, occupations or geographies.
  • Creating connections between online and offline worlds.
  • Helping to make sure people from all backgrounds can shape the future of their communities.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from 4 August 2023.

For more information on this fund

Lloyd’s Bank Foundation Offering Local Collaborations Grants
Funding is available to support partnerships to influence locally and regionally on major social issues. The latest programme of funding from Lloyd’s Bank Foundation England and Wales will support local collaborations led by small charities that help to improve the social security system for those facing the greatest challenges, ensuring easy access to accommodation for those facing copmplex issues and improvement of support and services for asyluym seekers and refugees. The fund offers grants of £100,000 over two years, with the opportunity to extend this by an extra year and an additional £50,000.

The deadline to apply is 22 September 2023 at 5pm.

Find out more about this funding programme

Single Grant Available to Support Veterans’ Mobility
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is delivering a new funding programme aimed at supporting disabled veterans to access mobility equipment that meets their needs and improves their quality of life. The fund offers one single award of up to £2.52 million over five years for an organisation to deliver in-kind grants in the form of specialist mobility equipment. Registered charities can apply to this programme, provided they have been registered in the UK for more than two years and are experienced in working with veterans and supporting those with disabilities.

The deadline to apply is 9am on 14 August 2023.

Learn more about this funding opportunity

Applications Now Open for Ecology Outreach Grants
The British Ecological Society (BES) is now accepting applications for the second 2023 round of its public engagement grants programme. The fund offers grants of up to £2,000 and is open to all individuals and organisations in Great Britain that are able to organise public engagement events in ecology.

The deadline to apply is 23.59 on 30 August 2023.

Find out more

£500,000 for Projects to Tackle Electronic Waste and Support Digital Inclusion
Grants are available for UK organisations to support innovative approaches to tackling e-waste, with a focus on small electrical devices. The Time after Time e-waste Fund is provided by Hubbub Foundation and Virgin Media O2 to boost initiatives for tackling the UK’s e-waste challenge. The funding will support projects that aim to prevent e-waste by extending the life of small electrical items; that increase the recycling of e-waste; or that increase understanding of e-waste and reach new audiences. This year, a total of £500,000 is available, with grants ranging in size from £25,000 to £100,000. The expectation is that between six and eight projects will be supported, with varying grant sizes.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 20 October 2023.

Find out more and apply

Heysham South Windfarm Community Fund
The Banks Renewables Fund provides grants to local community groups, voluntary organisations and environmental projects within the boundaries of Banks Renewables wind farms.

The geographic area for this fund, usually restricted to Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, Heysham, Middleton and Overton, has now been extended (pending review after one year) to Lancaster, Morecambe, Glasson, Overton, Sunderland, Ellel and Galgate in addition.

Organisations can apply for up to £7,000 which must be spent within one year. Grants are paid in arrears, with support for cashflow in some circumstances.

Find out more and apply.

GSK Health Inequalities programme
Health inequalities are avoidable and systematic differences that include access to care, quality and experience of care, life expectancy, and wider factors such as environment and housing. The alarming scale of these inequalities was exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A huge amount of the work around tackling health inequalities is carried out by very small charities working in their communities.

The GSK Health Inequalities programme is intended to support aspirational leaders who want to develop their organisations. It is open to registered charities that are at least one year old, located and working in the UK, with a total annual income of between £20,000 and £150,000.

Up to 15 charities will receive up to £10,000 in unrestricted funding and access to training and development valued at £2,700.

Find out more and apply

A New Community Workshop in the Lancaster District?
Are you part of a local group, organisation or business that repairs, makes or mends? Could your group make use of a shared Community Workshop space, tools and equipment? For example, you might want to use the space to:

run making/mending classes
hold repair sessions
store tools and equipment.

Closing Loops would like your views! Please tell us whether a Community Workshop would be useful to your organisation – click the link below and answer a short survey.

bit.ly/community-workspace

The Charity Regulator’s New Digital Service Now Live!
The UK government’s new digital service for charity regulators has been launched, bringing a host of benefits and efficiencies to the sector. This user-friendly platform promises to streamline processes and enhance transparency, making it easier for charities to access essential services and information. The regulator has described My Charity Commission Account as charities’ ‘front door’ into the Commission, through which they will submit any remaining Annual Returns for 2022 and all Annual Returns for 2023 onwards, and engage with the regulator’s wider digital services.

Learn more about the new digital service

Help Shape the Good Food Manifesto
The Good Food Manifesto was drafted in 2021. It aims to provide local businesses and organisations with ways to take forward aspects of the Our Food Futures strategy. Be part of the positive change for a healthier, resilient, and fair food system in North Lancashire! Complete the Good Food Manifesto Questionnaire and help businesses and organisations play a vital role in shaping our local food landscape. By signing up, you support healthy local food procurement, sustainable packaging, composting, and recycling. It’s not just about giving back to the community; your business or organisation will also enjoy skill share events, networking, and valuable training opportunities.

Help shape the Good Food Manifesto

New Tool for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organisations
A new tool has been introduced to charities and not-for-profit organisations in demonstrating and measuring their impact.  The Community And Voluntary Organisation Evaluation Toolkit (CAVEAT) is a new, free, easy-to-use, interactive, online resource developed by a team of researchers from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, to help voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations demonstrate the impact they and their volunteers make. The tool offers a streamlined approach to showcase the positive change they bring to communities. Now, organisations can efficiently highlight their contributions and effectiveness, leading to greater transparency and accountability. The tool provides a great opportunity to elevate your organisation’s mission and enhance your impact.

Discover the new tool here

Cranfield Trust Essentials to Excellence: Charity Branding Webinar
There has always been much talk, misunderstanding, and debate around the concept of branding. What is it?  Do charities need a brand?  And, if so, how do we develop a brand? The Cranfield Trust is holding a 1-hour webinar aimed at CEOs, managers, fundraisers, and trustees, this webinar will discuss the concept of branding within a charity. They will discuss what a brand is, why branding is important, and how your brand goes much deeper than your logo or website. They will also look at how you can build a charity brand with limited resources and some quick wins.

