Axe to fall on charity grants

 

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/community-news/axe-to-fall-on-charity-grants-1-6360339#.Us18ZU4IrQ4.facebook

Not good news I'm afraid ... even though we guessed something like this was coming

Fw: ITS A GOAL BLACKPOOL SEASON 3 TAKING REFERRALS

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Leon Morlese

NEWS FLASH - 'IT'S A GOAL!' SEASON 3 STARTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29^TH

 

It's A Goal! is now gearing up for season 3 in Blackpool.

 

The players from Season 2 have been quick to praise the impact It's a Goal has had on their lives since joining and we want to help more.

 

"I always look forward to coming. I realise now I have a good life…..I think it sums it up that I liked it so much the first time, that I couldn't wait to come back as a volunteer."

                                 S.M

 

"I've been feeling good about my confidence and standing up for myself in situations that I couldn't have before."

                                D.B

 

"It's a good place to come to. I can relax and talk to people without being critised.most places there is always someone being negative but here all the others are the same as me and want to help each other, I like that"

                             C.H

 

It' a Goal is aimed at men and women with mild to moderate mental ill health, low self- esteem and generally struggling with daily life.  Through the medium of football metaphor, the programme encourages people to share their difficulties, set personal goals and mutually support each other. 

 

It's A Goal does not involve playing football.

 

This is a course most suited to people who are ready to make a positive change but are not sure how to do it. We also have courses running in Rochdale, Salford and Preston and IAG has demonstrated sustainable improvements to the mental health of participants and the majority have gone on to volunteer, return to work or work based programmes. 

 

I am now taking referrals for the season 3 which begins weekly from 29 January 2014 and will be held at Bloomfield Road as usual. To refer, just contact Leon Morlese on 07786 147057 with the name and contact details of the person you wish to refer.  We also accept self-referrals.

If you would like more information, I would be delighted to come and meet with you and your teams and tell you about the difference It's A Goal! makes to people's lives.

 

 

Leon Morlese

It's A Goal
Coach – Blackpool and Preston

 
Unlimited Potential
The Innovation Forum
Frederick Road
Salford
M6 6FP
 
Tel: 07786 147057
Email: Leon.Morlese@unlimitedpotential.org.uk
Phone: 0161 743 0088 (voice or textphone)
Fax: 0161 743 0090

 

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Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3658/6978 - Release Date: 01/05/14

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week : 25 January - 2 February 2014

As we begin 2014 by wishing friends a Happy and Prosperous New Year, we are all too aware that many people in Lancashire will continue to face anxiety and struggle, poverty and insecurity. The rising demand on food banks, the continued high levels of unemployment and low pay, the shortage of affordable housing, the reduced budgets for local authorities and the impact of welfare reform and benefits sanctions have had an impact in many congregations and in the community work that is linked to churches. Together Lancashire is committed to helping churches and local communities improve people's lives through activities aimed at Tackling Poverty Together. We value your prayers, interest and support in our work this year.

Every year many churches and projects have marked the final week of January as Poverty and Homelessness Action Week.

This year at Together Lancashire we are hoping that every church in the county will mark the week in some way. At the very least we hope you will be able to offer some special prayers for local people who are facing poverty, have no fixed abode or are at risk of homelessness.

There are many other suggestions for activities and resources such as written prayers and sermon outlines that can be downloaded from the Action Week website... http://www.actionweek.org.uk/home.html

Here are a few more ideas:

You could show a short video clip in your Sunday Services or midweek groups. The Together Lancashire video is available online at http://www.cuf.org.uk/together-lancashire or on a DVD disk from our office. There is another excellent video from our colleagues at Together Middlesbrough here http://www.cuf.org.uk/together-middlesbrough

You could explore, in sermons or through a study course, what the bible says about poverty and the challenge for Christians to respond by prayer, by giving or sharing their resources, and by speaking up against injustice. There is a huge range of resources available, and we'd be happy to point out specific things that may be of use.

If you are not already in contact with them, you could contact your local food-bank, homelessness project, work club, money advice centre, or community centre to see how you can support them through prayer, donations or offering volunteering time. Together Lancashire has a wide network of local contacts with such organisations and would be happy to put you in touch with appropriate people.

You could find out more about some of the Christian organisations that specialise in work on poverty and homelessness from their websites. Some of the key ones that we work with are

Church Urban Fund (our mother ship!) www.cuf.org.uk

Church Action on Poverty ..

who educate and campaign on poverty in the UK www.church-poverty.org.uk/

Christians Against Poverty

who run debt advice centres, money courses and job clubs for unemployed people

https://capuk.org/

Housing Justice who educate and campaign on homelessness and housing issues http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/

Please contact us at Together-Lancashire if you need ideas, support or a speaker at anything you plan during the week, or later in the year. And do let us know about any activities or outcomes from them so we can keep in touch with what Christians across the county are doing.

 

 

Marketing the Third Sector to Health and Wellbeing Commissioners

 

Please join our event designed to bring local VCFS organisations together to begin the process of developing a joint offer to present to  commissioners, building on the unique strengths and competitive advantages of the sector. 

The event will be facilitated by expert consultant Neil Coulson, who specialises in this field.

Refreshments available

Date: Thursday, 30th January 2014

Time: 10:00 - 13:00

Venue: The Main Hall, Gujarat Hindu Society, Preston

RSVP: Please respond to Jo Thompson on jo@onelancashire.org

To apply for places please complete the booking form below (you can copy and paste into an email.)

Booking Form 30th January 2014

Name:
Position:
Organisation:
Geographical Area:
Phone:
Email:
Any Specific Requirements:

Benefit Sanctions - An Independent review - Urgent Call for Information

 

 Matthew Oakley is conducting an independent review for the DWP on the operation of the Jobseeker's Allowance sanctions system

He wants to hear from claimants and interested parties about their experience of the operation of sanctions that have been given while claimants were on mandatory back-to-work schemes like:

 

Details of this independent review and how to contribute your views confidentially through the call

for information are available at:

 

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions-independent-review

 

Alternatively, contact the review team via email at:

 

sanctions.review2013@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

 

The call for information closes on 10 January 2014

.

This is an important chance to influence the debate by sharing stories of the unfairness and distress caused by sanctions and experienced by so many of our service users at work clubs, food banks and other church and community activities. Please send in your evidence and views in the next week.