Rossendale Connected Meeting Feedback

8/4/2026

Hello Rossendale Connected members,

I hope you have all had a very relaxing Easter break.

Thank you to those of you that joined us last Thursday’s Rossendale Connected meeting. This is a summary of the presentations and updates from the meeting:

LCC Community Engagement and Outreach/PHIL bus – Hajra Sardar: Hajra is part of LCC’s Community Outreach Team, which supports and creates links between LCC services and local communities. The team use the PHIL (Promoting Health in Lancashire) bus at community events to promote health and wellbeing in Lancashire . The bus can be booked for community events. The service can also attend events without the bus, and is able to bring along staff from other teams, such as Adult Social Care. To book the bus or talk to Hajra about linking up with LCC services at your event contact her at [email protected]

Rossendale Valley Energy/Energy Redress Scheme – Andrew Pinches: Rossendale Valley Energy (RVE) is a community‑owned organisation supporting local households to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions, and live in warmer, healthier homes. RVE’s work focuses on ensuring residents are not left behind as the UK transitions to net zero.

What RVE Does
RVE delivers free, impartial energy advice, working closely with local partners to support households struggling with high energy costs or inefficient homes. Key activity includes:

In‑home energy advice visits to help households understand and reduce their energy use
Guidance on EPCs, smart meters, and energy bills
Advice on home retrofit options, insulation and low‑carbon improvements
Support to access grants and funding for energy‑saving measures
Signposting to trusted local and regional advice services

Energy Redress / Fairer Warmth
Through Energy Redress funding, RVE is developing the Fairer Warmth Retrofit Record, linking recommended home improvements to clear, realistic energy bill reduction forecasts. This helps households and partners make informed decisions about retrofit and affordability.
Andrews full presentation is attached. Contact details: Email -[email protected], Phone - 01706 392646 and leave a voicemail, Text/WhatsApp - 07887 001472, Refer to RVE online - Online referral, Use Fairer Warmth - Fairer Warmth

Family Hub update – standing item

The first SEND E Newsletter is now live, and the team would be delighted if you could take a moment to read it and share it with your community: https://mailchi.mp/a93962de4883/welcome-to-our-first-send-e-newsletter

This edition includes helpful updates, useful resources, and information designed to support children, young people, and families with SEND.

The Colourful Footsteps SEND Friendship Group takes place at the Maden Centre, Bacup every Thursday 3.30-4.45, from 16th April to 16th July. More details on the attached poster
The Rossendale SEND roadshow takes place on 6th May, 9.30pm to 1pm at The Zone/Rawtenstall family Hub
Aaron Kershaw has been voted in as the Youth Parliament member for Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn
The Children and Family Wellbeing team are working with local nurseries as part of the Best Start in Life programme to ensure children are school ready
For more information on any of the Family Hub items, or to join future Family Hub network meetings, email [email protected]

Updates from partners

Rossendale Works: Wellbeing and Employment event on Thursday 23rd April, at Futures Park, Bacup OL13 0BB, 1-3pm. Flyer attached.

ACEs main grants programme open: The Programme will provide unrestricted grants between £20,000-£25,000 for up to four years. Expressions of interest from charities and CIOs with a planned annual income of £200,000-£2m, with a core focus of preventing or reducing the harm of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are welcomed. The programme
Is particularly interested in hearing from eligible organisations based in the North West of England, and eligible organisations working exclusively with adults and men.
To find out if you meet the criteria and for details on how to apply, please go to https://leathersellers.co.uk/grant/charity-main-grants/
Deadline to submit expressions of interest: 5pm on Thursday 30th April 2026.

Rossendale Rotary: Are holding a charity fund raising event to support families of children with GAND, a rare genetic condition that affects brain development. The event takes place at Rossendale Sports Club, Marl Pits. BB4 7SW, on 15th April, and there is an entrance fee donated to the charity. See Poster attached.

Domestic Abuse Support: From 1 April 2026, all support services for medium and high-risk victims of domestic abuse will be delivered by Domestic Abuse Support Services Lancashire (DASSL). Victims who are currently accessing support through Victim Support have already been contacted and will move across to the new provider to continue to receive expert help. A stakeholder briefing with more information is attached.

Rossendale Social Prescribing Team: Kellie Holt is now managing the social prescribing team based at Haslingden Community Link. Contact Kellie if your organisation can offer a service that can work with the team and their clients. [email protected]

Burnley Pendle and Rossendale CVS: A comprehensive update from BPRCVS is attached that includes information on funding, the Helping Hands Lottery, Cancer Champions and much more!

Date of next meeting: 9.00am, Thursday 7th May 2026 on Teams. If you would like to come along to the next meeting to give us a presentation about a local project, please email me and I will add you to the agenda.