Council for Voluntary Services Central Lancashire, All Rights Reserved

Council For Voluntary Services

Welcome to our weekly roundup of all things Voluntary Community Faith Sector in Central Lancashire!

CVS News: CVS Central Lancashire has a new Volunteer Service Team! Coordinator Mark Waddington has brought together a team of dedicated volunteers to help you find the volunteers that you need to support your services and from Monday 25th February, Robert, Nicola, Tracey and Julie will be available to help. The CVS’s Volunteer Service has been running very successfully since 2006. Unfortunately, for the last 18 months or so, the service has been unfunded, but it’s such a well used and important service that we’ve tried our hardest to keep it going. From next Monday our capacity to deal with queries will increase significantly, so if you need volunteers to help support your service, visit our website, complete the opportunity registration form, and send it through to the team. The CVS deals with over 600 people per year face to face looking to volunteer and literally thousands more come through the http://www.do-it.org.uk website. But if they don’t know you need their help, they can’t help you! So visit the website http://www.cvscentrallancashire.org.uk complete the form and send it to the team’s new email address: [email protected] Please note: CVS Central Lancashire’s successful Volunteer Service is not connected to the One Lancashire volunteer service recently set up by Selnet using funds from Lancashire County Council. Unfortunately, despite the CVS here in Preston running a very successful service with strong community links and good reputation, a panel saw fit to award funding to an alternate organisation. We have been waiting since mid December 2012 for feedback on why this is so. In the meantime it’s onward and upward!

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Sections: (click to go, press "Home" to come back) Funding Opportunities; Vacancies and Employment; Volunteering; Fundraising News; Training; Events; Public Notices; Appeals; Consultations; Health;

And now, the news …

Funding Opportunities

Ribbleton Communities First - deadline 28 .February 2013 Ribbleton Communities First which has a total £33,000 to be allocated over 5 years for the benefit of all residents of Ribbleton Ward. The money which is central government money from the Communities Development Foundation and is allocated on a quarterly basis. The panel is made up of 8 Ribbleton residents who are representative of the whole ward. I attach a copy of the Guidance Notes which details how to request funds, which please read carefully before submitting your Application Forms. An application form is also attached. The closing date for current applications is 12 noon 28th February 2013. Please also note particularly that the panel is anxious to award money to groups that can match fund, i.e. if a local business has been persuaded to donate money, tools, equipment, expertise to your project then it should be recorded in your bid. Also, and most importantly volunteers time can be included in the match and that this is valued at £11:09 per hour. Suggestions to make your bid stand out: -outline the real difference you will make to residents of Ribbleton; -identify how you will target and engage Ribbleton residents if your work is not based in the ward; - explain how the work will be sustainable. Groups who have received funding from the first years funding pot can also apply – but not those whose funding has recently been confirmed. http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site7587/Uploads/2013/02/22/Guidance.doc http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site7587/Uploads/2013/02/22/ProposalTemplate. doc

Big Break - voting commences 1 March 2013 Bacs Payment Schemes Ltd, the organisation behind Direct Debit, have announced The Big Break, a campaign that aims to benefit 100 good causes this year. From March until June 2013, the most popular causes nominated to win a Big Break will share in a £5,000 monthly pot. Each month, the organisation with the highest number of votes will receive £2,000, with second place receiving £1,000 and the rest shared out among the other runners up. At time of writing 12 of the 100 good causes required had been nominated. https://www.directdebit.co.uk/TheBigBreak/100GoodCauses/Pages/100GoodCauses.aspx

Female genital mutilation Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Trust for London, Comic Relief and Rosa, the UK Fund for Women and Girls, have announced a three-year £1.6million initiative to tackle female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK. Eleven projects will receive a share of £1.2m from Esmée Fairbairn, Trust for London and Rosa for up to three years. Comic Relief is funding a new Small Grants programme to address the issue through a £350,000 grant over three years. http://esmeefairbairn.org.uk/news-and-learning/news-and-events/four-trusts-put-their- funds-together-to-tackle-female-genital-mutilation

Community assets and services grants The Social Investment Business has £10m in grants as part of the Community Assets and Services grants programme to help with feasibility studies or the initial setup of a local service. This grants programme is available for organisations using the Community Right to Challenge and for the running of local services more broadly. Grants are also available to those using the Community Right to Bid and pursuing asset transfers. http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/community-right-to-challenge/grants/

