Brief notes on PCAN Meeting July 14th 2015

 

NEXT MEETINGS: We have the next PCAN meeting booked for Tuesday 29th September We are suggesting we vary the day of the week in 2016 starting with Monday 18th January. Please put these dates in your diary now

 

 

We began with a reflection on the story of the Good Samaritan... which character in the story did we each identify with?

 

1. ASYLUM SEEKERS : Wonder Phiri of the British Red Cross and Saulo Cwerner of LCC talked about the asylum seeker dispersal programme in Preston and the work of the Thursday morning drop in at St Cuthberts.  Most of the background information is still available in a document at

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/89023969/Asylum%20Seekers%20in%20Preston%20how%20to%20help.pdf

We were also joined by Dave Smith of Boaz Trust  http://boaztrust.org.uk/

a Christian organisation serving destitute asylum seekers in Greater Manchester. We provide accommodation, as well as food and other essentials, to those who are unable to access support from anywhere else. We also provide advocacy and pastoral support, and campaign on a local and national level for justice in asylum legislation.

We were encouraged to work together to strengthen the support available to this substantial new group of people on the verge of destitution. 

 

2. Financial Inclusion and Credit Unions..   Jennifer Carthy from the City Council spoke about the development of Guild Money launched in Preston in June (see LEP article)

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/guild-money-credit-union-is-launched-1-7300968

 

Managed through Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Credit Union  https://www.bfwcu.co.uk/ anyone living or working in Preston can now become a member, open an account or apply for an affordable loan.

 

We are hoping the churches will promote this alternative local banking system to members and lots of church folk will open accounts.

 

We also highlighted the CUF Money Matters conference on November 5th in Manchester...  You can book tickets for £12 here:

 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/money-matters-conference-tickets-16416287558

 

3. Funding...

 

We reminded everyone that churches looking for funding to deliver services around money issues (in Preston Citty Council area) from April 2016 would do well to join the group which is developing a collaborative bid for funds.

 

Responses to the VCFS Forum Collaborative Funding Sub Group Survey are due in by Friday this week.  Click here to start

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vcfsconsortiumforpccfundingscopingsurvey

The group has been working, since a consultation carried out by Preston City Council in March 2015, to develop a collaborative bid for funds from Preston City Council from April 2016. To this end the group is conducting a short survey to identify potential partners and their aspirations to provide services around the City Council target of financial resilience. Responses are invited by no later than the end of the month to inform the next meeting, which is open to all interested parties, on Wednesday 5 August 2015 (see meetings below).
Background paper produced by the Sub Group:
http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site13007/Newsletter/150717/VCFS_Sub_Group_Paper.docx
Preston City Council Grant Funding Priority paper
http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site13007/Newsletter/15031302/Grant_Funding_Priority_Financial Resilience _Final Draft.doc
On line survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vcfsconsortiumforpccfundingscopingsurvey
PDF copy of the survey (for convenience):
http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site13007/Newsletter/150717/consortiumscopingSurvey_66927925.pdf

 

 

4. Lancashire Wide Homelessness / Housing Justice day Conference

 

is planned for Thursday November 12th in Preston

Full details and the link to book free tickets are here

http://prestonchristianactionnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/a-lancashire-housing-and-homelessness.html

 

5 Together Lancashire Interns...  We are still interested in finding year long half time volunteers to work unpaid with local church linked projects.  The schem is outlined here:

http://prestonchristianactionnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/opportunities-to-serve-and-learn-in.html

 

 

NEXT MEETINGS

 

We have the next PCAN meeting booked for Tuesday 29th September

 

We are suggesting we vary the day of the week in 2016 starting with Monday 18th January

 

Please put these dates in your diary now

 

Shalom

Greg Smith
Co-ordinator  Preston Christian Action Network
Phone - Mobile 07726177044
www.pcan.org.uk

 

DWP select committe enquiry into delayed or underpaid benefits

Opportunity to share your experiences

Work and pensions select committee inquiry into delayed or underpaid
benefits - return by 4th September

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news-parliament-2015/terms-of-reference-benefit-delivery-15-16/

LCC Engagement Workshops to discuss the key issues around loneliness and social isolation

 

Lancashire County Council  is carrying out a review of social isolation and loneliness affecting people across Lancashire.
 Places are still available for the Stakeholder Engagement Workshops  to discuss the key issues around loneliness and social isolation affecting people in the Lancashire area, to share good practice and with your help,  come up with potentially more solutions to tackle this most important issue.
 A number of workshops have been arranged which will take place over the next few weeks.  The details are as follows:
 