Date & time: Wednesday, 6th September, 2023, 12-1pm

Find out more and register here

Lancaster District Community Arts Projects Seeking Support

Dukes Cinema on Tour
The Dukes is seeking your valuable support to launch their new touring cinema, delivering the finest films right to your doorstep. With their plan to visit various community spaces, they aim to make cinematic experiences easily accessible to everyone. By contributing to this project, you’ll help create unforgettable movie nights bringing film to everyone no matter where you’re based creating a sense of togetherness through the power of film. Support The Dukes’ Touring Cinema and be a part of this enriching cinematic journey!

Find out more and show your support

Storey Tasting Garden Artwork
The Friends of Storey Gardens are seeking funding support as they endeavor to recreate internationally renowned artwork right in the heart of Lancaster. The Tasting Garden is no ordinary space—it’s a blend of a community garden, a flourishing orchard, and exceptional artwork. Your support will help create a vibrant space that celebrates nature, art, and community spirit. This beautiful community space also lends itself to improved physical, mental and spiritual well-being for the enjoyment of those who live and work in the city as well as tourist visitors.

Find out more and show your support

Good Finance Social Finance Tool 
Are you curious about finance options for your organisation but are unsure of where to start?  Use the Good Finance ‘Is It Right For Us?’ diagnostic tool to determine whether social investment is right for your organisation. Social investment is using repayable finance to help organisations achieve a social purpose. Charities and social enterprises both benefit from this as it helps increase their impact on society. It only takes 2-3 minutes to complete and can advise on the types of social investment which may be suitable or, if this isn’t the right option for you, you will be provided with suggestions of actions your organisation can take to become ready for social investment. You can both use the tool and find out in more detail about social investment here.

Home Truths 2 e-survey
Do you self-identify as one of the ethnicities included under the term Black and Minoritised? These terms refer to anyone outside of the ‘White British’ category. More information on this is provided on the introductory page for the survey including other definitions around the subject of racism and race equality. This survey is a follow up of the 2020 Home Truths report on racism in civil society. Taking part in this survey will greatly help the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations to challenge and support mainstream civil society to take serious practical action on anti-racism and race equality. 

Please complete the survey today or no later than Monday the 21st of August 2023.

Complete the Home Truths 2 e-survey

Morecambe Winter Gardens Crowdfund Support
The Morecambe Winter Gardens are looking for help to raise £45,000 to restore the iconic theatre’s historic unique mosaic floor which has been covered up for many decades. This historic gem holds huge cultural significance, and the team are determined to preserve its beauty for future generations. A Crowdfund has been set up for the restoration efforts, and every contribution makes a difference. You can join their mission and help us revitalize this architectural marvel. You can help back this project to ensure that it remains a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and community.

Learn more about the project and donate

Bay International Film Festival Crowdfunder
The Bay International Film Festival is a new annual event for Morecambe celebrating the art of film. A month long event in October 2023 will include 20+ film screenings and 10+ film related events. The festival aims to create a cultural dialogue between the North West England and the world and inspire local audiences with great films, thoughtful conversations, and joyful encounters.

The Festival has launched a crowdfunder to help raise money to cover some of the costs of this inaugural event.

Find out more here

Collection of bottle tops and recycling them into sustainable award trophies by Relic Plastic as part of the Film Festival has been supported with a grant from the Pots of Possibility Fund.

Get involved with Vision for Volunteering Workshops
The Vision for Volunteering is a movement to create a diverse, innovative, ambitious, equitable and person-centred future for volunteering. It aims to set out a view of what volunteering needs to look like, and how this will make volunteers feel about their roles, by 2032. More than 350 people from more than 300 organisations contributed to the Vision for Volunteering, which is led by NAVCA, NCVO, Volunteering Matters, and the Association of Volunteer Managers.

The Vision for Volunteering programme team are leading a range of in-person and virtual workshops throughout June and July to inspire you and your organisations to bring Vision for Volunteering to life in your communities. The workshops will be places for you to share what practical tools and resources will best help you with making the Vision a reality.

Find out more on the Vision for Volunteering events webpage.

Volunteer Centre News Update
For the latest from the Volunteer Centre you can read our Volunteering News Update here

Lancaster Guardian Column
Read all about aspects of volunteering in the Lancaster District with our regular Lancaster Guardian article. This week’s article is titled – Improve Volunteer Recruitment with Flexible Opportunities.

Read all about it!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit the guide here

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

Volunteering Opportunities
Lancaster Men’s Hub

Lancaster Men’s Hub support men of all ages in the Lancaster area with their physical and mental health through a wide variety of activities. They are looking for two volunteers to help in the kitchen during their Friday meals.

Kitchen Coordinator
This role will plan the weekly menu, buy food, and arrange a rota for cooking

Kitchen Assistant
This role will serve food and drinks, keep the cafe and kitchen area tidy, and conduct other kitchen duties.

The Cornerstone
The Cornerstone is part of Lancaster Methodist Church and is a community of people working together to create a safe place in the city. They are currently looking for volunteers in the roles of Kitchen Assistant, Promotions & Social Media, and Administration Support/Fundraising.

Kitchen Assistant
Required between 10am and 3pm on Tuesdays for general kitchen duties.

Promotions & Social Media Lead
Design eye-catching leaflets and posters, and engage the community through social media.

Administration Support – Fundraising
Help with general office duties and complete funding applications.

Home-Start Volunteers
Home-Start, who offer home-visiting support to local families are looking for more volunteers such as parents, carers or grandparents who feel they could spare 2 to3 hours a week to support a family. They provide training and also other training opportunities and are hoping to run their net course in September. If anyone is interested in this position, please contact Debra Dawkins, the Senior Coordinator of Home-Start to further discuss this role.

