Charity Focus
Live Preston & Fylde takes a look at ongoing fundraising projects that see thousands of pounds donated to good causes across the region
SUPPORT WELLBEING IN LYTHAM
The Marsden Building Society Charitable Foundation has awarded £3,000 to the AFC Fylde Community Foundation to support weekly wellbeing meet-ups.
Founded in 2015, AFC Fylde Community Foundation aims to enhance the quality of life, employability and skills of people in the local community. This donation will be used to fund the foundation’s Extra Time initiative – a free, weekly ‘walk and talk’ session open to adults living within the Fylde area.
The Extra Time sessions take place every Tuesday, 10am until 12pm, at Hope Church in Lytham. The project provides an opportunity to meet new people, improve mental and physical wellbeing and receive help and advice from the AFC Fylde Community Foundation’s staff.
This donation is one of eleven grants awarded by Marsden Building Society, totalling more than £30,000. The funds are managed by the Community Foundation for Lancashire, which works closely with organisations to help ensure their charitable donations support those who need it most.
Anyone interested in the Extra Time sessions can contact the organisers on 01772 598 865 or email: Michael.Whittle@afcfylde.co.uk
BE A PART OF PRESTON VOLUNTEERS
Preston City Council has commissioned new organisation Preston Volunteers through the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) it received from central government.
The programme – part of the wider Community CVS organisation – is there to specifically support Preston charities and community groups to find and keep the volunteers they need, as well as encourage local people to consider volunteering for the first time. There’s a dedicated website in place where you can search for volunteering opportunities and sign up for roles and groups can register to get the volunteers they need.
It’s for the whole community and so easy to sign up. What is perhaps unexpected to the novice volunteer, is the sheer breadth and variety of roles available. People naturally think of caring or gardening or visiting the elderly when it comes to volunteering, but there are lots of other ways you can use your skills to help others. Perhaps you are an amateur photographer or social media whizz who can help get a fledging charity off the ground or you play the piano and can spare an hour a week to brighten the lives of older people, or you have a passion for local history and would like to work as a greeter in a local historic hall?
Why not look at the website prestonvolunteers.org and see what interests you. There are more than 140 positions available and you can filter by keyword, location or time you have available.
If you want to highlight a charity, please email: alma.stewart@live-magazines.co.uk
