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Lancashire News

Lancashire News, Lancs Weddings, Nottingham News, Notts Weddings

Getting married isn’t just about going on honeymoon, but it sure is an exciting plus to the whole shebang! But how do you go about milking the special occasion for all its worth? Everyone loves an upgrade and if you can’t get one when you’re going on your honeymoon then when can you? It’s the perfect opportunity to be pampered and spoiled, especially after all the stress of the wedding planning is over. Calling first class!

There are so many moments where you might be able to wangle an upgrade when you go on honeymoon. The first is the flight. This is a lot easier to accomplish if you haven’t booked a package deal through a high street travel agency. If you’ve booked flights and accommodation separately then turning up at the airport in your finest clobber, rather than like a scruff bag (albeit a very comfy one), is a great way to find yourself boosted up to First or Business class.
This is an important fact to consider as the area you want to be moved into is usually full of very well-heeled people. The next step is to arrive at the airport early. This gives you the best opportunity of nabbing any last-minute upgrades. Don’t forget to check again when you reach the gate in case an upgrade has become available since you checked-in.
Another hot tip for making it more likely to receive an upgrade is to fly on a Saturday as this is when business travellers are usually at home, meaning you have less competition.

Tell the world you’re here for your honeymoon. Once you’ve made it to your honeymoon destination the next step towards getting an upgrade is to tell everyone that you’re on your honeymoon! It’s important to do this at the right time though. Telling businesses that you’re going on your honeymoon when you make the booking tends to hike the prices up. So, you’re better off waiting until you hit the runway to mention that you’re newly-weds on honeymoon.
If you’re staying in a hotel then mention at check-in that you’re on your honeymoon and ask if there are any honeymoon suites available for you to upgrade to or if there is anything they can do for you to help make your honeymoon more memorable. Then as you go about making your precious memories whilst you are away, you need to keep speaking up.

Tell everyone you meet that you’re there on your honeymoon. You never know, it might lead to a couple of free glasses of champagne over dinner at any of the restaurants you might visit! The same can be said for any activities, excursions or day trips that you intend to do whilst you’re away. Live like an A-lister. Of course, before you even get to this stage you need to decide on where to go! If you’re at a loss for ideas, other than knowing that you want the A-list treatment, then take a leaf out of @RocknRollBride’s book. She says that ‘If you’re looking to really go all out on your honeymoon, to have a once in a lifetime experience and to truly live it up like a rock star, then the Maldives has to be top of your list.’

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure, Nottingham News, Notts Leisure

The South Ormsby Estate is located in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Classed as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, this region can justifiably boast history and tradition. The Estate spans some 3000 acres, with Jon and Jan Thornes being the current custodians.

Tristan Jorgensen is the Head Distiller at South Ormsby Estate. Tristan gained distillery experiences in Scotland and is now utilising that knowledge and those experiences to great advantage, having created a multi award-winning brand for South Ormsby Estate’s own craft gins, with several of the botanicals used coming from the estate.
History dictates that Charles Burrell Massingberd (1749 – 1835) became the squire of South Ormsby Estate during 1802. I found Burrell’s Dry Gin (43% vol) superb.

This elegant, refined production is classic and fresh. Burrell’s Dry Gin has botanicals that include juniper, angelica root, coriander seeds, lemon peel, apple and almonds, plus some more, that make this gin the very worthy and excellent quality production that it is. Fragrant, smooth and crisp is how I would describe this gin.
The mouthfeel and palate’s sensation enjoy the fruitiness. I found that with an added tonic, this production came into its own., having delights of citrusy overtones and really great for a G&T mix,
garnishing with citrus fruits.

Marie Jeanne Rapigeon of Versailles (1764 – 1863) refurbished and transformed South Ormsby Estate, bringing further elegance and glamour. Marie Jeanne became the second wife of the squire and the gin created by Tristan Jorgensen pays a great tribute to this lady. Red fruit aromas and flavours are evident, in this splendid, pink gin (43% vol) production. Also, fabulous for adding colour, to any occasion.