Workshop 1 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm Thursday, 23^rd July
Intact Community Centre, 49 Whitby Avenue, Ingol, Preston PR2 3YP
To book a place, please email: bhaveni.parmar@lancashire.gov.uk
 
Workshop 2 – 9:30am  – 12:30pm Monday, 27th July 2015
Tanhouse Community Centre, Ennerdale, Skelmersdale. WN8 6AN
To book a place, please email: bhaveni.parmar@lancashire.gov.uk
 
Workshop 3 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm Monday 3^rd August, 2015
Lancaster Library, Sanctuary Room, Market Street, Lancaster.  LA1 1HY
To book a place, please email Nicola.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk
 
Workshop 4 – 9:30am – 12:30am Tuesday 4^th August, 2015
St Anne's Library, 254 Clifton Drive South , Lytham St Annes , Lancashire, FY8 1NR
To book - please email Nicola.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk
 
Workshop 5  9:30 – 12:30 Wednesday 5^th August, 2015

Burnley Wood Community Centre, Rehobeth Building, 96, Springfield Road, Burnley. BB11 3LR.
To book a place – please email lauren.beeres@lancashire.gov.uk
 
It would be really helpful if you could please confirm your booking as soon as possible.  Also, if you are aware of any colleagues and members of the public who might be interested in attending, please feel free to forward on this invitation. 
 
I hope that you are able to help us with our review.  If you have any queries, or require any other information, please don't hesitate to contact Helen.Robinson@lancashire.gov.uk

A Lancashire Housing and Homelessness Event Housing Justice Roadshow Thursday 12th November 2015

This is our first public announcement of an exciting event about homelessness and housing and the Christian response which we are organizing for the autumn. Please share and circulate this widely across the churches in Lancashire

 

Please see below.. and in a more easily printable version in the attachment which you can download here

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/89023969/firstpublicannouncementhousingjusticeroadshow.pdf

Please put the date in your diary now..before the holidays and even book your places online.

 

 Thursday 12th November 2015

9.30 am to 3.30pm

Plungington Community Centre,

Brook Street, Preston PR1 7NB

 

This event has been planned by a group representing a partnership of

 

• Together Lancashire
• Methodist Action North West
• Caritas Care
• Housing Justice

 

We are seeking additional partners and co sponsors who will contribute £50 or £100 each in return for putting their logo on the publicity and free exhibition space in the market place area which will be open throughout the day.

 

·       An event aimed at the leaders and congregations of churches and Christians of Lancashire

·       There will be some Christian prayer and theology during the day but the event is inclusive and open to all people of goodwill

·       It is for all those who are concerned about homeless people and housing issues, including clergy, housing professionals, volunteers in homeless projects and activities, and people who have struggled personally with housing issues or have been homeless.

·       Aiming to inspire and inform everyone about how best  the church / Christians can make a difference around these issues

·       Sharing information and best practice from housing professionals and charities

·       It is a free event but tickets must be ordered online in advance.   Please go to this link on Evenbrite to book

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/housing-justice-roadshowa-lancashire-housing-and-homelessness-event-tickets-17830073229

 

If you do not have access to the internet you may ring Ruth Morris at the office of Methodist Action North West to reserve a place. 01772 751000 

 

·        NB. if you book a place and fail to attend on the day we reserve the right to invoice you for £25. If you book a place and find you will no longer be able to attend you may cancel the booking before 1st November without penalty.

·       There will be a simple lunch  - free though we would welcome donations on the day to cover some costs.

·       The event will be lively and interactive with some inspiring plenary speakers, video and power-point presentations, local roundtable "surgeries", thematic workshops and market place presence of projects and charities.  

·       It is possible that we can arrange follow up local evening or Sunday events in inter faith week or around Homelessness Sunday (January 24th 2016) for those who were unable to come to the conference itself.

 

Draft Outline Programme for the day:

 

09:30   Arrival / Registration / Marketplace – tables and displays from organisations involved in the day... Coffee and Tea available from urns around all day

 

10:00  Opening Plenary

            Welcome / housekeeping notices

             Opening prayer led by Chair (Senior Church Leader)

The national context –             Alison Gelder  (CEO Housing Justice) housing need, problems with the market, effects of welfare reform etc.

           

 10.45          The Lancashire context.. Presentation about housing needs, issues and resources around the county  Information handouts.. and web links...to be given out...