DCLG competition fund for English language learning - launched 17 January 2013 The government is therefore launching a new competition to back innovative and creative ways of delivering community-based English language programmes that will help to integrate participants into their local communities and also offer financial benefits. More details can be found in the press release at the link below. http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-942HCU

Foyle Foundation - Small Grants The Foyle Foundation Small Grants Scheme is designed to support smaller charities in the UK, especially those working at grass roots and local community level, in any field, across a wide range of activities. Applications are welcomed from charities that have an annual turnover of less than £100,000 per annum. Larger or national charities will normally not be considered under this scheme. Nor will the Scheme generally support charities that are able consistently to generate operational surpluses or which have been able to build up unrestricted reserves to a level equivalent to three months turnover. They plan to make one year grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to charities which can demonstrate that such a grant will make a significant difference to their work. http://www.foylefoundation.org.uk/small-grants-scheme/

Peter Stormonth Darling Charitable Trust Grant The Peter Stormonth Darling Charitable Trust Grant is provided and administered by the Peter Stormonth Darling Charitable Trust and is available for TSOs in the UK. The scheme is intended to support organisations undertaking charitable projects. In particular, the scheme wishes to support projects in these themes: heritage; education; health care; & sports facilities. Grants typically range from £1,000 to £10,000 and applications can be submitted at any time. Peter Stormonth Darling Charitable Trust, 7 Swan Walk, LONDON SW3 4JJ

SUBWAY Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants Heart Research UK (HRUK) is inviting applications from community groups, voluntary organisations and registered charities through their new SUBWAY/HRUK Healthy Heart Grants. Grants of up to £10,000 are available in different SUBWAY regions to support projects that strongly promote heart health, not just healthy lifestyles. http://www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants/subwayhhg

Vacancies and Employment

Welfare-to-work scheme 'is failing' A multi-billion-pound scheme to help long-term unemployed people into work has been branded extremely poor by MPs. The government's Work Programme only managed to get 3.6% of the people on the scheme off benefits and into secure employment in its first 14 months, the Public Accounts Committee said. The government said it was "early days" for the scheme and the committee's report had painted a "skewed picture". But Labour said the programme was "worse than doing nothing". The committee's report pointed out that it was also below the official estimate of how many of those claimants would have found work anyway if the programme had never been launched. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21532191

Volunteering

Derian House The Lancashire Evening Post has joined forces with Derian House, the children’s hospice in Chorley, for a campaign to coincide with its 20th anniversary. Catherine Pye speaks to key members of a support group. “Derian House needs £2.9m every year to survive, and without the support groups, we couldn’t possibly bring in that sort of money”, said fundraiser Jill Kirkham. Seven support groups, made up of ordinary people who work under their own steam to raise money and awareness for the hospice have already been established, but helpers are still needed to form a group in the Preston area. Stan Bamber is chairman of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley support group, and is willing to give advice to anyone interested. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/fantastic-teamwork-behind-derian-success-1-5434038

New member sought for flood committee - deadline 8 March 2013 A group that specialises in dealing with local flooding is looking for a new member. The Environment Agency is looking for someone new to join the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC). People with expertise of working with flooded communities, engaging with the public, and encouraging action are sought for the post. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/new-member-sought-for-flood-committee-1-5426863

New official statistics show resurgence in volunteering as millions more give their time to help others Sharp rise in volunteering reverses the steady decline seen since 2005. New figures released today show a sharp rise in volunteering and that people are actively coming together to drive improvements in their communities, Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd said 12 February 2013. The Official Statistics published for the first time by the Cabinet Office show that the proportion of people volunteering at least once a year has now increased from 65% in 2010 to 2011 to 71% in 2012, with an even bigger increase in the proportion of people volunteering regularly. This equates to millions more people volunteering across the country showing that the cultural change is not limited to the 120,000 who volunteered to make the Olympics a success. Significantly, this reverses the steady decline in volunteering seen since 2005. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-official-statistics-show-resurgence-in- volunteering-as-millions-more-give-their-time-to-help-others

