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Preston Flag Market came to life with colour, music and the aroma of South Asian cuisine on Saturday on the 14^th July for Preston City Mela 2018.

The celebration of cultural diversity was enjoyed by hundreds of spectators who travelled from across the country to be a part of it.

Check out the official video and gallery from the big day below:

 

A selection images from Preston City Mela 2018 can be found below. For the full gallery, please click here.

 

Photos courtesy of Mick Porter (Preston Photographic Society) and Jason, Donna & Frank.

Community Gateway Association’s (CGA) AGM Community Fund Awards will present four grants of 2,000 pounds to project proposals supported by CGA members at its AGM on September 13th 2018. 

All Gateway Members in attendance will be able to vote for the community project they would like to support in each of six categories (outlined below). Runners up in each category will receive £250 towards their projects.

The fund will replace the Community Star Awards.

Applicants must complete an application from for each project they would like to submit and ensure they are received by CGA by 5PM on Friday August 17^th 2018. Multiple applications are acceptable.

To apply, download the application form here:  AGM Community Fund Award Application 2018.docx [docx] 2MB and return to our freepost address or email to get.involved@communitygateway.co.uk . If you require a copy posting out, please get in touch.

The Community Empowerment Action Group will shortlist three project proposals for each category, with the winning project being voted on by CGA members at its Annual General Meeting on September 13^th 2018.

Shortlisted applicants will be expected to attend the AGM to promote their project. We might also film a short segment about your project prior to the AGM or invite you to perform at the AGM if this is relevant e.g. a dance troupe.

 

The categories are below:

• Environmental Project

This award is for a project which will have an impact on the environment within a Community Gateway Association neighbourhood. This might be for an initiative which improves a piece of land or for gardening or hanging basket activity in a neighbourhood.  Engagement and involvement with local people will be key for this project.

• Equality & Diversity Project

This award is for a project which will support the equality and diversity agenda within our neighbourhoods and have an impact on CGA communities. It may be for a project which supports disabled people to live active, independent lives, for an elderly group to undertake social activities, or for a BME group to celebrate culture and community locally. 

• Performing Arts Project

This is for performing arts activity across our neighbourhoods. This could include drama classes, dance activity or music workshops and performances. We want to see projects which engage with significant numbers of local people and which offer opportunities for people to get involved in activities in an ongoing basis.

• Health & Wellbeing Project

Need some funding to deliver an activity that will improve the Health and wellbeing activity in a CGA neighbourhood? Then this fund could be for you. This might include football clubs, walking groups, art classes or photography clubs.  We want projects which can show an impact on the health and wellbeing of local people.

Social housing consortium JV North claimed £43 million of grant from Homes England in the 2017/18 financial year as its development programme forges ahead.

Made up of nine housing association members across the North West, the funding was for the last year of the 2015/18 Affordable Homes Programme and the current 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme.

The grant, along with member investment, will finance the building of 1,355 homes.

JV North also brought forward 184 starts on-site from continuous market engagement bids during the year.

JV North Chairman Nigel Wilson, who is also Chief Executive of Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said,

“This is the highest amount of grant the consortium has claimed in one financial year. It demonstrates how committed members are to building new homes and how well organised the JV North development programme is managed. We have a varied programme of scheme types and tenures, a resilient business plan and a proven track record to help us meet demand across the North West from rural sites to city centre developments. Together with Homes England, we are investing well over half a billion pounds (£623.2m) in the 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme to build 3,849 homes and while this is ambitious, we are well on course to deliver.”

In total, JV North has a grant allocation of £125 million from Homes England for the 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme and members are investing £498.2 million as they build 3,071 homes.

The consortium, which collectively manages 114,500 homes, has a long history of development having built the equivalent of one home every working day since forming in 2007.

It recently committed to building two homes every working day until April 2021.

 

Further details 

1. Collectively, JV North members manage over 114,500 homes
2. Members include: Community Gateway Association, Liverpool Mutual Homes, New Charter Housing Group, Sovini, Torus, Trafford Housing Trust, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
3. JV North members have invested £175,000 every working day with Homes England since forming in 2007
4. JV North was a finalist in the 2018 UK Housing Awards in the Development Programme of the Year category

 

The Mayor and Mayoress of Preston, Councillor Brian Rollo and Trisha Rollo, got stuck in at Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) last week, practising their bricklaying, plastering and woodwork skills. 

During the visit the students shared some of the brilliant projects they had been working on and their ambitions for the future. The Mayoress was also presented with a handmade wooden flower basket, crafted by the young people themselves.

 The Mayor said,

"It has been great seeing what everyone has been working on and all the good work happening at the centre. We've really enjoyed ourselves."

We'd like to say thank you to the Mayor and Mayoress of Preston for their ongoing support. Our team mates and students at PVC thoroughly enjoyed having you! 

Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) is currently looking to recruit two new Trustees to the Board to ensure we have the capacity and skills to oversee the continued success of the Centre. Based on St Paul’s Road, PVC is a small, local charity committed to providing construction based vocational training of the highest quality to the young people and adults of Preston and the surrounding area.  The roles are unpaid and voluntary although reasonable expenses are paid, including travel. 

Martin Grayston, Centre Manager, explained more about the work of the Centre:

“We are really proud of the support the centre can provide to enable people to take positive steps and achieve their potential.  The centre will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in February 2019 and since the centre first opened our small team of staff and volunteers have provided training to over 5,500 beneficiaries.”

Gillian Beeley, Chair of the Board of Trustees, commented:

“I have found being a PVC Trustee to be an extremely valuable and rewarding experience. The centre has really helped many people to turn their lives around by equipping them with skills in a range of trades.  PVC provides tremendous social value for the people of Preston and neighbouring districts.

We have two upcoming vacancies on the Charity’s Board of Trustees and are seeking to attract individuals with knowledge, skills and experience in some or all of the following areas: education and vocational training; learning and development; community development or charitable work; or commercial and business awareness.

We are looking to recruit the successful applicants directly to the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of the Board.  Therefore, applicants will be required to demonstrate strong leadership skills, preferably in the charity or education sector.   

This is an excellent opportunity for two individuals who are passionate about PVC’s work and have a range of experience which will benefit the charity.”

Further information on the vacancies and how to apply can be found at: https://www.prestonvocationalcentre.co.uk/board-recruitment-details.

Take a look at what PVC does here, by watching this short video.