stephanieg@communityfutures.org.uk

Cool Kidz Langho – Ofsted Inspection 9 February 2026

Cool Kidz Langho – Ofsted Inspection 9 February 2026 Rated a Strong Standard We’re delighted to share that our Cool Kidz Langho After School Club has received a ‘Strong Standard’ rating across all areas in its recent Ofsted Inspection. This rating states that “leaders are working above the expected standard”, and we couldn’t be prouder Cool Kidz Langho – Ofsted Inspection 9 February 2026

Rural health and wellbeing in focus as Village Halls Week returns for 2026

Take a look at ACRE’s news article about our Village Halls Week launch event. A week-long celebration of England’s more than 10,000 village halls is officially under way, with communities across the country getting together to highlight the enormous positive impact that these often-unassuming buildings can have on rural health and wellbeing. Now in its Rural health and wellbeing in focus as Village Halls Week returns for 2026

Trustee Vacancy – Finance Lead

Trustee Vacancy – Finance Lead We’re seeking a new trustee with professional finance or accounting experience to strengthen our governance and financial planning. We have advertised this opportunity through Reach Volunteering. To apply, please click the link below. Where: Hybrid – Preston, PR2 8PS Time Commitment: 1-15 hours total Deadline: 26 April 2026 Skills: Accountancy Trustee Vacancy – Finance Lead

Village Halls Week 2026

Village Halls Week 2026 Connecting communities to health and wellbeing. The popular campaign, Village Halls Week, is set to take place from 16-22 March 2026. The intetion is always to raise awareness of England’s 10,000+ rural community buildings. Colleagues in the ACRE Network suggested the campaign focus on the important role that village and community Village Halls Week 2026

Happy Lancashire Day

Happy Lancashire Day Communities Futures has supported Lancashire’s communities for over 90 years. Founded in 1934, our focus has always been on providing services that support, develop, and sustain community life. From childcare and family support to rural housing and village agents, we work alongside communities to help them thrive. Lancashire Day is a great Happy Lancashire Day

Winter Support

Winter in Lancashire Lancashire County Council – Winter in Lancashire: your guide to savings and services. Winter can be a challenging time, and you or your friends or loved ones might need extra support during the colder, darker months and over the busy Christmas and New Year period. Whether it’s helping a family member who Winter Support

Mapping Money Guidance, Advice & Activity Survey

Mapping Money Guidance, Advice & Activity across Lancashire £24 billion worth of financial support goes unclaimed each year, but this doesn’t need to happen. The Lancashire Anti-Poverty Network (LAPN) is collecting information about the services and organisations who offer money guidance, advice and/or activity to households experiencing poverty across Lancashire. By completeing this survey, you Mapping Money Guidance, Advice & Activity Survey

Launching our Lancashire Village Agents Service

Launching our Lancashire Village Agents Service We’re excited to share that we’ve been featured in RSN’s Spotlight on: Rural Services Partnership! Our article, “Launching our Lancashire Village Agent Service” looks at the importance of this project for rural communities across Lancashire, with a comment from Natalie Burfitt, Policy, Information and Commissioning Manager at Lancashire County Launching our Lancashire Village Agents Service

2025 EVAS

2025 EVAS Congratulations to our Trustee – Ashely Walker, Managing Director of HSE Advice UK – who received the 2025 EVAS award for Customer Service at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. This recognition celebrates the HSE Advice UK’s team’s unwavering commitment to excellence, empathy, and innovation in customer service in the safety industry. The award acknowledges Ashley’s 2025 EVAS

Rural Life Feature

BBC North West Tonight – Rural Life Feature On the 21st July, we spent the morning at Nether Kellet Village Hall filming with BBC North West Tonight for their Rural Life feature – and it’s just been broadcast! If you missed it, you can catch up here The link expire this evening (22/08/25) at 6:58pm Rural Life Feature

Cool Kidz Mythical Madness

Cool Kidz Mythical Madness Competition Community Futures’ Early Years team launched a Mythical Madness Competition. This idea was inspired by ‘Young Artists‘. How it works… Use engaging themes to spark children’s creativity. Send ‘Young Artists’ children’s masterpieces. Celebrate winning applicants artist talents showcased in a book. See creativity and confidence soar. All of our Child Cool Kidz Mythical Madness

Rural Funding Digest & Government Consultations

Rural Funding Digest & Government Consultations April 2025 Edition The Rural Services Network monthly bulletin featuring RSN Rural Funding Digest & Government Consultations. We are sharing this publication on behalf of The Rural Services Network for Parish Councils, Community Groups and anyone else that may be looking for funding as the Funding Digest includes many Rural Funding Digest & Government Consultations

Safer Sleep Week

Safer Sleep Week 10 – 16 March 2025 Safer Sleep Week is The Lullaby Trust’s national awareness campaign targeting anyone looking after a young baby. They raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the simple advice that reduces the risk of it occurring. Saving babies’ lives “We know that greater awareness of safer Safer Sleep Week

ACRE – Job Vacancy

ACRE – Job Vacancy: Head of Policy and Public Affairs ACRE are seeking a Head of Policy and Public Affairs to join their ambitious team. This is a new post that will play a key role in delivering their forthcoming strategy and the next phase of development. You will lead engagement with policy makers and ACRE – Job Vacancy

