ROTARIANS SPRUCE UP LIBRARY GARDEN
Front: left to right; Michael Jackson, Stuart Duhan, Pres Lyndon Heap, Pres Elect Cath Heap and Dawn Taylor
Back: left to right; Ian McTurk and Michael Hindle.
|
Church & Oswaldtwistle Rotarians turned their attention
recently from maintaining the local railway station, which they have
been working on for the past 6 years, to the old stocks outside the
library. The stocks were refurbished by the club in 2018 to coincide with the reopening of the town’s library.
But since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic and the
subsequent lockdown, the area around the stocks had deteriorated.
The Rotary Club members turned out to do some essential work, such
as cutting privet hedges, removing overgrown weeds and moss from the
pavement, and then taking away the resulting waste which amounted to 22 bags!
Work has started on repairing the vandalised stocks,
which included resetting the wooden beams and starting the
re-painting of both stocks and nearby benches.
President Elect, Cath Heap, said “This indeed was an
example of Rotary in Action. We wish to thank Judith Addison for her
co-operation with the project, and Friends of Rotary who turned up
to help”.
|
* * * * *
M3 PROJECT HITS CENTURY
TEN years ago M3 Project set up its unique Teenage Family Service and this year the 100th mother and baby were provided with supported accommodation.
Over the years the project, based in Rawtenstall but operating across East Lancashire, has had many success stories, including Anna who was just 16 and pregnant when she contacted M3.
She said: “I am very proud and I didn’t want to ask for help, I didn’t want charity because I have always earned my way, but I needed help.
“I couldn’t stay living with my dad because there was no room for me, contacting M3 was the best thing I could have done for me and for my children.”
Senior Project Worker Joanne Aspin leads the project and Anna said: “Joanne is not just a support worker she is a friend.”
M3 arranged for Anna and her partner Josh to move into a two-bedoom flat, which was ideal for the couple, Theresa, now three, and Athena, two, but when she was expecting their brother Cain, now 20 months, she needed a larger property.
Anna said being on the project gave her the confidence to then source her own accommodation, initially in the town centre and now the family have settled in a three bedroom end terrace in Church.
She said: “Without M3’s help when I was 16 and pregnant, I wouldn’t have known what I was doing. I don’t know where I would be have ended up, but it would have been a bad place.
“I am now living across from my sister-in-law and we have been able to help each other through the lockdown and be there for each other.
“M3 has made me more confident and able to sort things for myself.”
Josh, 23, is hoping to start a woodworking course in September, and Anna, will be 21 next month.
They are planning to get married in the next three years.
Her advice for teenage families who find themselves in a difficult situation is to contact M3 Project. She said: “Don’t think too much into it, help is out there.”
The service provides accommodation and an intensive support package for young women who are pregnant or have a baby and are living in temporary, unsuitable or overcrowded accommodation.
Senior Project Worker, Joanne Aspin, has seen many changes over the years and this has led to an additional Support Worker being employed.
Cutbacks have meant that the role of Health Visitors has changed. It is no longer a statutory service with one visit when baby comes home and they have restricted contact thereafter.
Changes involving Universal Credit have mean often there are issues around budgeting as payments are made once monthly so money management becomes problematic.
There has also been a rise in young mothers experiencing mental health problems and post natal depression and Joanne feels they now have far more complex needs than when the project was set up.
When the time is right, the project also encourages young women to get back into education or in to work.
To find out more about the charity visit www.rossendalem3.org/ |
Anna with baby Cain, Theresa, and Josh with Athena
* * * * *
|
£100K: Lions Clubs supporting communities during COVID-19 crisis
The
Hyndburn Centennial Lions Club
has received a share of £100,000 from the Lions Clubs Foundation of
the British Isles.
Lions Clubs across the British Isles have benefited from a special
fund launched to support local communities during the COVID-19
crisis.
Hyndburn Centennial Lions club
will utilise the grant to support the purchase of baby products for
provision to needy parents as well as through food banks
at this critical time.
Lion
President Jane Flegg
said:
“This
is a significant sum of money that we are putting to good use
straightaway. This Coronavirus pandemic is hurting lots of local
people in lots of different ways - just because we are all social
distancing doesn’t stop us from caring - we are doing what we can,
and this cash injection will help us do more by providing those at
most need with baby products they would otherwise not be able to
obtain. Through the Hyndburn Baby Bank distribution will be directly
to single parent families and through the local food banks to
families with young babies”.