Fundraising News

Lancashire Consortium Plan for First World War anniversary unveiled The anniversary of the First World War looks set to be marked with a host of special events in Preston. Councillors agreed at a cabinet meeting this week that if a bid for almost £300,000 is successful, then part of the money will be used to mark the anniversary. The cash will be used to project films of the war in Market Square to coincide with rededication of Cenotaph in November. As reported by the Evening Post this week, a consortium made up of the Harris, Museum of Lancashire, Lancashire Infantry Museum, Ribble Steam Railway Museum, and South Ribble Museum, have submitted a bid for funding from the Arts Council England’s Renaissance Fund for £285,000. If the museums succeed, it will mean nine year-long posts are created, and they can press ahead with plans including increased activities and projects to tie in with Preston Remembers – in the run up to the centenary of the First World War. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/plan-for-first-world-war-anniversary-unveiled-1-5434930

Galloway’s Society for the Blind Blind and visually impaired people are set to benefit from the efforts of sport enthusiasts, when representatives of Galloway’s Society for the Blind take to the roads and water this summer. The charity will be using the sponsorship money raised by their supporters taking part in various major sponsored events to support its fast growing outdoor activities section. Galloway’s fundraising manager, George Turner, said “Following last year’s Paralympics, we noticed an increased interest in our already popular outdoor activities and especially in water-based sports and tandem cycling. “During the coming months, we will need to purchase new or good quality used equipment such as canoes, kayaks and tandems as well as the requisite safety gear, so we have decided that all the sponsorship money raised in the London Marathon, Great Manchester Run, Great North Swim and Great North Run this year will go towards this appeal.” To help or for more information contact George Turner on 01772 744148.

British Red Cross: Help us raise £35k for a new support vehicle An appeal to raise £35,000 for a new Red Cross vehicle in Lancashire has been launched. The organisation runs a Fire and Emergency Support Service vehicle in the county, but the current vehicle is 18 years old and is no longer as reliable or efficient as needed. Alison Whittaker-Stewart, senior community fundraiser in Lancashire for the British Red Cross, said: “Our Fire and Emergency Support Service vehicle and volunteers respond, on the request of the emergency services, to house fires, floods, power cuts, gas explosions and much more across the whole of Lancashire. To donate to the appeal contact the British Red Cross office in Preston on 01772 707 300 or alternatively send donations to the office in Pittman Court, Pittman Way, Preston, PR2 9ZG. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/help-us-raise-35k-for-a-new-support-vehicle-1-5428470

St Catherine’s Hospice: Get involved with charity fun - 25 February 2013 Fundraisers are being sought for a fitness event being held in Preston. FT Fitness and the City of Preston Gymnastics Centre have joined forces to host an ‘Ultimate Circuit event’ at the gymnastics centre. The aim of the event is to raise cash for St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall, near Preston. The event will run from 6.30pm until 8pm on Monday evening at the centre in Campbell Street, Preston. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/get-involved-with-charity-fun-1-5432267

Book boost for St Catherine’s A book on the history of Winckley Square has been republished, with all proceeds going to St Catherine’s Hospice. Andrew Mather, from Penwortham, got permission to re-print the 1988 version by author Marian Roberts, before she died in 2007. It is available at all St Catherine’s Hospice shops.

Derian House: Preston Cycling Club A team of cyclists have been so touched by the work of Derian House, that they have signed up for a mammoth 1,750 mile ride against the clock. The six men from Preston, aged between 40 and 51, who all work at Springfield Fuels Limited in Salwick, and are members of Preston Cycling Club, aim to ride from John O’Groats to Lands End and back again, in 48 hours. They hope to raise £10,000 to be divided between Derian House and also Brian Hospital in Blackpool - two charities that Springfield champion. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/army-of-fundraisers-for-derian-1-5419750

Derian House Children’s Hospice A collection at ASDA in Fulwood for a sponsored bike ride in aid of Derian House Children’s Hospice totalled £1,200. A team of six workers from Springfield Nuclear Fuels in Salwick, rode an exercise bike for six hours in the shop foyer on Saturday, to raise awareness of their upcoming trip from Lands End to John O’Groats. They hope to complete the 840-mile journey in 48 hours, raising £10,000. To donate, visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Robin-Brennan1