The botanicals used for this gin include juniper, angelica root, coriander seeds, cassia bark, pink peppercorns, strawberries, raspberries and cranberries. Again, I found this to be another extremely well-balanced production. Certainly, the bouquet is fruity and, with the palate following through, having further highlights of complexity and depth, this much appreciated and respected delectation is a ‘pink gin’ lover’s delight.
South Ormsby Estate, South Ormsby, Lincolnshire LN11 8QS.
Contact details, information and ordering: www.southormsbyestate.co.uk/gin

Lancashire News

A youth hub has opened its doors at a 13th Century abbey thanks to a unique collaboration between RVBC, the Lancashire Police & Crime Commissioner, Burnley Boys & Girls Club and the Blackburn Diocese.
And anti-social behaviour has reduced dramatically in Whalley after the opening of the hub at the village’s historic abbey three months ago. The hub was first mooted late last year in an attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour in Whalley, which had become ‘location central’ for gangs of rowdy youngsters from surrounding towns and villages.
The Rev. Adam Thomas from Whalley Abbey then offered the use of the abbey’s gatehouse, while the Lancashire police and crime commissioner stepped forward with £17,000 to turn it into a permanent premises.

The hub now welcomes youngsters aged eight to 18 on Mondays and Thursdays from 6 to 8pm.
It is a safe bolthole, where the youngsters can get out of the rain and off the street, and have a brew and a chat with friends. Robert Thompson, chairman of the Ribble Valley Community Safety Partnership, which is managed by Ribble Valley Borough Council, said: “Although Ribble Valley reports the lowest levels of crime in Lancashire, there are growing concerns about the use of illegal substances and their supply.“Whalley seems to have become location central for youngsters from surrounding towns and villages, who need something constructive and safe to do.

“The hub has been a significant success, giving them a place to meet and engage in positive activity, including respecting the abbey and its environment, which has suffered from vandalism.” Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire Andrew Snowden said: “It has been great to meet some of the people involved in the hub and hear about how this funding is having a positive impact on young people. “Projects like this can engage young people in the community, build relationships with the local policing team and help the youngsters avoid getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

“I am committed to supporting police officers in Ribble Valley and across the county to tackle the issues that matter to people, such as anti-social behaviour, vandalism and drug-dealing. “As I develop my Police and Crime Plan, we will be outlining a number of ways that communities can help us address some of the root causes of anti-social behaviour, while committing officers to crack down on offenders and make people feel safer.”

Graham Vernon, of the Burnley Boys and Girls Club, which manages the hub, said: “This is good old-fashioned youth work, that is having a positive impact on the community. “The abbey has experienced vandalism in the past and basing the hub there has given youngsters some responsibility for the site. “In fact, since the hub’s launch, there has been a significant reduction in complaints of anti-social behaviour in Whalley. “The hub has created a space for young people to work with crime and community agencies, as well as build a relationship with our local policing team. “It gives them a chance to get together to play a variety of games and have a good chat – and there isn’t a mobile phone in sight!”

The hub, which is run by one paid member of staff and five volunteers, has 160 members and 400 Facebook followers.
Each session includes an hour of a sport, drama, yoga, art and craft, or a general discussion, followed by an hour of games aimed at building the group dynamic, such as hide-and-seek, tig, or bulldog. The youngsters also take part in outdoor events at the abbey and several are to deliver a presentation at a forthcoming a meeting of Whalley Parish Council. The Burnley Boys and Girls Club is now fundraising for the renovation and upkeep of the hub, and appealing for local tradespeople to help transform the space.

If you can help, contact the club on 01282 424038.

Lancashire News

Not-for-profit organisation Active Lancashire, has been given the green light to launch an exciting new employment-focused project from January 2022. Inspired by the hugely successful More Positive Together (MPT) project, More Positive Together Steps (MPT Steps) is a partnership project which aims to engage with over 4,000 job seekers who may have recently been made unemployed or those who are economically inactive living in Lancashire.

The project, set to launch in January next year, will be supported by the European Social Fund, receiving a £4.75m injection of funding to take the project through until December 2023. In that time, the project will seek to address the issues faced by disadvantaged Lancashire communities in accessing or re-accessing the job market as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The good news comes as Active Lancashire’s current flagship employment project, MPT, draws to a close in December this year having experienced a vast amount of success since its inception in 2017. MPT Steps mirrors a number of approaches tried and tested by its predecessor, such as the partnership model which brings together various organisations from different sectors to share best practice and provide greater coverage across the county. Working with skilled partners has allowed for a more varied offering, with residents receiving tailored support which addresses their specific needs such as improving their mental and physical health, overcoming financial difficulties and accessing housing or transport.

