NEW Fresh Looking Blackpool Community News Needs YOU !!!

My name is Brian Morrison, and i am the  NEW owner of Blackpool Communtiy News, as of TODAY … 1St April 2009.

This includes this online version of Blackpool Community News, BCN Back Office, PLUS Blogging Blackpool here at WordPress … BUT please bare with me while i get used to the technical side of things.

I also wish to announce that the HARD COPY “Blackpool Community News” Magazine WILL Be Coming Back BIGGER & BETTER

BUT

I need YOUR comments, suggestions on what you would like to see within reason please.

Another great plan i have for BCN is to set up specific pages for set projects, as in Social Enterprises NEWS and also an LGBT Newspage, with all the latest news on services and whats on in the gay village of Blackpool itself.

While i mention the word GAY … I am sure Mr.Basil Newby wont mind me announcing his great award today @ the AWARDS CEREMONY @ The Pleasure Beach

CONGRATULATIONS  BASIL ….

Lastly, we are looking at possibly becoming an social enterprise and making BCN a great community media newsletter where social enterprises, council, NHS, Dept of Employment and local organisations can take out some very CHEAP advertising space and ALL profits go back into the magazine and NOT myself or any volunteers getting a share of the profits …  It can and WILL go along way BUT i need YOU to send me ALL your ideas PLEASE !!!

Email:   blackpoolcommunitynews@gmail.com

There is also a very useful summary of funding opportunities available to support projects related to young people.

With over 650 viewings on Scribd this has proved to be one of the most popular documents featured on this website. An embedded version is reproduced below:

The Big Lottery Fund state that these views will guide how they award funds to the projects that help make the biggest impacts. The consultation site Big Thinking contains lots of features including online surveys, videos and games to help you form and give your opinions.

The ‘big think’ consultation ends on 27th February 2009.

Source: GMCVO

Blackpool Council’s Illuminations team came to the rescue of a fundraiser for a local youth theatre school by providing a light show in support of a day long neon dance-a-thon.

Class Act Theatre School hosts weekly sessions for a range of kids ranging from 5-18 years of age, with many children hailing from some of the most deprived communities of central Blackpool.

School Director, Rachel Sykes, explained: “We have a wonderful range of talented children attending our weekly dance, drama and singing sessions, but we recognise the financial strain many families are under in the current economic climate. We aim to keep costs to a minimum which means we are constantly on the lookout for low cost options for props and costumes needed for our shows.

We came up with a fundraising idea of a day-long neon dance-a-thon, a sort of 70′s disco throwback. A great idea at the time but we underestimated the cost of supplying a lighting system to bring to life our hall at Holy Family Church, Claremont. That’s where the Illuminations team came in with special thanks to Steve Shaw who gave up his time to install the lighting rig. The kids loved the special effects and danced till they dropped – helping us raise over £800! on the day. We can’t thank them enough. Even the parents joined in.”

Michael Wilcocks, Head of Blackpool Illuminations said, “We heard Class Act were in need of some special disco and ultra violet lights for their fundraiser and were only too pleased to help.

“We don’t often get recognised for the work we do in the community and this is an excellent example, albeit fairly last minute where we were able to support a really worthwhile cause with around 100 children helping raise funds for their theatre school.”

Website: www.classacttheatreschool.com

Bookings are now being taken for free seminars on Collaboration Benefits organised by BASSAC and VSNW.

By collaborating effectively we can challenge the resource and power inequalities facing our sector and our users.

The seminars are part of the awareness raising element of the Collaboration Benefits programme. They provide the key opportunity for infrastructure, community development or other support organisations to learn more about Collaboration Benefits and register their interest in the Train the Trainer programme. Your organisation could be eligible for free training and get paid to cascade support for collaboration within your area.

A draft Programme for the Seminars is available. More information about Collaboration Benefits, a Capacity Builders’ National Support Service programme run by BASSAC is available from www.bassac.org.uk/our-programmes/collaboration.

The seminar dates are:

· Tuesday 3rd February 2009 – Gujarat Hindu Society, Preston: 10.30 – 12.30 followed by lunch – closing date for bookings is 27th January

· Friday 20th February 2009 – Friends Meeting House, Manchester: 10.30 – 12.30 followed by lunch – closing date for bookings is 13th February

The seminars are free.  Places are limited so book as soon as possible – see closing dates above.

Source: Voluntary Sector North West

National Compact Workshop

Wednesday 21st January 2009, 1pm – 3.30pm

Gujarat Centre, Preston, PR1 8JN

A free half-day workshop providing a general introduction about the Compact, organised by VSNW (Voluntary Sector North West) and the Commission for the Compact. Please come prepared to discuss your views!

This is your chance to find out more about the Compact, the partnership agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector in England. The Compact is all about better partnership working and creating better outcomes for individuals and local communities. It recognises shared values, principles and commitments, and sets out guidelines for how both parties should work together, consult and make decisions.

What’s in it for you? Find out more about the Compact and how it can help you. The Compact can help voluntary and community organisations ensure they are treated fairly in any relationships they have with government bodies.

Who should attend? This workshop is designed for those working in small organisations in the North West. We are hoping for some lively discussions and participation from attendees.

1.00pm Registration and Lunch

1.30pm Workshop: An introduction to the Compact together with discussion sessions.

For more information and to book, please contact:

E-mail: events@thecompact.org.uk

Tel: 0121 237 5900 (Ruth Fennemore or Fiona Coulson).

This is the last scheduled post on BCN until the New Year – 2009.

We hope that you have found BCN interesting and informative since its launch on July 1^st. If you have, then please look at ‘tipping’ the site below. Your pennies donated through PayPal will help us to continue bringing the BCN family to your PCs and laptops. The BCN Family (see right hand column) is looking for sponsors and partners to help develop its services – if your organisation wants to be involved with helping spread new social media then get in touch.

BCN aims to bring the benefits of free and open source software to the voluntary sector in Blackpool – however, it is understood that professional help is sometimes required to kick-start a new project. So if you seek professional support to develop your own social media, blogging, online collaboration or Twitter solutions – then get in touch by emailing smrweb@gmx.com or leaving a comment.

Finally – while we might be taking a break from serious commentary on this website – we do intend to carry on more light-hearted and fun blogging over on Just for the Weekend – come and join us and help shape this new Blog.

Finally – a New Year resolution:

Though times may get hard – and harder – in 2009, through our collective action and mutual support we will prosper. Human spirit and kindness will be our wealth!

Love Ray Duffill

The next issue is due in March 2009 and readers are invited to contribute an article or advertise an event. Details should be sent to: advicelink@blackpool.gov.uk

Blackpool Advice Link News is available to view or download here from box.net online storage.  It is also available via our Scribd documents button on the left-hand column of this website.

Related Post: Scribd over 2,400 viewings of documents.