Derian House charity shops: Shoppers help to raise hospice cash A rare Jimi Hendrix album and a £160 Mouseman bowl are just some of the quality items donated every year to Derian House charity shops. A team of 80 volunteers and 16 staff pull together to operate five shops in Chorley, Farnworth, Horwich, Bolton and Wigan, as well as a warehouse in Adlington. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/shoppers-help-to-raise-hospice-cash-1-5432481

All Saints Scout Hut, Chorley A scout group has benefitted from a kitchen make-over at their hut, thanks to a £2,000 grant from Chorley Community Housing. The original kitchen at All Saints Scout Hut in Moor Road, Chorley, was run-down and restricted the scouts’ ability to carry out activities and their work towards some badges. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/cooking-up-a-treat-for-more-young-scouts-1-5404128

Funding boost for Armed Forces’ amputee veterans A mobility centre is set to benefit from an £11m NHS windfall aimed at supporting ex- servicemen and women. Lancashire Teaching Hospital’s facility in Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston, has been named among nine centres across the country, which will receive a share of up to £6.7m of funding to improve prosthetic and rehabilitation services for veteran amputees. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/funding-boost-for-armed-forces-amputee-veterans-1- 5412735

Charity tells Nathan to get on his bike after donation A charity that involves prisoners in cleaning and repairing unwanted bicycles has donated a cycle to a Chorley Community Housing (CCH) employee. The gift was made by the Margaret Carey Foundation after it heard that Nathan Pilkington, an apprentice joiner with CCH, needed a bicycle to help him get to work. Richard Houghton, Director of Operations at CCH, said: “We’re very grateful to the Margaret Carey Foundation for this generous gift of a bicycle for Nathan. “We’re particularly pleased to be able to work with a charity that is helping offenders to help others and at the same time develop a positive work ethic, gain useful skills and become better prepared for employment after release.” http://www.lep.co.uk/community/charity-tells-nathan-to-get-on-his-bike-after-donation-1- 5412568

Space Centre: bids for help in getting Space for a bus A centre which provides respite care for the disabled is hoping to get some practical help. The SPACE Centre is the latest group to apply for the Evening Post’s competition to win £5,000 worth of repairs from HomeServe. HomeServe provides cover packages for a range of home emergencies and is offering £5,000 worth of work for repairs including leaky roofs and problem pipes. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/centre-bids-for-help-in-getting-space-for-a-bus-1-5412639

Space Centre: Charity’s ride places on offer - 3 / 4 August 2013 Preston’s under-threat Space Centre has been awarded two places at Ride London which takes place in the summer - and its looking for people to take part in the event. The cycling event, organised on the back of the Olympics, will be held on August 3 and 4 with thousands of people representing a host of different charities from across the county. To find out more about the bike ride places call 01772 769391. To find out more about the campaign to save the Space Centre go to: http://www.saveourspacecentre.org.uk http://www.lep.co.uk/community/charity-s-ride-places-on-offer-1-5428486

St Saviour’s Church in Bamber Bridge A historic church and a well-loved park will get a funding windfall from a green scheme. St Saviour’s Church in Bamber Bridge has been awarded £7,585 for improvements by the Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF). St Saviour’s was landed with a £250,000 repair bill when lead thieves damaged its roof two years ago. The latest award means they will be able to install a new energy-efficient lighting system and insulation, aas part of wider restoration works currently going on at the 19th century building. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/green-funding-for-church-and-park-1-5417705

Training

Nothing this week.

Events

Preston Playhouse: Raise the roof comedy night - 2 March 2013 A theatre is holding a comedy night to help raise funds for its new roof. Preston Playhouse needs to raise £50,000 to mend a leak and preserve the theatre on Market Street West. The members are hosting a Kings of Comedy night, telling the story of great comics of the past and the best of their acts. It takes place on Saturday March 2. To book tickets, call 01772 744771.

Preston: MP will meet constituents - 2 March 2013 Mark Hendrick is holding an open surgery at Larches and Savick Community Link in Preston next month. You can speak to the Preston MP at the centre in Starrgate Drive, Larches, on March 2 from 11pm to 1pm. Surgeries are run on a first come, first served basis and there is no need to book an appointment.