When a humanitarian crisis strikes, the Lions Clubs Foundation of
the British Isles works with and are guided by their own Lions
members who are ordinary people actively working at the heart of
their communities.
To watch our short film please click the link below.
Baby Bank Video Clip.mp4
Your local Lions Club supports
a range of good causes and local projects where you can get
involved, please contact us on 0345 833 8203 or
hyndburnlions@gmail.com
* * * * *
The Foundation supports local Lions Clubs to provide humanitarian
aid, disaster relief, and support a range of youth programmes.
About Lions Clubs
Lions Clubs of the British Isles are part of Lions Clubs
International which has 1.45 million members in over 210 countries,
making it the largest service club organisation in the world.
Wherever you live, work or travel, you are likely to come across
members of Lions clubs and the projects we support.
Lions are ordinary people who do extraordinary things to help others
and support good causes.
Globally we have more volunteers in more places than any
other service club organisation.
We love to help others and make things happen.
Every day Lions are having fun by organising remarkable and
memorable fundraising activities.
Every year, in Europe alone, Lions Clubs members volunteer almost 6
million hours of service and raise £88 million annually to support
the needs of local communities.
Lions Clubs International: British Isles
257 Alcester Road South
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 6DT
Tel: 0345 833 9502
To find out more about Lions Clubs, visit
www.lionsclubs.co
Like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/LionsClubsBritishIsles
or Tweet #LionsGetInvolved on
https://twitter.com/LionsClubsBI |
|
Advocacy Focus achieves Senior Leader and Workplace Wellbeing Awards
from national mental health charity Mind
Advocacy Focus’ CEO and the organisation’s
commitment to wellbeing within the workplace, has been recognised by
the national mental health charity Mind.
Advocacy Focus was one of 106 organisations to take part in Mind’s
second annual Workplace Wellbeing Index and was recognised with a
Gold Award. The award
showcases the charity’s commitment to
achieving real and sustainable change within their workplace.
Mind’s
Workplace Wellbeing Index is a benchmark of best policy and
practice, celebrating the good work employers are doing to promote
and support positive mental health, and provides key recommendations
on where there is room to improve.
In
further celebrations for the charity, Justine Hodgkinson, its Chief
Executive Officer, won the Senior Leader Award, for her commitment
and contribution to fostering an equitable and supportive workplace.
Other members of the team were also shortlisted for their efforts in
this area; Becci Jackson-Maher in the Line Manager category for her
work as the Time to Change lead and Jasmine Bell in the Wellbeing
Champion category, for her work as Suicide Champion and helping to
drive forward the Time to Change programme.
Every
employer depends on having healthy and productive employees – valued
and supported staff are far more likely to perform better and
achieve peak performance. Mental health problems are common among
employees. Mind surveyed more than 44,000 employees across the 106
employers participating in the Awards and found that 7 in 10 had
experienced a mental health problem in their lives, with over one in
two (53 per cent) affected by poor mental health in their current
workplace.
Advocacy Focus has developed a collaborative and supportive
environment for its team, through initiatives such as an "All Fine
Hotline" for staff to speak and offload to a manager out of hours if
they are feeling stressed or upset, private healthcare and
counselling for all staff.
The team also have access to Suicide and Cancer champions, a
mental health plan which raises awareness of female health issues
and a Time to Change team which reduces the stigma of mental ill
health. Many of the team are also qualified mental health first
aiders, which is delivered by their in-house training team. In
Mind’s independent and anonymous survey, which formed part of the
process, staff reported how they are empowered to take control of
their own wellbeing and that of their peers, colleagues, family and
friends.
Justine
said: “Our cultural approach to mental health, alongside our
policies and training programmes, demonstrates how we place our
team’s physical and mental health and wellbeing at the heart of our
organisation. How we look after our team has a ripple effect across
the whole of the North West and the people we serve.”
“As a
registered charity, we have been supporting people with mental ill
health for over 20 years. These awards are a significant
achievement, which recognise how we live and uphold the values of
advocacy within our workplace and are proud to do so. Winning Gold
shows that we provide a trusted and safe place to work from, which
enables our team to focus on our communities and help them live the
lives they want to live.”
After receiving the Senior Leader Award, Justine said: “I have
learnt over the years that the only way to bring about positive
cultural change, is to treat every member of your team with kindness
and respect. You never
know what challenges a person may have faced to even make it into
work that day, life can be so pressurised.
Particularly now with the current situation and many people’s
lives being turned upside down.