 

11    Round table local surgeries .. based on four/five groups of Local Council Districts..

 

• Blackpool and Fylde Coast
• Lancaster Morecambe
• Preston - Central Lancashire
• Blackburn w Darwen
• Burnley, Pendle and rest of East Lancs

 

with a knowledgeable resource person at each table... how local policies and practices work.. signposting to local services and projects

           

11.30   Thematic  Workshops –

 

1. From the streets to a safe home... A Pilgrim's Progress..... How we can see beyond the stereotype of the rough sleeper and the soup kitchen and help change lives
2. Do we need night shelters?  If so how do they fit into the network of provision and work safely and effectively. What could be the churches' role?
3. Hostels and Supported Housing Projects,...what groups like MANW / Fox Street Community, Vincent House / Emmaus aim to do  How you can support them? 
4. Preventing homelessness and supporting sustainable housing - Pastoral responses : how clergy, pastoral volunteers and church members can spot housing problems coming to people, and how they can respond effectively and holistically.. balancing generosity, risk and wisdom... 
5. Faith in Affordable Housing: using surplus church land and buildings for affordable homes  

 

12.20      Lunch & Marketplace

 

1.10     Repeat of themed workshops so people can choose two of the four

 

14:00   Afternoon plenary:    Theology / Spirituality / Jesus and Homeless people .. (Jon Kuhrt - CEO West London Mission Homelessness Services)    In order  to include some stories from people who have been homeless. and have produce a number of quick video clips... plus time for buzz groups - responses

 

15:00 closing worship & commission...   Senior Church Leader

 

15:30   Event  ends

 

 

To contact the organisers

 

Greg Smith

Development Co-ordinator Together Lancashire / Preston Christian Action Network

Email: greg.smith@together-lancashire.org.uk

Phone - Mobile 07726177044

Or

 

Ruth Morris -  Administrator, Methodist Action North West

 

Phone:   01772 751000 

 

Email:  ruth.morris@methodistaction.co.uk

 

 

 

 

VCFS Collaborative Funding Sub Group

If you are at all interested in getting hold of some funding from Preston City Council for work in the area of financial inclusion starting from April 2016 it is VERY important that you engage with this process in the next couple of weeks.   Please do the survey to tell us what you would like to do and turn up at the meeting on 5th August.

 

 

FROM Preston Community Network News and Events

VCFS Collaborative Funding Sub Group

This week we'd like to draw your attention to the work being done by the VCFS Forum Collaborative Funding Sub Group. The group has been working, since a consultation carried out by Preston City Council in March 2015, to develop a collaborative bid for funds from Preston City Council from April 2016.  To this end the group is conducting a short survey to identify potential partners and their aspirations to provide services around the City Council target of financial resilience. Responses are invited by no later than the end of the month to inform the next meeting, which is open to all interested parties, at 10am on Wednesday 5 August 2015 at Lancashire Archives, Bow Lane

Background paper produced by the Sub Group:
http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site13007/Newsletter/150717/VCFS_Sub_Group_Paper.docx

Preston City Council Grant Funding Priority paper
http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site13007/Newsletter/15031302/Grant_Funding_Priority_Financial Resilience _Final Draft.doc

On line survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vcfsconsortiumforpccfundingscopingsurvey

PDF copy of the survey (for convenience):
http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site13007/Newsletter/150717/consortiumscopingSurvey_66927925.pdf

Church Urban Fund: Share Your Harvest

 

 

Share Your Harvest Our Harvest Resources are ready to download! Reflect…praise and thank God for His abundant provision using the Preaching Notes and Reflections Prayers This Harvest take action…share with those in our society who have less, by organising an event to fundraise for Church Urban Fund's Together Network that is working locally to transform lives. Can you help organise a fundraising event? Harvest Supper Coffee Morning Afternoon Tea Frugal Lunch Visit the website and help transform lives in England! Church Urban Fund Church House, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3NZ

Warehousing Needs... Property needed in Preston

Please circulate this request widely

 

 

Can you help us to change lives in our local community?

 

Serve our Community is a registered charity based in Preston and the surrounding area. We seek to help the most vulnerable and poor people in our community in a number of ways. We offer practical help through our Inside Out programme which delivers furniture and sends teams of volunteers to decorate, clean, clear the homes and gardens of those who are unable to do this for themselves. We receive referrals from numerous agencies such Domestic Violence services, hospices, Help Direct, Age UK, Mental Health services, Young People's associations etc and are often appalled and deeply moved at the circumstances some of our clients are living in. We also offer a free programme called Celebrate Recovery which is based on the 12 step recovery programme to help those with hurts, habits and hang-ups to address and overcome their problems, and move on in life; debt counselling, money management, budget advice and holistic support to lift people out of debt and poverty through our CAP centre.

 

All our services are completely FREE and we have been involved in this work for approximately ten years. We deliver help mainly through volunteers, some of whom have come through our programmes and are now able to give something back to society by volunteering with us.