Fairtrade Fortnight in Preston 2013 - 25 February - 10 March 2013 Film Evenings at The Continental Pub, South Meadow Lane, Tuesday 26th February 7.30pm Fairtrade Fair on the Flag Market, Going Further for Fairtrade, Saturday 2nd March 2013, from 10am till 4pm Fairtrade Evening at The Atrium, UCLAN Student's Union, Fylde Road Wednesday 6th March 2013 from 7pm More, Please download, print and display: http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site7587/Uploads/2013/02/22/FairtradeEvents.do c

Galloway’s Society For The Blind: ‘Reet Good’ charity night - 9 March 2013 There’s less than a month to go until a charity evening organised to raise much needed cash for Galloway’s Society For The Blind. The ‘Reet Good’ charity night will be held on Saturday March 9 – and there are still tickets available for those who want to attend. The fundraising event will be held at the Lostock Hall Conservative Club, on Brownedge Road in Lostock Hall, near Preston. Tickets for the evening are just £5. They can be bought from Henry Edwards on 01772 435566 or from Galloway’s Society for the Blind in Howick House, Howick Park Avenue, Penwortham. Alternatively email at: [email protected] To find out more about the charity, visit: http://www.galloways.org.uk or search for Galloways on Facebook.

Picnic will mark Katy Holmes’ 12th birthday - 26 May 2013 The family of brain tumour victim Katy Holmes is planning a picnic in the park to mark what would have been her 12th birthday. Katy, of Margaret Road, Penwortham, near Preston, died in January last year just months after being struck by an inoperable brain tumour. Last year her parents Paula and David hosted ‘Katy’s Picnic in the Park’ in Hurst Grange Park in Penwortham in her memory and are planning to do the same again this May. The event is being supported by Penwortham Town Council - and it promises to be bigger and better. To offer a service or sponsor the event email [email protected]

Public Notices

'Bedroom tax' rules re-examined Welfare secretary Iain Duncan Smith has instructed officials to "look again" at how the bedroom tax will affect disabled people, the BBC has been told. Under the plans, social housing tenants' benefits will reduce if their home has one or more spare bedrooms. But charities have told the government that couples who could not share a bedroom because of a disability would be unfairly penalised. Mr Duncan Smith said he understood the concerns. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21541400

Illegal use of B&Bs to house homeless soars by 800% The use of bed and breakfasts to house homeless families beyond the legal time limit has risen by 800% since the coalition took office – with a third of the country's councils unlawfully placing adults and children in B&Bs for more than six weeks, new figures reveal. An analysis shows that local authorities across England are now spending on average up to £650 a week to keep people off the streets. Freedom of information requests by Labour to 325 councils, to which 242 responded, reveal that 125 had resorted to placing destitute families in hotel rooms for six weeks or more since April 2010. This figure challenges claims by ministers that only a "small number" of town halls put families in bed and breakfast accommodation beyond the legal limit. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/18/illegal-use-bandbs-house-homeless

Food poverty 'puts UK's international human rights obligations in danger' A 70-strong consortium of charities, including Crisis, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK, the Disability Rights Alliance and the Child Poverty Action Group, has been formed to monitor the growth in UK food poverty, with a view to the possibility of triggering a formal UN investigation. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/18/food-poverty-uk-human-rights-obligations

Historic reduction in Lancashire’s council tax Lancashire County Council has voted to reduce council tax for the first time in more than 30 years. Council leader Geoff Driver said that he wanted to “help the tax payers of Lancashire during difficult times”, and could afford to make a two per cent cut thanks to efficiency savings and a Government freeze grant. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/historic-reduction-in-lancashire-s-council-tax-1-5435033

Councils reduce middle managers Lancashire County Council has shed almost 100 high-earning jobs in the past three years, new research claims. An investigation by campaign group the TaxPayers’ Alliance indicates that LCC employed 236 staff on salaries in excess of £50,000 in 2011-12, 94 fewer than in the previous year. The reduction has shaved £6,460,000 off the council’s wage bill, with the remaining high earners costing £15,280,000 a year between them. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/councils-reduce-middle-managers-1-5428535

People Power - energy switching scheme - deadline 8 April 2013 We are powering a community energy scheme that will benefit you and the whole community. People Power is a collective energy buying scheme led by 13 Lancashire councils, including Preston City Council. You can sign up for the scheme up to and including 8 April 2013. On 9 April an auction will take place with energy providers. Once the best deal has been negotiated, you will receive an offer by email if you registered online or via post if you registered offline. http://www.preston.gov.uk/yourservices/neighbourhoods-and-community/people-power/