Tel: 01524 414871
Mob: 07939404194
Email: [email protected]

Lancaster Samaritans Volunteer Recruitment Sessions
Lancaster Samaritans are available for people 24/7 to offer confidential and non-judgemental advice. They are looking for caring and empathetic people to give their time to help others. If you would like to find out about what being a volunteer involves the Samaritans are inviting people to an informal information event. The times and dates for these are: 26th of July 7:30-8:30 at The Cornerstone Sulyard Street, Lancaster or 31st of July 1:30-2:30 at Lancaster Library.

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Administrative Support Volunteers 
Acorn Recovery Projects need an administration support volunteer & meetings facilitator – click HERE for more details.

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Cooking on a Budget & Living Skills Opportunity
And someone to run some sessions around cooking on a budget and living skills – click HERE for more details.

New Trustees wanted for Lancaster Men’s Hub
The LMH is a charity that, instead of using therapy or counselling, encourages people to enjoy shared activities which will provide the opportunity to both socialise and form friendships. It is beneficial for both the physical and mental health of men and also women.

The LMH is looking for someone who has experience and skills in charity governance or accounting/bookkeeping. Their aim is also to expand the diversity of Board of Trustees by gaining representation form different age groups and work backgrounds.

Anyone interested in joining the charity as a Trustee is welcome to contact David Mace the LMH Chair on [email protected] 

Volunteer Community Panel Member Lancashire
The Community Foundation are looking for a someone to join the decision making panel to fill an important role and part of the funding process. Panel members have the very difficult job of deciding who is successful and who has to be declined. As well as being difficult it is also very rewarding as panel members have an opportunity to make an impact and learn more about what is happening in their community.  They have the responsibility to ensure that funding is spent as per the donor’s wishes.  CFLM values the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience that panel members can bring to the discussion as it can really enhance the assessments and aid decision making.

If you are interested in the role, please send your CV (if available) and brief statement of no more than 500 words to detailing your voluntary and community sector experience and why you are interested in being a panel member. If shortlisted, Community Foundation for Merseyside will invite you for an informal interview to find out more about you. If you would like to apply, please send your expression of interest to [email protected]

If you have any queries please contact James at the above email address or by telephone on 0151 294 4750.

Find out more about this opportunity

Bay Volunteers – Various Roles
Do you have time during the week to support individual residents with things like shopping, Eggcup and prescription collections, telephone or in-person befriending, digital support, and more?

Bay Volunteers needs volunteers to take up either regular or one-off missions that you can pick and choose, carrying them out when and as often as it suits and fits in with you in a given week to support vulnerable members of our communities. Missions are made available to volunteers on a mobile app and website which is very easy to use, so you can choose which ones you can do.

Find out more here

New Blog Feature: ‘Discovering Wellness in the Lancaster District’
Lancaster District CVS are pleased to announce a brand new series of blogs all about Health & Wellbeing in the district. Lead by our Community Health Officer Jenny Reddell, we will be shining the spotlight on the many activities and services available for improving your health and wellbeing. Centred around our Directory of Services, which now has nearly 400 services from across the health sector and beyond listed, we will be discovering the many opportunities to help you begin your journey to wellness.

This fantastic resource is already being used across our district to help people find new hobbies and interest for themselves, support with loved ones ill-health, support with individual’s long term health conditions, support with understanding what is out there that can help you and me stay well. This is the first of our new health and wellbeing blog series, over the next few months and years we will continue to feature individual services listed in the Directory, helping you discover more about the service and helping us promote this amazing local directory.

Read our first health & wellbeing blog here

Cervical Screening Questionnaire
The NHS need your valuable insights to better understand the reasons behind the low uptake of cervical screenings in our region. In the North West there are fewer women attending cervical screening (also known as smear tests) than in the rest of the country which has brought the NHS cause for concern. Your help is needed to provide more of an understanding about how women feel about cervical screening and what needs to change to support more women making the decision to get cervical screening. Your participation matters to help prioritise women’s health.

For more information and to complete the survey

National Academy of Social Prescribing Webinars
The National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP) have a series of webinars over the coming weeks that you miht find useful.  The webinars will be a series of thought-provoking sessions that explore the transformative impact of connecting people to non-medical sources of support in their communities. Learn from experts in the field and gain valuable insights into promoting well-being through arts, nature, physical activities, and more.

NASP Upcoming Webinars:

16th August – Improving access to social prescribing through care navigation and online consultations

22nd August –  NAVCA social prescribing project

12th September – NASP webinar: A multi faith exploration into social prescribing

To book your place or for more information

NASP Green Social Prescribing Toolkit: Embracing Nature for Health and Well-being
The National Academy of Social Prescribing have introduced a new toolkit the Green Social Prescribing Toolkit, a powerful resource for the third sector to help tackle and prevent mental ill health. This comprehensive toolkit aims to enhance social prescribing by harnessing the therapeutic potential of the natural environment. With a wealth of information, guidance, and best practices, the toolkit equips healthcare professionals, community leaders, and volunteers with the tools they need to connect individuals to nature-based activities for improved well-being. By integrating the healing power of green spaces, outdoor activities, and environmental projects into social prescribing initiatives, we can build stronger, healthier communities. The results and findings were positive!

Read more here about the programme!

Research on Social Prescribing: VCFSE Organisations and Link Workers
Calling all VCFSE organisations and Social Prescribing Link Workers in the North West! Your valuable experiences and views are sought for important research on social prescribing. This research, conducted as part of a PhD at the University of Chester, aims to bridge the gap in understanding by focusing on the community sector’s vital role in social prescribing schemes. By participating in online surveys, you have the opportunity to share your insights on successful social prescribing schemes, maximizing resources and support, encouraging collaboration between PCNs and VCFSE, and hosting organizations’ needs. Social prescribing link workers can also contribute their perspectives on training, service design involvement, resource impact, caseload complexity, and more. The surveys are anonymous, and participation in phase two (focus groups and interviews) is optional. Help support in enriching the social prescribing evidence base and advancing community healthcare.

