 Welcome to our second June newsletter.
First, I must apologise for accidentally labelling our last newsletter as an April edition. I’m so sorry for any confusion, it was human error. It is very embarrassing, and I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’d like to think the mistake serves as a reminder that this newsletter is written by a real (and slightly flawed) person, not an AI robot - but I suspect not! We’re sharing a second newsletter this month because a whopping 75% of responders to our poll said they’d prefer a shorter, more frequent format. Please do let me know what you think.  Thank you to everyone who has already responded to the consultation on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) - Implementation Plan.
 Welcome to our quarterly stakeholder newsletter, where we share key updates from our service and beyond.
In this issue, you'll find:
 World Cup 2026The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest football tournament in history, with 48 nations, 104 matches and games taking place across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Millions of people across England will be looking forward to another summer of football. Households will be planning gatherings, pubs and venues will be filling up, England flags will appear from windows and cars with conversations about team selections, predictions and penalties will dominate workplaces, social media and family WhatsApp groups. For many, the World Cup is about much more than football. It's about belonging. It's about national identity. It's about shared experiences and memories. Even if you're not a football fan, you'll know the World Cup is happening. For many families, it will be a celebration. For others, it will be something very different. Whilst excitement builds in some homes, tension is rising in others. Whilst some people are planning where they'll watch the matches, others are quietly wondering how they will get through them safely. This is because major football tournaments continue to be associated with an increase in domestic abuse incidents. Research examining England matches found that reports of domestic abuse increased by approximately 26% when England won or drew and by 38% when England lost. As someone who spent many years supporting victim-survivors as a domestic abuse caseworker, World Cups and European Championships always brought additional concerns. Safety planning conversations became more frequent. Clients would talk about changing routines, arranging somewhere safe to go after matches, ensuring phones were charged or identifying who they could call if things escalated. Anyone working in domestic abuse services, safeguarding or policing will be familiar with this pattern, but many members of the public are not.  HAPPA (Horses and Ponies Protection Association) is delighted to share that Andy Black, Café and Kitchen Manager at The HAPPA Café, has been awarded Bronze in the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
Andy first received recognition in November last year, when he won the Unsung Hero Award at the Lancashire Tourism Awards in Blackpool. That award placed him among 17 category winners invited to go forward to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, held on 3rd June 2026. Now in their 35th year, the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrate the very best of England’s tourism industry, recognising quality, innovation, best practice and outstanding customer service.  Bringing together public, private and third sector organisations to tackle affordable warmth, housing standards, health and wellbeing
You are invited to the Lancashire Affordable Warmth Forum. Hosted by Cosy Homes in Lancashire, the forum brings together public, private and third sector organisations to tackle affordable warmth, housing standards, and the health and wellbeing of Lancashire residents.  Children and volunteers from Rosegrove Neighbourhood Watch enjoyed a fantastic day at Evergreen Forest School, West Bradford, on Sunday 7th June 2026.
The trip provided local children with the opportunity to explore the outdoors, learn about nature, meet animals, discover woodland habitats and take part in a range of exciting hands-on activities. Throughout the day, children enjoyed woodland adventures and wildlife habitats and developed new skills through outdoor learning. What is a Local Plan? The Local Plan sets out the vision for how Rossendale will be developed over the next 15 years, in line with national policy and legislation. We must identify land to meet the housing, community, infrastructure and employment needs of the next 15 years. It will protect land for open space, biodiversity and sport. The Local Plan will be examined by an independent Planning Inspector, and used to determine planning applications in Rossendale.  Six More Lancashire Places Added To The Priority Places For Culture List. Here’s Why It Matters.9/6/2026
The government just named its cultural investment priorities. Lancashire now has eight of them.  Last week, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its new Culture Priority Places list - 81 local authority areas across England identified as priorities for cultural investment, targeted specifically at the places where deprivation is highest and cultural engagement is lowest. For Lancashire, the news is significant.
Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool were already on the list as existing Arts Council Priority Places. They’ve now been joined by six more: Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale and Wyre. That’s eight Lancashire places in total on a list of 81. A significant concentration for a single county, and a clear signal that the scale of need here has been recognised at the highest level.  The latest Wellbeing Newsletter from Vita Health Group is now available.
This month's edition explores:
Are you ready to make a positive change?
The 180 Project is now running its Burnley satellite sessions, using functional fitness, therapeutic support, and the power of community to help people improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing while building meaningful social connections  Rossendale Borough Council and Rossendale Leisure Trust are currently exploring potential investment options at the site, including possible improvements and extensions to the existing facilities. Your feedback will help inform future decision-making.
 What's On in June:
 It was great to see so many of you at the NAVCA Annual Conference in Birmingham a few weeks ago. I connected with so many people, and it was lovely to build on existing relationships and start new ones. I came away feeling energised, and that I had learnt so much. If you missed it, see below for an opportunity for a free ticket next year by telling us a bit about your experiences of NAVCA membership.
But that already feels like a little while ago, as the reality of local authority changes from the local elections are settling, so we are hosting two really important events for members. Firstly, Akiko Hart, Director of the human rights organisation Liberty, has done a lot of thinking about cultural shifts happening the country, and the implications of that for the political landscape. She is insightful and thoughtful, and brings a provocation about how we future proof the voluntary sector to reflect a changing world. Local infrastructure has a key role in that, so do come and be energised and provoked to think about what we might do as individuals, organisations, and a network. The other event is a more focused session on the impact of local political change in the recent elections. How can we best work with and influence new councillors and new political dynamics? By rooting the conversation in real examples, the session will help us be effective and build our influence. As we reach the middle of Volunteers Week, I am sure you have plenty of events, comms, and activity going on. Do share what you’re doing, it is great to see the range and breadth of how we are engaging, promoting and working with volunteers locally. National Volunteers Week, 1–7 June 2026 Across Lancashire, the arts and culture sector depends on the generosity of thousands of people who give their time, energy, and enthusiasm to keep festivals running, theatres lit, galleries open, and creative communities alive. From Blackburn to Lancaster, Burnley to Lytham, volunteering sits at the very heart of what makes our cultural life so rich.
But volunteering offers far more than the satisfaction of giving back. For those looking to build a career in the arts - or simply to develop new skills and connections - it can be one of the most powerful professional development tools available. And increasingly, the evidence points to meaningful health benefits too. Our volunteers are the heart of Neighbourhood Watch. Every day, they make a positive impact in their communities by supporting neighbours, promoting community safety, tackling local issues, and helping to bring people together. Their commitment, passion, and hard work deserve to be recognised and celebrated.
Do you know a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer who consistently goes above and beyond? |
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