Preston: Top designers target city’s forgotten spots The country’s leading architects have been invited to dream up a vision for Preston’s forgotten spaces. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has confirmed it will run its ‘Forgotten Spaces’ competition in Preston and London this year. It will invite experts from across the country to come forward with their ideas for spots around the city which can be re-used and regenerated. The winning ideas will then be put forward to Preston Council’s planning department as spaces which could be made taken forward. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/business/top-designers-target-city-s-forgotten-spots-1-5421956

Preston: Christ the King - School offers use of facilities Christ the King Maths and Computing College in Preston is offering a range of its facilities for hire to community groups at evenings and weekends. Facilities for hire at the school in Lawrence Avenue, Frenchwood, include its sports hall, suitable for activities such as football, badminton and netball, a drama and dance hall complete with stage, seating, lighting and sound system, meeting room, IT suites, training facilities and office space. Call 01772 895206 for more information about the facilities or alternatively email: [email protected]

Preston: Community Cohesion - Tremendous improvement Preston has been hailed as a “shining example” of community cohesion in a newly- published report. Preston Council’s Community Scrutiny Panel were asked to take a snapshot of the city as part of last year’s Guild celebrations. They chose to look at community cohesion as “other towns in Lancashire have had their problems”, and focused on the Fishwick area. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/tremendous-improvement-1-5432531

South Ribble: Escalating number of dogs being dumped A growing number of dog owners are dumping their pets and giving false details so they can’t be traced, it has been claimed. Bosses at South Ribble Council say the situation has got so bad they have now been forced to write to all vets in the borough telling them not to accept stray pets. It comes as councils across the county say they are struggling to cope with the volume of pets being dumped. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/escalating-number-of-dogs-being-dumped-1-5428464

St Catherine’s Hospice: Palliative Care Centre Plans to add a palliative care centre to St Catherine’s Hospice have moved a step closer after the proposals were rubber stamped. South Ribble Council has approved plans to convert a redundant barn in the grounds of the hospice in Lostock Hall into the care centre and add a two storey extension. The new centre is for people who are about to enter the hospice, and their families and carers, would be able to visit the building to collect information, to have informal consultations and to have therapy and counselling in a more relaxed environment than on the hospice ward surrounded by nursing staff. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/hospice-plans-are-approved-1-5419209

Fire service in jobs cuts plan Fire service jobs will be axed as part of a battle to save £10m over the next three years, it can be revealed. A Lancashire Fire and Rescue team briefing report, seen by the Evening Post, shows 33 posts within the service are set to be scrapped following cuts to Government funding. Some of the roles are already vacant, but around a quarter have people working in posts which have now been identified as redundant. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/fire-service-in-jobs-cuts-plan-1-5419855

Concern for safety of public as police numbers keep falling The chairman of Lancashire Police Federation fears plummeting numbers of officers will affect the service they provide – at a time when they deal with more work than ever. By 2015, there will be fewer police officers on the beat than at any time since the 1970s, says a new report. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) data shows there were 3,323 officers working in the county last year. But HMIC predicts there will be just 3,099 in two years’ time – the lowest figure on the beat in Lancashire since 1979, when there were only 3,097 http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/concern-for-safety-of-public-as-police-numbers-keep- falling-1-5432370

Tributes for community champion Tributes have been paid to a great-grandfather who gave up hours of his time to help bereaved people at his local cemetery. John McCrory won a community champion award for his efforts to keep Hill Road Cemetery in Penwortham neat and tidy. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/tributes-for-community-champion-1-5412796

Sucker list scams target elderly The number of people falling prey to ruthless scams is soaring. Trading Standards officials say they have seen a 30% rise in the number of people asking for help over the last 12 months and they claim con artists are even selling details of vulnerable victims to other scammers. Officers responded to a total of 980 calls last year – but they say it is just the tip of the problem with many victims too embarrassed to come forward, or do not believe they are victims. Today, Marilyn Baldwin, who launched the charity Think Jessica after her elderly mum’s life was taken over by hundreds of criminals demanding her cash, revealed her charity had received hundreds of calls for advice from people in Lancashire including concerned relatives, police, and even wardens at sheltered accommodation complexes in Preston. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/sucker-list-scams-target-elderly-1-5419098