The existing MPT delivery partners will work together again on the new MPT Steps project and provide match funding, with the support of a number of exciting new partners to help increase skills, insight and reach across the county. Lancashire Women, Positive Action in the Community (PAC) and Inspire Youth Zone are just a few of the innovative new partners coming on board when the project launches in the new year, adding to the wide-ranging support available to those wanting to re-enter the jobs market.

Similar to MPT, MPT Steps will provide tailored 1-2-1 mentoring support to residents living in Lancashire, with the opportunity to engage in a range of activities which will help improve overall health and wellbeing. A new additional focus for this project lies in supporting those who may have only recently become unemployed due to the pandemic. As at June 2020, according to Northern Powerhouse there had been 18,834 redundancies announced across Lancashire (1), this figure is likely to have increased over the past 12 months with the true impact yet to be discovered. In addition to this, Lancashire Mind has reported a 116% increase in referrals since January 2021 (2), therefore it is clear that the demand for support is greater than ever and MPT Steps will play an important role in the region’s recovery, as many Lancashire residents’ strive to get their lives back to track.

Operations Manager for the MPT Steps project, Darren Wright, commented on the new project venture “The MPT Steps project really builds on and extends the strong partnership that has been developed delivering the original More Positive Together Project since 2017. We know the pandemic has had a huge effect on the people of Lancashire but I feel hopeful that this project will provide further reassurance that high quality support is available for getting people back into work.” Bid Writer at Lancashire Women, Michelle Moffatt, expressed her delight around the confirmation of the new funding which will benefit thousands of Lancashire residents saying, “This is fantastic news, we are really looking forward to working alongside Active Lancashire and all of the other partners on this project which is sure to be of huge benefit for the women we work with, particularly given the impact of the pandemic.”

Planning for the MPT Steps project is currently underway and more information will be made available later in the year ahead of the official launch in January 2022. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Darren Wright: dwright@activelancashire.org.uk

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/media/917897/redefining-lancashire-our-approach-to-recovery-25-june-2020.pdf
https://www.lancashiremind.org.uk/articles/294-lancashire-mind-launch-emergency-appeal-after-116-increase-in-mental-health-referrals

Lancashire News

Mayor of Preston, Councillor Javed Iqbal, has announced a Covid Thank You parade to take place in Preston this autumn. He is now looking for essential businesses, organisations and groups who have worked throughout the pandemic to support the people and communities in Preston to participate.

The torchlight parade, designed as a tribute to keyworkers, will form part of the finale of Lancashire Encounter and take place early evening 2 October in Preston City Centre. Expected to have a mixture of vehicles and walking participants, with a mix of proud Prestonians alongside astonishing acts from further afield, the procession will have the theme of “light.” This event will provide the opportunity for a city celebration and appreciation for all who have sacrificed and worked hard to support Preston through the pandemic.

Mayor of Preston, Cllr Javed Iqbal said, “It is with great pleasure I announce this parade as a way for the city to thank the many residents, businesses, organisations and groups who have worked so hard to support Preston through the pandemic. I was honoured to receive so many nominations for the Coronavirus Community Hero Awards and this event is an opportunity for the city to safely come together to honour and celebrate the many who sacrificed so much during this time.

I strongly encourage any essential business, organisation, or group to participate – we want to include not only the NHS and emergency services, but also the essential retail workers, refuse collectors, postal workers, and transport sector, to name a few. It will be my privilege to welcome participants on the night and stand with Preston residents and visitors as a spectator to this magical event.”