Find out more about the research and complete the survey

The Lancaster District Directory – NEW IN!
The Lancaster District Directory is a comprehensive resource offering information and listings related to various health and wellbeing services, organizations, and community initiatives in Lancaster and the surrounding areas.

The Lancaster District CVS Health & Wellbeing Directory has some exciting new updated content…

Visit the following links for NEW Items:

Armed Forces Covenant 
Luneside & Rosebank Bowling & Recreation Club
Experience it by the Sea
Hornby Institute
Hornby Drama Group

If you would like your organisation to be included on our directory, please contact our Community Health Officer [email protected]

Trauma Informed Cumbria-First Learning Events 

Thinking Critically About Trauma Informed Practice  
This is a 2 hour online event to consider what the term trauma-informed means and the importance of the concept when working with children and adults. Trauma-informed practice requires an organisation-wide understanding of and commitment to trauma-informed approaches. This is an opportunity to explore some critiques at play within the field of trauma-informed approaches, and reflect on the interface between this approach to practice and issues of diversity, inclusion and equity.

This event will be held on Thursday 7th September 12:00-2:00pm.

Read more information and get tickets

Trauma Informed Conference 2023 

The trauma informed conference 2023 taking place this year is a conference designed to bring together professionals from all walks of life to discuss and learn about trauma-informed practices and how they can be implemented in various settings, including voluntary sector agencies, health, education, social work, and criminal justice agencies. Part of the day will include two keynote speeches by people who have lived experience of trauma and two workshops, all of which will be spread out across the day from 9am-4:15pm. This will be held on the 2nd of November at Castle Green Hotel in Kendal.  

View  the agenda of the conference and purchase a ticket

Urgent and Emergency Care Across Lancashire & South Cumbria
Volunteers wanted! Help shape the future of urgent and emergency care in Lancashire and South Cumbria. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) seeks 3-4 enthusiastic individuals to join a pivotal meeting, kickstarting the redesign of their approach to urgent and emergency care. With support from ECIST, they are developing a comprehensive five-year UEC strategy, an ongoing improvement program, and enhanced governance arrangements. As a crucial first step, they will be hosting a co-produced design day workshop on Wednesday, July 26 (location TBD, potentially online or in-person). They are welcoming input from both healthcare experts and patients who have firsthand experience with these services. To get involved, email Barbara McKeowen, UEC senior strategy manager, at [email protected] or Stephanie Gregory, UEC strategy manager, at [email protected]. Help shape a brighter future for urgent and emergency care in our region.

CGL Lancashire Hidden in Plain Sight Alcohol Awareness Campaign
CGL Lancashire have been involved in a campaign, “Hidden in Plain Sight,” which brings together a group of passionate volunteers who have personally experienced the effects of alcohol without fully realizing its impact on themselves and their loved ones. Currently 82% of the Lancashire population with alcohol problems are untreated, this is largely down to the stigma attached to accessing support from services such as Inspire.

The purpose of the campaign was to speak to people who are under-represented in their services due to the stigma and shame that they face and to try and empower them to get the help they deserve. The centre piece of the campaign is a thought-provoking short film created in collaboration with their dedicated volunteers. This powerful film was premiered at Vue Cinema in Preston last week, perfectly aligned with Alcohol Awareness Week. Through captivating storytelling and personal narratives, the film will shed light on the hidden harm caused by alcohol and the importance of seeking support.

Watch the Hidden In Plain Sight documentary here
Listen to the spoken word piece by their amazing volunteers wrote and performed

Phoenix Takes Flight Community Wellbeing Research Project
You are invited to make meaningful impact with community wellbeing through the Phoenix Takes Flight (PTF) research project. Their goal is to address health inequalities in Northwest England by leveraging the insights and experiences of individuals who engage in community wellbeing activities. The project leaders are eager to hear from you and learn about your personal journey with these activities.

Your valuable input will help them understand the challenges you faced, what worked well, and areas that could be improved. You have the option to participate in a one-to-one interview, which will last approximately an hour, or join a dynamic focus group discussion spanning 2-3 hours. Moreover, there will be exciting opportunities to engage in workshops and larger group conversations in the future. Your involvement can truly make a difference in shaping a healthier and more equitable community. For your participation in the project, the research team are offering payment for your valuable time for both one on one and/or group conversation.

Learn more about the project and get involved

Campaign to End Loneliness – The State of Loneliness 2023
The Campaign to End Loneliness worked with Dr Heather McClelland of the University of Glasgow to analyse Office for National Statistics data on loneliness from their Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OLS) between March 2020 and January 2023.

Their new report explains how the period during and after the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened chronic loneliness among different parts of the population, and explains what the Campaign intends to do next.

Download the report here

Digital Music Production and Research Project
Are you aged between 16-25 years old? Or aged 65+ years old? Lancaster University and Queen Square Medical Practice are running an exciting digital music production and research project called “Intergenerate.”.  The sessions will provide the opportunity to delve into cutting-edge music production techniques and explore the latest advancements in digital sound.

The sessions will also look into the impact of ageism whilst exploring the positive effects of digital music production on health and wellbeing. There will be 6 x weekly sessions starting Sept 2023 at the Gregson Community Centre in Lancaster. Taking part in an interview beforehand and a focus group afterwards about your views.