If we can provide a friendly and supportive, values based
workplace, that normalises the conversation around mental health and
tackles any form of discrimination, then our team will show up as
the very best version of themselves.
That is a workplace I am proud to be the leader of.”
Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said:
“Every
employer depends on having a healthy and productive workforce –
valued and supported employees are far more likely to deliver the
best outcomes for your organisation.
That’s
why we’re delighted to recognise and celebrate employers making
mental health a priority for their organisation through our
Workplace Wellbeing Awards.
“This year, we’ve been overwhelmed to see so much good practice
right across the board, from each and every one of the 106 diverse
employers to take part. The Awards event provided an opportunity to
recognise those forward-thinking employers who are at the cutting
edge when it comes to investing in their staff wellbeing, and in
turn getting the best outcomes for their business.”
|
* * * * *
Lancashire group-Lancashire Remembers were recognised at the Royal British Legion Greater Manchester and Lancashire Area Awards.
Lancashire Remembers beat Waitrose supermarket, in Walton-le-Dale, and the South Cumbria and North Lancashire Military Vehicle Trust in winning the Fund-raising Organisation Award: Lancashire.
This was for the work Anne Ellwood (Accrington) and Nick Holme (East Lancashire Concert Band) had done in organising a festival of remembrance at the Guild Hall, in Preston, last November, which included Lancashire’s cadet forces and a host of bands and choirs. Raising several thousand pounds for the Royal British Legion.
The inspirational awards evening, held at the Bury Village Hotel, was introduced by Alison Bunn, RBL area manager for Greater Manchester and Lancashire. It featured guest speakers, D-Day veteran Jim Healey, and Anthony Cooper, an Afghanistan veteran, who spoke about how they had been helped by the Royal British Legion.onig
Lancashire Remembers was in remembrance of the First World War ,the event was organised by Anne Ellwood (Accrington)and Nick Holme of local band the East Lancashire Concert Band at the Guild Hall in Preston last Nov 10th.Featuring 2nd Rossendale Scout Band, East Lancashire Concert Band, Accrington Pipe Band, Massed Community Choir, International Opera Singer Sean Ruanne from Burnley, Longton's Katy Bradley , the Lakes Fanfare group, singers Chris Bannister and Les Bond (an Accrington Pals relative who sang his self-penned song 100 Years On) and local poet William Michael Neary.
The evening was attended by local Forces Cadets under the guidance of RBL Regional Parade Master Dave Eltman and the service was conducted by Rev'd Father Keith Fenton.
Presenters for the evening included BBC Radio Lancashire's Sally Naden and local actress Steff Baron. Who told her own story of a relative who had fought in the war, bringing a special affinity to the evening. As tributes were made to the Pals ,on the big screen, with photos, and film from the war.
The event was 2 years in the making with all those appearing did so free of charge and all money raised after expenses was to go to the RBL and were grateful to the many businesses who contributed resources to the event. Making it a truly amazing evening. Local artist Ursula of Artdaze , who helped decorate the stage with giant poppies and banners. Creating a very intimate setting, along with pictures of the Pals who were lost in battle, being shown on the screen and in the audience were relatives,
Both Anne and Nick have been involved in organising several events as part of Hyndburn’s WW1 centenary in the borough. With Anne organising the Accrington Pals Prom at Oakhill Park in 2016 in partnership with the Accrington Royal British Legion. Which included the East Lancashire Concert Band, who started off life back in 1842 as the Accrington Old Band. Nick and the band also featured in several events.
ANNE ELLWOOD
ellwoodanne@aol.com |
* * * * *
LOCAL ROTARY CLUB- FILM STARS FOR THE DAY
|
The Rotary Headquarters of Rotary In Great Britain and Ireland
(RIBI) has selected Church
and Oswaldtwistle as one of the traditional clubs, who has shown
very significant progress to meet the ever changing events which
translates in the quest for younger members to join Rotary.
During the end of March, a film crew from RIBI spent the full day
in Hyndburn in and around Oswaldtwistle, filming various aspects
of what Rotary can achieve. Such as recording work carried out in
the community, involvement with children under 11 years of age,
helping with loneliness, close ties with the disabled and
interviewing the Assistant Head of the local Secondary school
where there is a great deal of involvement from both the students
and Rotarians.