Further details
• Preston City Council will be working with the Director of Public Health to ensure this event follows all relevant Covid safe protocols. All participants will be asked to take a Lateral Flow Test before arrival, and no one with symptoms is expected to participate.
• For more information about Lancashire Encounter please visit Lancashire Encounter
• Please note participation in this parade is for essential businesses, organisations, and groups only – individuals are encouraged to attend as spectators.
• Spectator information will be released closer to the date.
• Any business, organisation or group interested in participating can find out more information and register at Mayor of Preston Covid Thank You Torchlight Parade

Lancashire News

The 60-metre footbridge, which features a stunning parabolic arch, officially opened in January 2012 and is named after St Helens R.F.C. legend, Steve Prescott MBE, who passed away in 2013 after battling a rare form of abdomen cancer. With a bridge inspection approaching, the council will carry out overnight cleaning, starting Tuesday 7 September, to remove dirt that has formed over the years caused by the weather. While the work is carried out, the bridge will be closed to pedestrians and both carriageways on Linkway East will be closed to traffic, with clear diversions in place for motorists.

St Helens Borough Council Leader David Baines said: “The Steve Prescott Bridge is used by thousands of people a year, whether it’s crossing on the way to cheer on the mighty Saints or used as a meeting point to mark a certain anniversary or awareness day – so it’s only right that it looks its best in memory of a great man and ambassador for our borough.” Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, said: “The council continues to do all it can to make sure our road network is maintained to a high standard, and that includes the maintenance of infrastructure like the iconic Steve Prescott Bridge which has established itself as fine borough landmark.

“We know how much the bridge is loved by the people who use it – that’s why it’s so important that it stays in the best possible condition.” Martin Blondel from the Steve Prescott Foundation said: “The Steve Prescott Bridge is a beacon of light and hope for everyone who has come through adversity. We are contacted on a daily basis from people all over the world for the bridge to be turned into an iconic landmark of positivity.

“Thanks to all at St Helens Borough Council for giving the Steve Prescott Bridge a clean and help to continue the great man’s legacy.” Work is initially scheduled to take place from 7-9 September between the hours of 7:00pm-6:30am, although a further date could be required to complete the works if required.

Lancashire News

Vandals have struck again damaging tennis courts and Bury’d Treasure signs in community parks and green spaces. Community tennis courts, recently refurbished across the borough, have had their fences damaged, locks broken and access gate electrical connections destroyed. Bury’d Treasure, a self-led orienteering activity aimed at families being more active together, has had its way markers targeted by regular theft or damage.

The council has repeatedly fixed or replaced damaged property to ensure that local people can continue to enjoy the facilities and activities as part of a healthy lifestyle. Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “Thousands of people are enjoying outdoor sport and leisure with their families thanks to the investment the council has put in.

“Sadly, a minority of complete and utter morons seem determined to spoil it for them. We’ve put a lot of work in to get these facilities in our parks so why these morons destroy our public facilities is literally criminal. We’ve had new trees destroyed, public water fountains vandalised, and now this. “If anyone has any information about who carried this vandalism, please call the council on 0161 253 5353.”

Lancashire News

Lancashire Encounter is a festival to discover, experience and be immersed in a bold and imaginative spectacle of performance, music, street theatre and art. Join us at sites across Preston city centre from Friday 17 September up to the Mayor’s Covid Thank You torchlight parade finale on Saturday 2 October.

Lancashire Encounter will be back this September with an extended event which welcomes all your favourite activities, including an illuminated giant called Jabberwocky, comedy, puppet shows, music, dance and virtual reality. We’re also inviting everyone to our Family Picnic in Winckley Square Gardens on Sunday 19 September. But it’s not just about watching – Lancashire Encounter lets you get involved too! Why not join a community choir or a Salsa dance workshop? We’re putting the final touches to the festival programme that has all the details you need.

Hosting many of the Lancashire Encounter events, as well as an exciting programme soon to be announced, is a new and unique venue space called the MET – Mobile Event Tent. It’s a fresh, dynamic venue celebrating Preston’s art and culture scene. The MET will pop up around Preston city centre, mainly in the Harris Quarter by Preston Markets, and host events such as exhibitions, workshops, gigs, and a variety of performances not to be missed. What better way to come back to the city centre and support local talent and businesses?

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for arts at culture at Preston City Council, said: “It feels fantastic to be able to bring Lancashire Encounter back to the city – a festival that has been such a success in the past and we don’t want you to miss a thing. “The programme is extremely diverse with a very exciting line-up of local, regional and national artists and groups, making Lancashire Encounter festival a truly worthy legacy of the Preston Guild.