Free Family Activities

Free Family Activities in Preston this half term! Are you looking for exciting activities to keep your children entertained without spending a penny? Preston has you covered this half term with a range of free events and activities for the whole family to enjoy! Family Messy Play Tuesday 18th February, 1-3pm Preston West Family Hub Free Family Activities

LRF Preparedness Day

Lancashire Resilience Forum – Preparedness Day – 07 March 2025 LRF have an exciting event that is open to Community Groups within Lancashire. The LRF Preparedness Day 20255 is a free event taking place on Friday the 7th March 2025. It’s set to be an exciting programme with discussion topics including: The main theme of LRF Preparedness Day

The Rural Services Network

Rural Funding Digest & Government Consultations The Rural Services Network monthly bulletin featuring RSN Rural Funding Digest & Government Consultations. We are sharing this publication on behalf of The Rural Services Network for Parish Councils, Community Groups and anyone else that may be looking for funding as the Funding Digest includes many sources of grant The Rural Services Network

Winter Wellbeing – Help and Support this Winter

Winter Wellbeing – Help and Support this Winter Help is available in Preston this Winter with Help in Preston. As winter sets in, it brings its challenges, from rising living costs to social isolation. In collaboration with community organisations, the following pages highlight a range of services across the city designed to keep people safe, Winter Wellbeing – Help and Support this Winter

Essential First Aid Skills

Essential First Aid Skills On 6th November 24 Craig H from Lancashire Adult Learning joined our Family Support Team to teach parents at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Preston essential first aid skills. This session covered CPR and how to respond to choking emergencies, giving everyone the confidence to act quickly in critical situations. We’re Essential First Aid Skills

Safety alert: prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in Village Halls

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in Village Halls. After the tragic deaths at a care home in Swanage where carbon monoxide is thought to play a part, Citation has put out an article with reminders on how to reduce the risk of this happening in workplaces. Why is carbon monoxide hazardous? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a Safety alert: prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in Village Halls

Lancashire’s Parish and Town Councils Conference

Lancashire Rural Housing Enabler Update Our Rural Housing Enabler, Joe, attended the Lancashire Parish and Town Councils Conference on Saturday the 2nd November 2024. The event sparked valuable discussions about rural affordable housing, with representatives from five Parish Councils expressing significant interest in the Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) service. A recurring theme across these councils Lancashire’s Parish and Town Councils Conference

Village Agents Pilot Project – Focus Discussion Group.

Village Agents Pilot Project – Focus Discussion Group. On Tuesday 8th October 2024, Ruth Abram – Project Outreach Officer and Denise Partington – CEO hosted our first Focus Discussion Group for the Village Agents Pilot Project in Newburgh. The Focus Discussion Group provided any opportunity for local residents to; Be heard! Sharing views about the Village Agents Pilot Project – Focus Discussion Group.

Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF) Annual Event

Mark Gutteridge – Community Futures Business Director, Frank McGinty – Trustee of Brentwood House and Laura Yates – Trustee of Community Futures are at Barton Village Hall today (26/09/2024) attending Lancashire Environmental Fund Annual Event. We look forward to hearing about the outcomes from todays event. The Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF) is a partnership between Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF) Annual Event

Suicide Bereavement

Suicide Bereavement: Practical Applications Conference 2024 Throughout September, Harmless is hosting its fifth annual online Suicide Bereavement Conference. To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, we will be presenting a series of live webinars examining practical applications for working in suicide bereavement. Sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am – 11am and each will Suicide Bereavement

Rural Focus Group

Community Futures CEO – Denise Partington in attendance at the Rural Focus Group in Churchtown on Thursday 4th July 2024. “Pleased as always to meet with fellow members of the northern Rural Focus Group on Thursday. Got huge support from them for the RHE service and a firm commitment from the Chair, Rev. Cindy Rigney, Rural Focus Group

World Asthma Day 2024

Information and Resources to support Children and Young People with Asthma Today is World Asthma Day, a time to think about how we can support people with asthma. Asthma affects many people around the world, so it’s important to make our surroundings more asthma-friendly. Download the leaflet below for more information! Lets make sure everyone World Asthma Day 2024

HAF Awards 2024!

Exciting news! We’re thrilled to announce that we are HAF Awards 2024 LA Nominated Provider. It’s an honor to be recognised for our commitment to creating enriching experiences and ensuring access to nutritious meals for our community during the holidays. Thank you for your support!

Funding

LCVS The Skelton Charity Grants Programme is now open! Charities established in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, including the unitary authorities of Blackpool, Blackburn, Warrington and Halton can apply from £500-£3,000 in funding. Deadline: Wednesday 5th June 2024 at 5pm

Early Years Vacancy

We are looking for someone to join our Family Support and Early Years Team in the Preston area. These unique positions will involve being part of the Management Team of an existing After School Club and a Family Support Worker across the area. For more information, take a look at the job vacancy’s below.

Parish Clerk Vacancy

Broughton In Amounderness Parish Council The Parish Council is looking for a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer. The person appointed will be a good communicator and organiser, computer literate and comfortable using Quickbooks, Word and Excel. Broughton is a semi-rural parish on the edge of Preston. It has seven Parish Councillors and in 2018 Parish Clerk Vacancy