The filming started early in the morning with Rotakids from St
Andrew’s school, placing a hedgehog box in the undergrowth near
railway station, which along with bird boxes and a bat box (also
in situ at the station) were built by the Rotakids. The film crew
then moved onto the railway platform to take shots of the model
engine and carriages which looked magnificent with daffodils in
full bloom. This project started by past President Jim Hargreaves
was admired by all present, similar to all the praises which have
been forthcoming from local residents and railway employees as
trains pass through the station.
Oswaldtwistle is one of the few towns that have preserved the
punishment stocks, and thanks go to Rotarian Ron Pickup who has
refurbished the stocks so they are in working order. It was
decided that Jim Hargreaves should be placed in the stocks and he
very gamely agreed to have wet sponges thrown at him!
Eve Conway Past President
of RIBI and who is the lead person in the filming project found
the use of the stocks most amusing!
After lunch at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel filming was carried out
interviewing the Rotakids from St Andrew’s who with their Head
teacher Tina Wilkinson outlined the many projects that the
Rotakids have carried out with President Elect Cath Heap very much
involved. Mrs Wilkinson is also a Corporate Member of Church and
Oswaldtwistle Rotary and she explained why she chose to join
Rotary, and how important is to her personally and to the school.
The film crew was very impressed with the presentation made by
Lewis Baker-Vose who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. This 22-year-old
man has entered and finished nearly every ‘Walk 4 your Charity’
sponsored walk for the past 10 years. A couple of years ago he was
nominated to take part in the Rotary Calvert Trust, it was here he
excelled in completing most of the physical tasks. Lewis paid
tribute to Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary for selecting him for
this. He told of how taking part in the many activities on the
Outward-Bound course at the Calvert Trust made him realise just
what he can achieve despite his disability. He shortly finishes
his studies at Nelson and Colne College and will take up a role on
reception at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Finally filming took place with Carmel Cunliffe, Assistant Head
Teacher and Business and-Technology Manager at Rhyddings school.
Carmel acknowledged the very close working relationship between
the school and Rotary. She was very appreciative of Rotary
sponsoring students to take part in the Rotary schemes of RYLA and
RYPEN.
President Lyndon Heap, who was also interviewed, said ‘The filming
which started early in the morning and did not finish until
evening, was a great success. It certainly was a tribute for
Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary to be selected as a club that
shows dynamic progress. Nearly half of our membership are women,
and we have members from a variety of different cultural
backgrounds plus 25% of our members work fulltime and it is this
eclectic mix that contributes greatly to the success of Church and
Oswaldtwistle Rotary. The purpose of the filming is to show us as
a Rotary club that embraces change and this puts us in a strong
position, going forwards” |
* * * * *
ARMY VETERAN HELPED BY CHARITY
Operations Manager Bob Elliott and Andy Greaves at the VIC allotment in Helmshore.
IT IS four years since Fusilier Andy Greaves left the army and at first he was struggling, but thanks to support from a veterans’ charity he has turned his life around.
He left the 1st Battalion in February 2014 with anxiety, depression and symptoms of PTSD, but these went undiagnosed for about eight to 12 months and were compounded by his autism.
Andy, 28, from Baxenden, said: “I was in a very dark place at times and I was suicidal. Everyone threw me away because of my mood swings.
“In the Infantry I wasn’t aware of my problems it was only when I left that they became obvious. Everything in my life fell apart.”
He was 20 when he joined up and because he already had an autism diagnosis it took an extra three weeks before he was accepted for basic training. He then went on to serve in Afghanistan.
Andy joined Haslingden-based Veterans In Communities in early 2016 after being signposted by his GP and began volunteering on a number of projects, some of which have been funded by a grant from the ABF: The Soldiers’ Charity.
His story is now being used as a case study and a team from the charity’s London base came out to interview Andy and photograph him at work at VIC’s allotment in Helmshore.
He said: “I have had a lot of time to sit and think about what I want out of life and I started volunteering at Stubbylee Greenhouses in Bacup.
“With their help and VIC I have completed a foundation course in horticulture and I may become a gardener in the future.”
Andy is currently working as a labourer with an online auction house.
He still goes to the greenhouses once a week and pops into VIC when he is not working and joins the team on social inclusion trips.
Operations Manager Bob Elliott said: “Andy is a changed person to the one who came here two years ago. He has benefited directly from projects at VIC that were funded by the ABF: The Soldiers’ Charity.
“We are delighted to see the progress he has made in his personal life and pleased to have been able to play our part in it.”
Veterans In Communties works with and for veterans from the armed forces and other emergency services and can be contacted on 01706 833180. |
back to top |
|