Burholme Close, Moor Nook, Preston: Estate set for new play area A derelict piece of land could be transformed into a haven of play for children under new plans. Plans have been submitted for an outside play zone on a communal piece of land on Burholme Close, Moor Nook. The plans were originally discussed in 2009 but never came to fruition. They were resurrected last year after efforts by local groups and the hope is the plan will address problems with motorbikes being used in the area. The plans will be decided by Preston Council in the coming months. The Moor Nook Environmental Action Group, which campaigns and works for action in the area, is appealing for new members to join. Anybody interested in joining should contact the Moor Nook EMB Housing Office on 01772 268005. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/estate-set-for-new-play-area-1-5412657

The Charity Commission has published a draft version of online guidance to help trustees gain confidence in their decision making and judgment This guidance explains the principles that charity trustees should apply when making important decisions affecting their charity. Trustees have to make decisions all the time. Some are simple and straightforward; others can be complex or far reaching in their consequences. Making decisions need not be daunting. As this guidance explains, following these good practice principles will help trustees to make sound decisions and fulfil their legal responsibilities. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Charity_requirements_guidance/Charity_governance /trustee_decision_making.aspx

More than one in 10 providing unpaid care The number of unpaid carers in England and Wales has reached 5.8 million - a rise of 600,000 since 2001, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. Figures from 2011 show that the largest increase was in unpaid carers working for 50 or more hours a week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21471544

Friends of Ashton Park: Green fingered volunteers work to spruce up popular park Scores of people have taken part in a tree planting event at a popular Lancashire park. Armed with shovels and wellington boots, green-fingered volunteers of all ages took part in the community tree planting event at Ashton Park on Saturday afternoon. The event followed a donation of 300 native trees. The Friends of Ashton Park were allocated the trees by the Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the Forestry Commission, after they made an application to Preston Council. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/green-fingered-volunteers-work-to-spruce-up-popular- park-1-5423383

Dig In North West: Work done in Ashton Park Volunteers in Preston have joined together to help finish a therapy garden for military veterans. Residents clubbed together to help complete work at Dig In North West’s garden in Ashton Park. They spent Saturday painting fences, painting a cabin and installing lighting and preparing to lay a new path. Donna Rowe-Green, founder and senior horticultural therapist for Dig In North West, said: “The people of Preston have made a huge difference to a small project. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/vote-of-thanks-to-helpers-1-5423338

Community Organisers Locality is looking for between 100 and 200 local organisations to recruit, host and support trainee community organisers across England between 2011 and 2014. They plan to recruit hosts in tranches of 10, with the last tranche joining in September 2014. If you are a newly-qualified CO with suitable organisational capacity you can apply to become a host. They are currently targeting hosts in or near Community First wards. http://www.cocollaborative.org.uk/resource/become-host

The Charity Awards 2013 - deadline 8 March 2013 Now in their 14th year, the Charity Awards recognise and celebrate the inspirational work of charities throughout the UK. Open to all charities of any size or mission, winning an award is a hugely effective way to boost morale, raise your charity's profile and help generate future funding. http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/charityawards/nominations/tab/how_to_enter

Appeals

Salvation Army: Unwanted clothes A Preston motorcycle dealer has teamed up with the Salvation Army to donate unwanted clothes. Preston Harley-Davidson will be taking donations of jeans, jumpers, and even worn leather jackets and old helmets, in specially-marked clothing donations boxes in their showroom. They will then be taken by staff to the nearest Salvation Army charity clothing shop to be sold or given to people in desperate need of help and support. Donation boxes are in the showroom on Strand Road now, and will be there until the end of April. The Salvation Army has charity clothing shops on Plungington Road in Preston and Pall Mall in Chorley. They recently set up a new food collection point in Preston Town Hall to help replenish food bank stocks. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/donate-old-helmets-and-biker-coats-for-charity-1-5407726 Kind-hearted staff from a cosmetics store have donated left over stock to a food bank. Workers at Lush in Preston have handed over bags of soap to the Salvation Army’s food bank to be distributed to those in need. The soaps are left over Christmas stock and will be wrapped up and labelled. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/shop-donates-left-over-stock-to-city-s-food-bank-1- 5432391

