On Your Marks…
Lancashire Women is a charity that improves thousands of lives every year. This year it will be staging an exciting event to help fund the valuable work it does to help women across the county
Marking its 40th anniversary, Lancashire Women is set to stage a phenomenal fundraiser based on the popular TV series Race Across the World.
The two-day event promises all the action and excitement featured on the BBC reality programme. Based in Lancashire, the fundraiser will challenge teams to find the quickest route to reach their final destination in record time.
Lancashire Women’s Business Development Manager, Adele Helm, says: “This is going to be an amazing event. At Lancashire Women we are known for our fundraising events which are always great fun.
“We have already got teams signed up. It will be held over the weekend and there will be checkpoints across the county. Contestants are not allowed mobile phones or access to the internet.”
Adele has been working for the past eight years with Lancashire Women, which was originally founded in 1985, to offer advice and help to women of all ages across the county. The organisation now has hubs across Lancashire and the services offered has gradually increased over the years. These include advice on finances, debt and welfare, medical issues, employment coaching, skills development and confidence-building along with rehabilitation for women connected to the criminal justice system.
Adele first got involved with Lancashire Women after giving up work to look after her two children. Having enjoyed a varied, high-flying career in law and finance, she found that she had lost confidence as a stay-at-home mum: “I had low self-esteem despite having a lovely home and nice lifestyle. I was not a typical client of Lancashire Women but I always tell my story as Lancashire Women is for everyone – it’s not judgemental.
“When I walked through the door I was petrified but I was given a big hug and I was given help – I went on a 12-week confidence-building course that changed the way I thought about things and it changed my life.”
Adele started volunteering at Lancashire Women’s Accrington hub and when a job came up for a community fund-raiser she applied: “I knew from my previous career that I had many transferable skills.”
Adele is now head of fund-raising, business development and marketing. She started with a team of 40, which has now grown to 120, testament to her success. Lancashire Women now has five hubs across the county in Accrington, Burnley, Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn with more outreach centres at various locations.
The four main services the organisation offers to women are:
• Mental health and wellbeing, which can include group sessions, counselling, confidence-building, menopause workshops along with pain and sleep management. Lancashire Women also works in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) providing advice and therapy to mums who have a baby in NICU or those who have lost a newborn.
• Finance and budgeting advice along with debt and benefits. “We have a female energy assessment team to ensure women are on the right tariff, who can fit energy-efficient light bulbs and offer heated blankets and radiators. It’s all about education,” says Adele.
A social enterprise charity to set up an all-female handywomen service offering help with household repairs is currently underway: “This encourages women to look at different careers in non-traditional roles.”
The hubs can also advise on benefit entitlement, as well as helping with benefit applications.
With regards to household budgeting, the organisation advises on life-skills including cooking and shopping as well as advice on food bank referrals.
Clothing and toiletries are also available from various hubs.
• Justice and safety advice is also offered. Lancashire Women works with the probation service, helping women who have recently been released from prison: “We provide a safe space for women so they can break the cycle and access the provisions they need,” says Adele. Lancashire Women also collaborates with local law firms to offer legal advice.
• Employment services can help people get back to work. The service includes offering advice on mental health in the workplace and job application techniques.
At all the Lancashire Women hubs, women can drop in or attend one of the many events that include coffee mornings, craft events and workshops.
As the income generator for the organisation, Adele is constantly on the lookout for ideas. Lancashire Women recently held a Big Sleepover at Clitheroe Football Club to raise money and there is an 80s themed Charity Ball planned for 27th June at the Dunkenhalgh.
However, the main event in their anniversary year will be the Race Across Lancashire. Limited to 25 teams of two people, this is set to be held on 6th and 7th September. The entry cost is £250 including meals and overnight accommodation with each team having a fund-raising target of £1500: “It’s going to be tremendous fun,” adds Adele. “While we get funding and grants from various organisations and trusts, we need to be innovative all the time as it’s a very challenging landscape.
“It’s important that people know we are here for every woman. I live and breathe this job – I love it.”
RACE ACROSS LANCASHIRE!
6th & 7th September
Teams of two racing across the county to get to the final destination!
For more information go to: lancashirewomen.org
For more information about events, jobs, donations and volunteering with Lancashire Women go to the website: lancashirewomen.org