“The Mayor of Preston’s torchlight parade, acting as the festival’s finale, on Saturday 2 October will be a sight for sore eyes after such a difficult time for everyone and we’ll be celebrating the resilience of our communities and key workers with fun, music and an almighty fire-breathing dragon!”

More information:
Find more information on the Lancashire Encounter festival website
Find out more about the Mayor of Preston’s parade finale on 2 October and if your business or employer was an essential retail, transport or community organisation throughout the pandemic how you can get involved and take part
The events are free to attend but some workshops or indoor events will be ticketed due to limited capacity
More information about the MET – Mobile Event Tent – can be found on the Visit Preston website
Follow the social media channels for Lancashire Encounter updates: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Lancashire News

New electronic signs are being deployed on Lancashire’s highest-casualty roads to make drivers think twice before doing anything to put themselves or others at risk. The ‘Variable Messaging Signs’ can be programmed remotely to deliver information to passing traffic, making them a useful tool in the campaign to make the county’s roads safer.
Lancashire County Council recently invested in four of the mobile trailers, adding to two already purchased by the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership and deployed by Lancashire Constabulary staff. The county council and the police are now working together to coordinate deployment of the signs along roads with historically high rates of casualties, and in locations where communities have raised concerns about safety.

County Councillor Charlie Edwards, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We’re always working to make our roads safer, whether by investing in safety schemes where there is a record of incidents, or with other members of the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership to carry out programmes of education and enforcement. “People will be used to seeing these electronic signs being used to deliver a variety of useful messages to drivers, often about roadworks or other issues on the road network. ”The VMS units are mobile and versatile, and with the ability to instantly change the messages via a remote system, they are proving to be a useful tool for promoting road safety and educating road users.

“We will also consider using them as part of our response where communities have raised concerns about speeding and further assessment confirms that intervention is needed to bring down high speeds. They will also potentially prove useful if there is an emergency such as flooding which means we need to quickly inform road users of an issue ahead.”

Lara Jones, safer roads unit manager for Lancashire Constabulary, said: “We have been deploying these units around the county for just under 3 years and they have been invaluable on routes where concerns around excess speed have been raised by local residents or where our traffic managers believe a safety message will have a positive influence on driver behaviour. “When used to remind motorists of the speed limit we routinely experience significant reductions in vehicles exceeding the limit, so they clearly work.

“We are progressing a joint deployment programme with Lancashire County Council to ensure the units are located in areas where they will have the most impact.”

Lancashire News

Preston has joined with cities and towns across the UK, and further afield to open its doors to Afghan refugees as British and American troops withdraw from Afghanistan… In the coming days the city will welcome 50 Afghan refugees, a large percentage of whom are children, to provide safe and suitable accommodation. Preston City Council has been working with partners to make arrangements for these families as part of the government’s resettlement programme across the UK.

The city has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers into our city and our communities. Over the years Preston City of Sanctuary has built a substantial network of volunteers, professionals, statutory, voluntary and faith organisations to support new citizens and multicultural communities with a two-way integration process.

Councillor Nweeda Khan, Cabinet member for communities and social justice at Preston City Council, said:
“I am pleased to say that the desire to support Afghan refugees was unanimously expressed in Council, and I am proud that we have been able to work quickly to find appropriate accommodation in Preston for these people who are fleeing oppression and persecution.

“Preston is a diverse and friendly city, and I know that these families will get the support they need to start the next chapter of their lives here. “Having worked closely with government and our colleagues at Lancashire County Council it is my great honour to welcome these families to Preston. It is my hope that they will soon find peace and feel safe and secure in their new home.”

Dawn Judd, Chair of Preston City of Sanctuary who have been working with refugees and asylum seekers in the city since 2017, said: “Few of us can imagine the difficulties that people fleeing Afghanistan have experienced in recent days. “We are working closely with a range of agencies and groups to support the new arrivals from Afghanistan and we are delighted with the support demonstrated by so many people in Preston.
“We extend a warm arm of friendship as they begin their new lives in Preston.”

Further information
City centre buildings will be lit orange on the evening of Monday 6 September as a symbol of welcoming the refugees to their new home in Preston. Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.