RSPB: Wildlife friendly farmers sought - deadline 18 April 2013 Lancashire’s most wildlife friendly farmers are being sought by the RSPB. The charity is looking to find farmers who work hardest to help threatened countryside wildlife, such as skylarks, brown hares, bees, butterflies and plants, for the Nature of Farming awards. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/wildlife-friendly-farmers-sought-1-5434818

Consultations

REMINDER - NHS Lancashire Dementia Consultation Closes 25 February 2013 NHS Lancashire is seeking views on the provision of dementia services across Lancashire via a public consultation process running from 3 December 2012 to 25 February 2013 and would like to encourage all our members to put their views forward by completing the survey. Your views are important and will help to shape how specialist dementia services in Lancashire are in the future. The public consultation closes at midnight on 25 February 2013 and responses must be received before this date to be registered. The survey can be completed online at: http://www.feedbacksurveys.org.uk/lancsdementia For more information on the consultation or to request a copy of the free consultation document and survey please visit: http://www.lancashirementalhealth.co.uk, Call 01254 282 128, Email [email protected] or write to FREEPOST BRLIC NWW7363A, Lancashire Mental Health Team, NHS Blackburn with Darwen, Blackburn BB1 2BR.

Preston: Euston Street Park - 25 February 2013 The final public consultation event over plans for Euston Street Park will be held on February 25 at the Sikh Gurdwara in Bow Lane, Preston. The session will run between 6pm and 8pm. All Welcome – there will be tea and cakes and children's activities. If you would like to get involved with the Friends Group then please contact: Clare Cobb [email protected] Tel 01772 827717 Join us on Facebook– Friends of Euston Street Park

Health

Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Third Sector Event - 13 March On behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board I would like to invite you to an opportunity to identify the role which the Third sector could play in the delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. This free, half day interactive seminar will bring participants up to speed on recent developments in terms of the Strategy and will seek to identify how the Third Sector can influence and contribute to its delivery. This event will take place on Wednesday 13th March 2013 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Woodlands Conference Centre, Southport Road, Chorley, PR7 1QR. Please could you RSVP to let me know if you are able or unable to attend this seminar by 27th February, after which time you will be sent further details in terms of the programme and the workshops. Please respond to Caroline Bradley at: [email protected] Many Thanks Habib Patel Head of Health and Wellbeing Partnership Lancashire County Council

Healthwatch England Jane Macfarlane from Cumbria CVS has been appointed to the committee of Healthwatch England; this is a transitional position until September that will oversee the switch from LINk to Healthwatch nationally. Jane's extensive knowledge of health related matters, particularly in relation to the voluntary sector helped her secure this prestigious position.

Honours - deadline 20 March 2013 The department of Health is seeking nominations for consideration for a UK Honour for New Year 2014 from the voluntary sector. They say that the honours system should be seen to reflect and reward those who are really making a difference at grassroots level, and those who have put something back voluntarily into the community. The deadline for submitting all nominations is Wednesday 20 March. Please send completed nomination forms to: [email protected] Nomination Pack: https://www.gov.uk/honours/nominate-someone

Bid to raise eating disorder awareness Eating disorder services in Lancashire are working to raise awareness as part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Staff at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Eating Disorder Services are supporting the national campaign which aims to raise awareness and support for people that have suffered themselves from an eating disorder or have had friends or family members that have been affected. http://www.lep.co.uk/community/bid-to-raise-eating-disorder-awareness-1-5419001

Tax fizzy drinks and ban junk food ads, say doctors Fizzy drinks should be heavily taxed and junk food adverts banished until after the watershed, doctors have said, in a call for action over obesity. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents nearly every doctor in the UK, said ballooning waistlines already constituted a "huge crisis". Its report said current measures were failing and called for unhealthy foods to be treated more like cigarettes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21478314

HIV increase in gay men caused by fall in condom use A fall in the proportion of gay and bisexual men using condoms is behind the rise in HIV infections in those groups in the UK, say researchers. Wider use of anti-retroviral drugs has helped to stop a sharper rise, a study by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and a number of universities found. They found a 26% rise, from 1990-2010, in the proportion of men who have sex with men who did not use condoms. The report said the figures showed it was vital to promote safe sex. Rates of HIV have been rising in recent years with latest figures showing cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK reaching an all-time high. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21474066

Call for items

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