SAVE THE DATE – PCN Networking Event
Our next networking event is now scheduled to take place on June 19th. Please keep this date in your diary – More details and formal invitation to follow.

Preston Sustainability Festival – Appeal

The Preston Sustainability Festival is taking place on May 31^st at Ashton Walled Garden, and promises to be a great event. The organisers – Climate Action Preston and Let’s Grow Preston are currently needing some freestanding display boards for that weekend to show posters and leaflets – if any of our members can help them out, please contact Rosy Townsend on rosy.townsend@gmail.com.

Preston Health and Wellbeing Partnership

The above group will be meeting next Monday morning at County Hall.

As you may know, the HWP discusses a wide range of health and wellbeing issues and is a great place for concerns to be put forward and also to obtain updates and information from a variety of bodies.

If you have any issues in this area you would like Tony to bring up at the meeting, please email him on tonyd@prestoncn.org.

LOCAL Annual Conference

Tony recently attended the Locally Organised Communities Across Lancashire (LOCAL) conference, which took place at Chorley Town Hall last month.

Working in Partnership to Tackle Poverty was the theme and it was a very interesting and enjoyable day with a wide range of great speakers who were very well received by more than 100 attendees.

Many of the issues covered by the speakers will be of interest to members and you can now access summaries of their addresses here.

Lancashire Science Festival – UcLan

The Lancashire Science Festival at UcLan is happening on Saturday the 17^th May 2025 9am-4pm. The day is free to attend and you need to register for a place using the email address on the flyer attached. It will be a very fun and interactive day for young people with lots to learn and see.

SEND Networking Event – Moor Nook Family Hub & The Zone

CFW are hosting a special SEND Networking event to shine a spotlight on the different SEND support services in Preston. The event will be on Wednesday the 21^st May from 1.30pm till 4.30pm and will be at Moor Nook Family Hub & Zone, Burholme Road, Ribbleton, Preston, PR2 6HN. This event is a golden opportunity for your service to showcase your unique offerings to schools, partner agencies, and the public. It’s the perfect platform to highlight the incredible work you do and connect with others in the community.

What’s in store?

Networking: Connect with agencies and fellow stall holders.

Promotion: Share your service with the public and make valuable connections.

Mini Workshops: Throughout the afternoon, CFW will be hosting mini workshops to showcase Stepping Stones Triple P and Colourful Footsteps.

You will also have the opportunity to speak with Target Youth Support about CFW’s 11-25 SEND offer.

Don’t miss out! Places are limited and it’s first come, first served – so book now to avoid disappointment!

To book a stall or to confirm your attendance as a visitor email – cfwprestoncommunity@lancashire.gov.uk

Youth Voices Board – Recruitment of Young People

The RSIT team are recruiting young resettlers aged 16-25 to join their Youth Voices Board.

If you support any young people from a resettler background who would like to participate, scan the QR code in the poster below to register and have your voice heard.

Microsoft Teams & Office

Some free training from ‘SmartDesc’ on making better use of Teams and Office 365:

Free-instructor-led-microsoft-365-training-sessions

The next session is on May 20^th but it looks like they are conducting the training twice every month.

Staying Safe Online

A free Staying Safe Online and Cyber Security course is taking place every Monday morning for six weeks at Preston Community Hub.

Start date is May 19 and there are more details on the attached flyer.

Understanding Trauma and Child Sexual Exploitation

Our friends at No Whispers CIC have organised a training day on Understanding Trauma and Child Sexual Exploitation, which is a very important issue to us all.

The event takes place on May 28 and there are more details on the attached flyer.

Summer Community Fund

The Police and Crime Commissioner has now reopened the Summer Community Fund, which will remain open until Monday 26^th May at 9:00am. The fund is once again available to support projects that engage young people who are at risk or in need of positive support during the summer holidays. This includes diversionary activities, prevention initiatives, and targeted interventions. Applications for funding of up to £3,000 are invited from Community Safety Partnerships, local organisations, charities, community groups, and Parish and Town Councils. We strongly encourage partners to collaborate when preparing and submitting applications.

Further information about the fund is available on this website.

FAM Big Local

FAM Big Local are running an offer of small grants of around £500 for local groups in the Fishwick and St Matthews ward of Preston to apply for.  These are primarily aimed at supporting events / equipment or small projects. For more information, please contact famcommunitychest@gmail.com.

The Mathew Good Foundation

Grants for Good is designed to direct funding only to small and growing local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that are making a big impact on communities, people or the environment.

Deadline for applications: 15th June – link to website.

Lloyds Bank Foundation

The foundation are currently welcoming applications from small charities and CIOs led by and working with people experiencing economic inequity because of their race or ethnicity. Eligible charities can apply for a three-year grant of £75,000 alongside development support. Deadline: 29 May 2025 – Link to website.

The Albert Hunt Trust

This Trust provides funding for areas such as family support eg Home Start, children and young people counselling services, suicide prevention, specific carers support, cancer support, community centres, food banks and debt advice.

Grants up to £5,000 are available and there are more details via this link

Deadline for Applications is May 30.

Preston Volunteers

Our friends at Preston Volunteers have asked us to share their monthly update in which they feature a number of very attractive volunteering opportunities. Flyer attached.

Here are the links to the roles:

1. Community Supporter (Public Speaker) at RNIB – Royal National Institute of Blind People : Community CVS
2. Trialling the YourMap app at YourMap : Community CVS
3. Home visitor and outings companion Preston at Blind Veterans UK : Community CVS
4. Photographer/Sport photographer at Preston Panthers Volleyball Club : Community CVS
5. Gardening Volunteer at Galloways Society for the Blind : Community CVS
6. Beavers Team Members – 1st Broughton at Preston & District Scouts : Community CVS

The group have also asked us to remind you about the upcoming Volunteer Week which will feature a host of interesting events.

More information and sign up details on the attached poster.

Funding Workshop

Our member group Sanctuary Cookalongs are organising a Funding Workshop to help other community groups to network and learn from each other.

It will take place tomorrow evening, Thursday, May 8 and the link to register is here.

More details on attached flyer.

Community Fest

Please find attached posters for the upcoming Community Fest, taking place on June 14^th. 

If anybody wishes to have a stall or information stand or to deliver a workshop or perform at the event, please complete the form on the link on the call out poster, then someone will contact them to discuss their contribution in more detail.

Dr Bike Session

Is your bike ready for summer? Bring it along for a FREE check-up at the Dr Bike session at Plungington Community Centre

Date: June 5th

Time: From 1:00 PM

Drop-off style session – leave your bike with us and we’ll give it a once-over!
Tom and Josh will be on hand for simple fixes and to chat about basic maintenance tips.

📌 Book your spot: Eventbrite

Healthwatch Lancashire Women’s Health Showcase Event

Healthwatch Lancashire are hosting a free Women’s Health Showcase event on June 26 at Preston Grasshoppers RUFC, Lightfoot Green Lane PR4.
There will be guest speakers, organisations that focus on supporting women and the Healthwatch team will be presenting their findings and recommendations.

More details and ticket link on attached flyer.

Spring Into Action

Our member group Spring Into Action are hosting a busy programme of events for those with learning difficulties and autism.

The monthly inclusive disco at St. Joseph’s Parish Centre in Chorley is open to those based in the Preston area and regular club nights are held at Popworld in Preston.

Details on attached flyers. (1) (2)