If you have any questions you would like to ask the researcher (Rachael), you can email her at [email protected]

Learn more about the project

Gregson Event details

View the project e-poster here

LABGC Summer Events

Fishing Project ‘LetsFish’
Thanks to funding from the Environmental Agency and the Get Fishing Fund, the Lancashire Boys & Girls Clubs are now providing 6 free introduction to fishing days for young people aged 10-18 years. Engaging in fishing not only connects youth with nature but also raises awareness of the environment while enhancing concentration and coordination. The Get Fishing campaign was launched by the Angling Trust, to promote angling participation. Annually introducing over 30,000 individuals to angling through fun, safe, and friendly events backed by the Environment Agency. The LetsFish project provides new opportunities and experiences for young people locally to get involved with the international sport of fishing.

Get in touch with Daria at 01524 65106 or [email protected] to learn more or express your interest in taking part.

View the LABGC LetsFish e-poster here

Summer School Holiday Activity Programme at Forrest Hills
Join the Lancashire Association of Boys and Girls Clubs for action-packed multi-activity days at Forrest Hills. For a nominal fee of £5 per person, covering transport costs, participants will enjoy an array of exciting activities, including pillow bashing, various archery challenges, and mountain boarding. Gather your friends and form a group of at least 16 young people to take part in the fun. Don’t worry if you have slightly fewer participants; just reach out to Leon Dove at [email protected] for assistance. The maximum group size is 30, and if you have a few extras, get in touch with Leon Dove to see if they can accommodate your group. The programme runs every Monday to Wednesday throughout the summer holidays, and if those days don’t suit, the team are flexible and can consider other options. Age restriction is 8+, and they currently have funding for 16 slots.

Beach Clean – Social Action Project 2023
Lancashire Boys & Girls Clubs, in partnership with The Marine Conservation Society & Sea-Changers, presents an exciting Beach Clean Social Action Project. They are looking for groups of young people from 5 Member Clubs to join the Annual National Beach Clean initiative. The event, taking place on the weekend of Sat 23rd Sept – Sun 24th Sept, will involve cleaning up the beaches and conducting beach litter surveys, contributing to a cleaner and healthier marine environment. There will be provision for all the safety equipment, protection, and training for group leaders, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. The delivery framework will be decided by the participating clubs and young people, incorporating fun and interactive activities. As a token of appreciation, all participants will receive a Beach Clean participation certificate and medal. If your club is interested, complete the expression of interest form, and they will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

Register your interest

View their event e-poster here

Happy Healthy Holidays – Summer Activities for the Kids
Looking for fun-filled activities to keep your children entertained and engaged this summer? Look no further than the Lancashire County Council HAF programme! With an exciting range of children’s activities available, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Funded by the Department for Education, ‘Happy Healthy Holidays’ provides a great opportunity for local children and young people who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to get out and about, get creative and get active. From sports and games to arts and crafts, the programme offers a diverse selection of activities that promote a happy and healthy holiday season. Whether your little ones are aspiring athletes or budding artists, they’ll have the opportunity to explore new interests, meet new friends, and have lots of fun. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to keep your children active and entertained during the holidays.

Find out more about the amazing activities waiting for them and local providers

NHS Support Young People to be Body Positive Webinars
The NHS are introducing a series of transformative webinars designed to empower and support young individuals on their journey towards body positivity. The series explores all that their new resource has to offer to support young people with disordered eating and body image. Through expert-led webinars, they aim to provide invaluable tools, insights, and guidance to help young people develop a healthy relationship with their bodies. From understanding media influences to cultivating self-love and resilience, the Be Body Positive webinars offer a comprehensive approach to body positivity. Sign up to become part of a safe and inclusive space, where individuals can learn, grow, and celebrate their bodies.

Read more about the NHS Be Body Positive Campaign

View the event e-poster here

Family Fun Summer Events
There is lots going on over the summer for families and young people. View the latest What’s On Guide Poster for the Children and Family Wellbeing Service, along with information about their Fun Days taking place over August.  All groups/activities are totally free to attend.

Summer Fun Days 2023
Explore it! Dinosaur Hunt and creative activities
Experience it by the Sea Punch & Judy, arts and crafts and more
Move it! A mix of activities from welly wanging to face painting to archery

Youth  Work Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire
Lancaster District Young People’s Foundation is aiming to assess the need for youth work training (at all levels) across the district.  If your organisation employs youth workers (or has ambitions to), we would appreciate your support in completing the questionnaire below.  The form should take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. The results of the survey will help to gain an understanding of the need for youth work training and the barriers to accessing training across the district, which will help to inform the priorities of the YPF (Young People’s Foundation) moving forwards.  

You can access the form here

Please complete the form by Thursday 31st August 2023.

Summer Playschemes for children aged 8-11 in the Lancaster District
This year Sport Works and Smart Body Sports are working with Lancaster City Council to deliver the summer playschemes across the district. These are available for children aged 8-11 years and consists of range of sport, arts and recreational activities.

Playschemes are running at the following locations:

Christ Church Primary School Carnforth  24th July – 18th August 2023 10am -2pm
Willow Lane Primary School Lancaster 31st July – 25th  August 2023 10am-2pm
Morecambe Bay Primary School Morecambe 24th  July- 18th August 2023 10am-4pm

For further information and to book onto the programmes please visit the links below

Smart Body Sport- Morecambe Bay Primary School
Book Online | Smart Body Sports

Sport Works – Christ Church Primary School Carnforth & Willow Lane Primary school Lancaster
https://bookwhen.com/sportworksnorthwest

Good Things Collective Summer Programme
The creative charity Good Things Collective have an exciting Summer program of #CollectiveCreativity, thoughtfully curated by their members, offering an array of engaging activities accessible to the entire community, and all completely free! Get ready for good vibes and warm welcomes as they invite everyone to join in on the fun.

The fun begins with a Micro Garden Meet Up with Amy & Ellie and a picnic lunch, followed by a studio session of Communal poems and story writing next week and lots more activites throughout August. 

View their Summer schedule here.  All on-site activities are highlighted in green and studio sessions at the Arndale Morecambe Bay are in blue.

