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Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) is currently looking to recruit 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 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.

"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.”

 Board Members are expected to attend and participate at six Board meetings per year and special events, where possible, as well as acting in an ambassadorial role for PVC. 

How to apply

Please submit a CV and covering letter stating why you wish to be considered for the role, to Stephen Pickup, Head of Business Assurance, by email: stephen.pickup@communitygateway.co.uk.

The closing date is 5pm on 19^th October 2018.

Our Annual Report and Accounts

Board Member Role Profil

CGA Greener, Cleaner Days is a series of new events coming this October with the aim of improving environmental appearance and promoting wellbeing and healthy living for our residents.         

On Tuesday 2nd October we will be at St Bernards Club on Larches Estate and on Thursday 4th October 2018 at the Community Centre on Grange Estate.

Both events will run from 10am – 3pm, so come along and join in the fun!

We’ll be addressing key environmental issues in the areas including recycling, fly tipping, dog fouling, garden conditions and unlawful structures.

At the first event at St. Bernard's Club, we will also be holding a Food Hub.

Working with partner organisations which include Preston City Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Cross Gates Church and Lancashire Constabulary, activities will include:

• Recycling advice, information and education through schools and on the street
• Dog chipping and advice on responsible pet ownership
• Provision of skips
• “Larder” to educate on healthy eating
• Door to door consultation
• Improvement of residents gardens and properties
• Grounds maintenance and shrub bed improvements

Our thirteenth Annual General Meeting took place on 13th September at the Gujurat Hindu Centre on South Meadow Lane. 

Alongside the AGM, attendees got to learn about the work of our teams, were treated to great food, raffle prizes, and chose the winners of the 2018 AGM Community Fund Awards.

The event was a huge success with over 160 people in attendance, including 92 members of the Association.

Thank you to all of our tenants and members who attend the event and voted.

To read all of the answers from our Directors Question Time panel at the event, head over to our AGM page to see what they had to say!

 

AGM Community Fund 2018

At this year’s AGM, members had the opportunity to vote on community projects they wanted Gateway to support across four categories: Environmental, Health and Wellbeing, Performing Arts and Equality and Diversity.

Winners received £2,000 towards their project and runners up received £250.

 

Environmental Project

Winner: Let’s Grow Preston

Let’s Grow Preston bid to build an outdoor kitchen at Grange Community Gardens from which they will run cook and eat sessions with local people and utilise excess crops from local allotment sites.  

Runners Up: Larches and Savick Community Association Oaktree Gardens Project, Grange School Armistice Memorial Garden.

 

Equality and Diversity Project

Winner: Friends of Winckley Square

The Friends of Winckley Square bid to deliver a programme of family walks in Winckley Square and will bring to life the diverse stories of people who lived around the square with follow up activities delivered through their website.

Runners Up: Afghan Community Association publicity project, The Windrush Group men’s health survey project.

 

Performing Arts Project

Winner: Preston Caribbean Carnival

Preston Caribbean Carnival bid to create two new dance troupes for the ages 8-14 and 15-18 focussing on the City Centre and Ribbleton areas with the new troupes taking part in Carnivals in Preston and beyond in Summer 2019.

Runners Up: Meladrama, Cacophany Arkestra

 

Health and Wellbeing Project

Winner: Dig In

Dig In has set up a new carpentry workshop, and their project will deliver a series of carpentry workshops for local community members with a celebration event at the end of the project to enable participants to showcase their finished articles.

Runners Up: Ascension Community Pantry, Ribbleton Bike Revival Get Cycling project.

 

Gateway GreenCare have commissioned a company called Urban Green to undertake a survey of all of our trees on communal land and tenants’ gardens.

This survey will identify maintenance work to maintain our tree stock in a healthy and safe condition.

The survey started in early September and will continue on into the winter.

The plan is to visit each area in turn and tenants will be informed prior to anyone visiting their homes.

For any further information on this project contact GreenCare Manager, Noel Murphy, at noel.murphy@communitygateway.co.uk

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.