 

Serve our Community is supported by and works alongside Longton Community Church which is in the process of moving to premises in Preston town centre – off Ribbleton Lane, this includes the church, and offices for staff members. Recently we have had meetings with Lead Councillor Peter Rankin who is aware and fully supportive of our move to the city.

 

We need help because we have been given notice on our present premises and need to find approximately three to five thousand square feet of warehousing to store our equipment and furniture donations as soon as possible to enable us to carry out our Inside Out programme. If you feel you have property that may be suitable and affordable for us, please contact  Mrs Chris Higham chris.higham@serveourcommunity.co.uk or 07854809901    as soon as possible.

 

 

Many thanks

 

 

Chris Higham (Mrs)

Head of Serve our Community

(Longton Community Church)

PCC Community Innovation Fund

 

 

Please find below press release which has been issued regarding the Community Innovation Fund.  Please note that any application must be made in writing by a Councillor of Preston City Council on the agreed application form and be on behalf of a group or organisation within the Ward.

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

14 JULY 2015                                                                                          15/049

 

£22,000 TO INSPIRE LOCAL COMMUNITIES

 

 

Local neighbourhoods across Preston are set for a £22,000 funding boost from the City Council.

 

A new Community Innovation Fund is now up and running that aims to support local neighbourhoods, voluntary and community groups across Preston.

 

Focused on innovation and making a difference, the launch for the £22,000 fund marks a new era in supporting local communities as Councillor Matthew Brown Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Inclusion and Policy explained:

 

"We want to help local communities at a grass roots level, to make a real difference on the ground.  More and more, we are seeing a disruption to the status quo and people taking the initiative to improve their own lives and the lives of others in their communities and neighbourhoods.

 

"This is what our Community Innovation Fund is all about.  Laying the foundations and building capacity for groups to take the lead to bring about change street by street, community by community.

 

"Every community is different with different needs and solutions.  So, as a Council we have to be flexible to allow communities to take charge of their own destiny.  By empowering groups we can support a wide range of innovation and ideas to improve health, tackle food and other poverty, revitalise neighbourhoods or purchase technology and equipment to access new skills.  All this is possible and more.  It's really exciting to help create a movement within Preston for the benefit of everyone."

 

Councillor Martin Rawlinson, Cabinet Member for Resources, added:

 

"This is a key priority for the Council, to support local communities and neighbourhoods.  Yet, with such strain on public finances we have to think differently.  To encourage and nurture innovation.  To give power to the people to see and deliver change.  From small acorns do big oak trees grow and that is exactly what this new fund is all about.  Every community - and we mean every community - stands to benefit from this new fund and we are eager to hear ideas and suggestions from across the whole city.  Anyone interested in applying for funding should contact their local Councillor who is the one that needs to champion the cause and apply on behalf of the group."

 

 

Note to Newsdesk:

 

Details of how to apply for the New Community Innovation Fund can be found here: www.preston.gov.uk/communityfund

 

The projects considered for funding must meet one or more of the following criteria:-

·         Promote community involvement and volunteering by improving the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area

·         Should not duplicate existing service provision of the Council (or other bodies) or replace something in totality that has been cut from the budget

 

·         Preston City Council must have the legal power to fund any proposed project/activity

 

·         Be as a result of consultation which can be evidenced

 

All applications for funding must:-

 

·         Be made in writing by a Councillor of Preston City Council on the agreed application form and be on behalf of a group or organisation within the Ward – search for your Councillor on the Preston City Council website

·         Be forwarded to communityinvolvementteam@preston.gov.uk in the timeframes below

 

Timeframes:

 

·         Phase 1 deadline 1^st September 2015

·         Phase 2 deadline 1^st December 2015

·         Phase 3 deadline 1^st March 2016

 

Examples of what Community Innovation Fund will fund:

 

·         New innovative ideas

·         Start-up costs for a new group or organisation e.g. set up insurance cover

·         Educational Courses/Training

 

Examples of what will not be covered by Community Innovation Fund

 

·         Any ongoing revenue costs for e.g. maintenance costs, insurance, planning application costs, solicitors or other fees

·         Donations to individuals

·         Donations to commercial bodies or events

·         Direct staffing costs

·         Hall hire or rental (unless these form an element of the start-up costs for a new group/organisation or event)

·         Activities that happen or start before the grant is confirmed

·         VAT you can recover

 

 

ENDS   Media Enquiries, Stephen Parkinson, Head of Communications, (01772) 906464

 

Jackie Singleton Divisional Administrator Telephone: +441772906453 Community Engagement Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL

 

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Preston City Council is a Living Wage Employer.


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