More than a Market – Creative West End
The Creative West End Market is just over a week away. Explore a vibrant collection of handmade arts, crafts, and artisanal products brought to you by talented local makers. From stunning artworks to intricately crafted jewellery and more, there’s something for everyone. The Creative West End Market is a great opportunity to connect with the artisans and uncover unique treasures whilst supporting your creative community.

Mid Market Play – ‘In Westendia’
During the market there will also be ‘In Westendia’ – a play at the Picture Frame Stage, West End Gardens, Morecambe Prom. This fantastic creative community project has seen West End artists, creatives and the community come together fusing art and words by creating characters, costumes, a pop-up polaroid photobooth and finally bringing it altogether for the launch. Showtime will be at 3pm.

The next market will be on Saturday 12th August, 11am – 4pm

Find out more

Building our Food Network by Food Futures
FoodFutures are hosting an informal social event to bring together people involved (or wanting to get involved) in community groups and initiatives. It’s a chance to connect with others, learn about different projects and see if anything inspires you. It is also a chance to learn more about FoodFutures, meet some of the team and sign up to be a Local Food Champion.

Date & time: Wednesday, 16 August 2023, 5.30-7.30pm
Location: 13th Lancaster Scouts, West Road, Lancaster, LA1 5PE

Reserve your place here

Claver Hill Open Day
Claver Hill community food project is celebrating 10 years with an Open Day for the public and an after hours party for members past and present. A range of workshops and activities are being organised as part of the open day. Just come along on the day.

Date & time: 27 August, 12-4pm
Location: Claver Hill, just off Ridge Lane, Lancaster

Support Needed for City Centre Projects

Light up Lancaster
Preparations are taking place for this year’s annual light festival, and they need your support! Light up Lancaster is where Lancaster’s rich heritage and history comes alive in a mesmerizing display of light and performance. The city will be illuminated with a trail of wonder, joy, belonging and fun for artists, audiences, and families alike. Be a part of this enchanting experience by lending your support to this amazing 3 night spectacle. Let’s make November a month to remember with the power of light and creativity!

Find out more and show your support

Lancaster Chinese New Year Festival
Popber Lancaster CIC are seeking your support to celebrate the Chinese New Year Festival in 2024. Join the community in finding funds for this spectacular event that celebrates Chinese culture, traditions and the spirit of unity. The organisers aim to enhance the festival’s impact using your contribution to enable logistical arrangements, artist fees, venue preparations, marketing efforts, and an overall enhanced festival experience.

Find out more and show your support

Festa Italia & Lancaster Film Festival
Totally Local Lancaster are seeking your support to bring the best of Italian food, drink, entertainment and engineering to the city in 2024. Festival organisers are also joining forces with Cinema Italiano and Complitaly, to bring Lancaster International Film Festival to the city as part of the celebration.   

Find out more and show your support

Support “Lady in Red” – A Powerful Play on Coercive Control!
A powerful and important crowdfunded project is in need of your support. The theatre organisation touring “Lady in Red” – a gripping domestic abuse drama aims to provide free performances across Lancashire, including Lancaster and The Wyre, and film the play with British Sign Language interpretation for wider accessibility. With your help, they will be able to offer free digital sessions to all residents of Lancashire, addressing the critical issue of domestic abuse, especially affecting women with disabilities.

“Lady in Red” is a compelling exploration of coercive control, shedding light on the barriers faced by survivors trying to break free from abusive relationships. Through this thought-provoking play, we seek to answer the age-old question, “Why doesn’t she just leave?” Our after-show discussions will further delve into the subject and connect people with local support services. By contributing to their Spacehive Crowdfund, you’ll not only help them stage impactful performances but also tap into match funding, potentially doubling the impact of your donation! Your donations, starting at just £2, will go a long way in creating a safer and more informed community. Be part of this essential project to help raise awareness and provide support for those affected by domestic abuse.

Find out more about the play

Support this project here

VSNW Conference and AGM 2023
Join the Voluntary Sector North West for an empowering event, ‘Building Wealth in our Communities,’ taking place on 22 November 2023 at the prestigious Village Hotel in Warrington. As we emerge from the challenges of the Covid pandemic, our sector still faces the pressing issue of a cost-of-living crisis. At this year’s AGM and Conference, they will delve into solutions that can lead to a just economic model for our communities. With the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ending soon, preparation is needed for what lies ahead and understand the social, economic, and investment plans of the next government.  The event will feature a compelling keynote speech by the esteemed Dr. Sarah Longlands, an expert in the field. Engage in productive breakout discussion sessions, network with like-minded VCSE leaders who are members, associates, or partners of VSNW, and enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

This is an opportunity to gain valuable insights and collaborate with fellow leaders and is completely free to attend. The event will take place on 22 November 2023, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the Village Hotel in Warrington (110 Centre Park, Warrington, CHS WA1 1QA). Let’s come together to build a better future for our communities.

Register for this event

Jazz in Hornby – Chris Coull Quintet
Come on down for a captivating world of jazz with The Chris Coull Quintet at Jazz in Hornby, presented by The Village Trust. On Friday, 18th August 2022, starting at 7:30 PM at Hornby Village Institute, get ready to experience an evening of the “very best swinging, improvised Jazz.” The bar opens at 7:30 PM, with the soulful melodies and infectious rhythms commencing at 8:00 PM. Don’t miss this exceptional musical journey filled with incredible performances.

Visit Mainstreet, Hornby, Lancs LA2 8JR for an unforgettable night. Tickets are available now at £18 each; secure yours today by calling 01524 222227.

