The Community Development Team and representatives from local food groups in South Lakeland attended a Volunteering Fair this week in Kendal Town Hall. The event was organised by Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service for local organisations and groups to promote volunteering opportunities in the area.
There are 28 local food groups across South Lakeland covering towns and small rural villages. The majority are run by volunteers who help with drop-ins, weekly food bags, food collections, cooking, activities/events and general volunteering. Most of these take place on weekdays between 9am – 5pm and occasionally on weekends.
Individuals who expressed an interest in volunteering have been signposted on to their local food group.
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All the great things about Dalton-in-Furness were celebrated at the weekend.
Saturday was Celebrating Dalton Day, with a packed schedule of events and attractions, including everything from coffee mornings, classic cars and choral and band performances to craft fairs, art exhibitions, an army cadet assault course, sports matches and half price swimming offers.
Centrepiece of the day was the opening of a new Dalton Heritage Trail by Dalton’s Mayor and a parade from the castle to Tudor Square.
The event originated as part of the Dalton Borderlands Place Programme workshop to develop ideas and projects to promote the town’s culture and heritage, active lifestyles, high street enhancements and improvements to Dalton Station.
The Celebrating Dalton Day emerged from the workshop to celebrate the culture, heritage and strong community spirit in Dalton, and has been led by a dedicated Celebrating Dalton Day Committee, including representatives from Dalton Arts, Culture & Heritage Group (DACH) and Dalton Community Action Group.
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The floral displays in Barrow and Dalton contribute to making our town centres attractive and welcoming for all our residents and visitors to enjoy.
This year we involved communities in planting up the baskets and containers to create some beautiful displays for both Barrow and Dalton town centres, with the council hosting ‘planting parties’.
Barrier and hanging baskets for Barrow town centre and cemetery offices were planted at Barrow Town Hall, and there was a fantastic turn out with council staff, local schools, Barrow Raiders staff and people from local community groups helping out.
A few days later there was a further planting day in Tudor Square, Dalton, with pupils from Dalton St Marys School and local volunteering residents.
Some other schools couldn’t make the planting day, but have been planting tubs at school which will also be put up in the town centres.
We would also like to say special thank you to Barrow BID and Continental Landscapes who supported with the organisation and delivery of the planting day, and all the volunteers and staff who kindly turned up on the two days to help.
Last week, Carol Last, South Lakeland Community Development Officer was asked to Chair the meeting of the Safer Speeds Group in Broughton in Furness.
The group had previously delivered a £60k traffic calming scheme to reduce the speeds of traffic and to make it safer for pedestrians to move around the community.
Follow on the success of the collaborative working with the council, parish council and the community. The parish council have established a new group with parish and community representatives to continue the development of a traffic management plan, which includes reducing speed of vehicles, possibility of a one-way system, speed monitoring and signage.
The Safer Speeds Group has been established under the parish council to create a safe environment for pedestrians. The local councillor and officers from Highways attended the meeting to provide advice and guidance on the art of the possible.
The Handy Person Scheme offers assistance around the home to help people maintain independent living and quality of life
Works are limited to a maximum of three hours on site if one handy person visits, or 1.5 hours if two handy people visit - and eligible households can use the service up to six times a year.
These simple but essential jobs can make a huge difference to people. A woman from Ambleside got in touch last week to say: "Just to thank you for your brilliant service. Two came here on Tuesday and did a brilliant job on an outside gate and internal light, for which I am very grateful and very impressed. Thank you so much - a wonderful service!"
The service is available for people in the former South Lakeland area and provides help with anything from changing a lightbulb to putting up shelving, installing hand rails and small repairs such as unblocking sinks, as well as fitting curtain rails and moving heavy items.
The scheme, run in partnership with Barrow-based repairs and service company Growing Concerns, also enables the fitting of minor security measures including; a key safe, door viewer and chain.
The work is free of charge except for the cost of materials, unless they have been supplied as part of a scheme with a partner agency.
Find out more about the Handy Person Scheme here: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/housing/housing-support-and-grants/handy-person-scheme/
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