People of Pendle Update March 2025

LACVS/Lancashire and South Cumbria Alliance
· The new Volunteering for Health project linked to our Volunteering for Health and Community Hub is now up and running
· Will work across Lancashire on developing a process and foundation for NHS volunteers as well as a quality standard using BPRCVS well-established and accredited processes.

BPRCVS working with Lancashire County Council: Adult Social Care Transformation Fund
· We have now had the contract and the service level agreement and are awaiting the actual funding.
· Keep an eye on our newsletter for details of the funding in the coming weeks.
· We have employed 3 x Adult Social Care Social Connectors (1 for each area). They will work alongside our current Social Prescribing Team, taking referrals directly from LCC Adult Social Care Team.


Social Prescribing and Eric Wright Small Groups Funding Update
· Only 3 Pendle groups were successful with Eric Wright funding in 2024
· 15 Pendle groups have been successful in ICB funding applications
· Funding is now spent – we are awaiting confirmation of 2024/25 funding and will open the funding as soon as we have confirmation.
· Pendle Groups are reluctant to apply for funding – we are making a concerted effort in Pendle to target and support groups in applying for all of our funding streams.
· We have recruited a new Social Prescribing Linkworker to replace Salma Liaqat who has now moved over to Burnley as a Social Connector. Ummul Fayyaz, the new worker has started to integrate herself into CVS and PCNs Teams.


Community Cohesion and Resilience Funding
· 10 groups were successful in their applications for this funding.
· Pendle Council, BPRCVS, Pendle Leisure Trust and others are organising a Health Gathering to be held in June – watch this space for more details.


BPRCVS 90th Anniversary
· BPRCVS has been in existence since 1935 and we are celebrating supporting small groups and volunteers for 90 years.
· We have various events planned as well as a social media campaign.
· Two articles have already appeared on the Burnley Express and other websites about the first 25 years of BPRCVS – where and how it all started just after the Battle of the Somme and moving into the 1950s and 1960s. The third article is due this week..
· We are asking partners, groups, funders, volunteers and those we have supported over the years to contribute.
· Should you wish to contribute a comment, a video, a room or some funding, please contact [email protected]
· As part of the 90th celebrations our Volunteering for Health and Community Hub has worked with the Mayor of Pendle to organise a volunteer awards event which was held on 19th March. It was really well received and groups networked after the event which they really appreciated. Take a look at our website for details and photographs.


Ongoing Training and Workshops for Groups
We continue to deliver Monitoring and Evaluation Workshops for groups who have been successful in their applications for funding with us and those who would like a refresher. The workshops are held online once a month. Contact [email protected] for more details.