View the event e-poster here

Million Trees Initiative: Planting a Green Legacy for Lancashire’s Future
Lancashire County Council’s treescape team is spearheading an ambitious initiative to create woodlands across the region, and they need your help! As they collaborate with district councils, their mission is to plant an impressive 30,000 urban and peri-urban trees, along with 170 hectares of rural woodland over the next two seasons (2023-2025). This fantastic endeavor aims to enhance our environment, promote biodiversity, and create beautiful green spaces for communities to enjoy. To make this project a success, they are seeking potential sites for tree planting, and your input is invaluable. If you have any ideas or know of suitable locations, please share your suggestions by emailing [email protected]. Together, let’s cultivate a greener and more sustainable future for Lancashire. Join us in this noble cause, and let’s leave a lasting legacy of a million trees for generations to come!

Gregson Community & Arts Centre Facilities Hire
The Gregson community centre are offering 50% off room hire from between 1st-31st August.  The offer includes their main hall and secret cinema.  Ideal for parties, gigs, meetings and more.  Every penny spent on hire helps facilitate this vital community resource.

View their e-poster for more details

Training Needs Survey
If you haven’t had the chance to complete our survey yet, it would really help if you could, so that we can offer the training that is most needed. It’s just a matter of whizzing down a list of potential courses and clicking ones that would be useful – the perfect thing to do while enjoying a brew! It takes less than ten minutes. Click here to complete it. 

Suicide Prevention
This half-day workshop provides learners with the confidence and tools to understand the impact of suicide and take someone who is experiencing thoughts of suicide from a place of danger and isolation to a place of safety and support, using a three-step ‘first aid’ approach.

This approach enables the suicide ‘first aider’ to identify the signs that someone may be experiencing thoughts of suicide, recognize the needs of that person, ask about suicide clearly and directly and use safety planning to empower the individual to find appropriate help.

The workshop is City and Guilds registered, delivered by a trainer registered with the National Centre for Suicide Prevention.

This is a funded workshop, with a registration fee of £5 for LDCVS members, and £10 for non-members covering the costs of venue and refreshments. Spaces are limited, so early booking is advised.

Date & time: Tuesday October 17th, 9.45am – 1pm
Location: The Cornerstone, Lancaster, LA1 1PX

Click here to book.

Lancaster’s Chess Tournament
Lancaster Chess Club’s highly anticipated 3-day chess tournament will be held on the Lancaster campus at the University of Cumbria. Beginning on Friday, August 4th, this ECF rated, 5-round standard play event promises an exhilarating challenge for players of all levels with a generous £2000 in prizes (subject to entries). So sharpen your skills, put your strategies to the test, and seize the opportunity to showcase your mastery of the game. Secure your spot now with a nominal £40 entry fee.

View the event e-flyer here

More information and how to book here

Honey Bee Information Day at the Judges Lodgings
We are buzzing with excitement to join the Lancaster Bee Keepers at the Judges Lodgings on Sunday 27th August, 11am – 3.30pm for their information day. You’ll get the chance to experience the observation hive and meet beekeepers with all the details you need to make your garden insect friendly.  There will also be a range of crafts, games, honey tasting and a Bee Book Corner. Come along on the day for a fantastic family day out.

View their e-poster here

Closing Loops: Share the Harvest
This September discover the joy of sharing the harvest with Food Futures. Get involved with Closing Loops Share the Harvest and join a wonderful initiative that celebrates the abundance of fresh, local produce. By connecting growers and consumers, Share the Harvest promotes a sustainable and resilient food system. Join in with a local gleaning event, a workshop on juicing, cooking and preserving fruit or by hosting a glean in your garden, orchard or farm. Whether you have surplus crops from your garden or are looking for locally sourced ingredients, this platform is the perfect place to share, exchange, and connect. Embrace the spirit of community, reduce food waste, and support local growers by participating in Share the Harvest.

Find out more here

The Curve – Free Digital Skills Training for the Third Sector
The Curve is providing free digital training for the Third Sector. It is a series for FREE 90-minute on-line workshops. The aim is to build knowledge around best digital practices, raise awareness of digital tools and ultimately help increase impact with digital. Workshops are open to anyone working or volunteering with a third sector organisation in the UK.

The workshops take place this August.

Find out more

Relief Support Worker – Creative Support
Creative Support are looking for a compassionate, positive and creative individual to join their supportive and dedicated team at the supported living service in Barrow, Cumbria. The support worker duties involve enabling individuals to lead fulfilling and independent lives both at home and in the community. This includes assisting with day-to-day living tasks, such as budgeting, shopping, medication support, and personal care. The role requires flexibility in working hours, aiming to promote service users’ independence and growth in social skills, daily living skills, and utilising community resources while being responsive to their individual needs within a Person Centred Plan.

Salary: £10.70 per hour
Contract: Permanent, Part-time
Location: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Closing Date: 16 August, 23:30

Find out more here and apply

Engagement Officer – Vision of Adventure
The Engagement Officer role at Vision of Adventure is an exciting opportunity with significant autonomy to shape the position. Joining a small and friendly team, you’ll play a vital role in managing the charity’s fundraising program and cultivating relationships with current and prospective volunteers. Offering a competitive salary and a flexible working environment, the organisation values work-life balance. 

Salary: £25,000 – £30,000 per year
Contract: 12 months – With the aim to make it a permanent role subject to funding, Part-time
Location: Kendal, Cumbria
Closing Date: 14 August, 23:30

Find out more and apply

Youth Engagement Officer – Yorkshire Dales Trust
The Yorkshire Dales Trust are looking for a Youth Engagement Officer that will become a key member of the Green Futures team, responsible for providing inspiring opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized young individuals to connect with nature. This role will contribute to the delivery and development of YDMT’s Green Futures strategy, aiming to empower young people to take environmental action and become future environmental leaders.

The ideal candidate should have a passion for the organisation’s mission and be adept at building strong relationships with both young people and partners. Previous experience in delivering natural environment projects for young individuals is essential, but equally important is the ability to work within a creative, caring, honest, and enabling culture.

Salary: £28,492 – £30,561 per year
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Location: Yorkshire Dales
Closing Date: 25 August, 23:30

Find out more and apply

Lancashire FA Multiple Roles Available
Lancashire FA have a number of exciting vacancies across the business including within the Football Development Team, the Facilities and Investment Team and the Hospitality Team. Read on to see what part you can play in supporting football in Lancashire.

Lancashire FA Facilities Manager
Food & Beverage Team Member
Food & Beverage Team Member
Football Development Officer
Football Facilities Activator
Club & Community Facility Development Officer

If you are interested in the above vacancies CLICK HERE

Senior Children and Young People Emotional Health Practitioner – A.C.E.
The charity A.C.E. (Achieve, Change & Engagement) are looking for an experienced, committed and motivated person to join their team to work with young people to support them to improve their emotional health.

Salary: £27,000 per annum
Contract: Part time- 2 days a week
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: 7th August, 9am

Find out more and apply

The Well Communities CIC Multiple Roles

Community Connector – The Well Communities
The wellbeing charity Well are seeking a Community Connector with a specific remit to work alongside residents in their supported accommodation, deliver Psychosocial Interventions (Psi’s, online and face to face) and provide a live connection between local communities, asset based and health and wellbeing opportunities and treatment services. You will work as part of the Behaviour Change Team Partnership, to open up opportunities and widen access beyond treatment services.

Salary: £22,000 – £24,500 per annum
Contract: 37.5 hours per week, 1 year FTC
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: 28th August 2023, 5pm

2 x Tenancy Sustainment Workers (1 Female and 1 Male)
The Well are looking for x2 Tenancy Sustainment Workers to work with an identified cohort of community members with multiple, complex needs. Under the leadership of the Tenancy Sustainment Manager, you will assist in the provision of effective, high quality intensive housing management and support services to vulnerable individuals with little social or recovery capital.

Salary: £22,000 per annum
Contract: 37.5 hours per week, 1 year FTC
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: Unconfirmed

Please contact Jo O’Brien for an application form [email protected] or for an informal discussion please call Sharon Mullen during office hours on 07594254142.

1 x Finance Administrator
The Well are looking for a Finance Administrator to join their small and busy finance team in their Morecambe office. As a Finance Administrator your duties will include bank reconciliations, inputting data on Sage 50 Accounts, petty cash, cash handling and banking, notifying suppliers of payments, setting up and managing online supplier/utility accounts, obtaining approval for expenditure from Budget holders, electronic and physical filing, setting up and maintaining supplier and customer details on Sage and assist assist Finance and Administration department with other duties as required.

Salary: £22,000 – £25,000 per annum
Contract: 37.5 hours per week, 2 years
Location: Morecambe
Closing Date: Unconfirmed

For an informal discussion please contact Neil Dickinson – Finance Manager on 07360 107733.

For an application form please contact Sarah Lunan on [email protected], returning the application no later than 5pm on Friday 11th August 2023.

Click here for more information on the above vacancies

Lancashire Targeted Youth Support Team Multiple Roles
There are job vacancies available with Lancashire Targeted Youth Support Team. They are in Lancaster a 4 Day permanent Youth Support Worker, to work as part of the Lancaster TYS team, supporting the delivery of youth work across the patch. They also have 3 x 12 hour Participation team, Assistant Youth Support Worker posts, 4 hours per evening and 3 evenings a week, these are on a temp 12 month contract from start date, and could be made permanent. These three post are to support their Participation team delivery to SEND forum (POWAR), Care Leavers Forum (CLF) and Children in Care Council (Linx, CICC). These post will have one post based in Lancaster/North, one based in Walton Le dale and the third based in Burnley.

More information on 3 x Participation AYSW posts

For further details on the above roles contact Brian Wood at [email protected]

Community Advisor Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice are looking for a full-time community advisor to work from their Morecambe office and out in the community. You will be helping clients who need advice which will mainly centre around benefits, debt, employment, housing and family issues. Full training will be given and everyone interested is welcome to apply whether already experienced in this role or those just wanting a change in career. If you are interested in applying please email [email protected] and ask for the Guardian Adviser Job Pack. If you have any questions or queries about the role, please feel free to send them an email.

Salary: £25.478
Contract: 36.5 hours. 1 Year with the intention to seek extension funding from elsewhere
Location: Morecambe and Lancaster
Closing date: Unconfirmed

Find out more and apply

Community Engagement Officer – The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery
‘The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery’ is an exciting programme that brings together Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s award winning Myplace wellbeing programme, the Wildlife Trusts’ Living Seas coastal engagement experts, the bold vision of the Eden Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust seeking the maximum benefit for people and nature. The project coordinators are seeking a highly motivated and effective individual who will deliver a programme of successful community engagement and facilitated nature-led activities focussing (but not exclusively) on our marine and coastal environments.

Salary: £25,564
Contract: Full time position with some evening and weekend working. This post is offered on a fixed-term basis for 12 months.
Location: Morecambe
Closing Date: Monday 7th August 2023, 5pm
Interview date: 14 August 2023

Find out more here

Volunteer Coordinator – Let’s BeFriends
Let’s BeFriends are seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to assist the Project Coordinator with a focus on supervising and supporting our team of volunteers. You will provide ongoing supervision, monitoring and motivation to all befrienders having the welfare of both volunteers and beneficiaries in mind at all times. The role involves offering advice and information via face-to-face, telephone and email contact, facilitate a monthly Peer Support group where volunteers meet to share ideas, lead a monthly IT drop-in to assist befrienders who need support to complete their contact sheets and expenses claim forms and liaise with external providers to organise regular training events
Salary: 16 hours per week @ £12.98 per hour
Contract: Self-employed role with an initial 12-month contract, Flexible hours
Location: Based in the community with ability for some home working
Closing date: Tuesday 8th August 2023, 11.59pm
Interview date: Week commencing 14th August 2023

Find out more here

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]

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Alternatively, call us on 01524 555900

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