GOOD NEWS EXTRA - 6th September
- Healthier Fleetwood
- Sep 6
- 5 min read
Conversations from Healthier Fleetwood Open Meeting, 3rd September
Pauline opened the meeting thanking everyone for attending and Emmanuel Church for their hospitality.
We started with some very good news from The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery. Rachel told us that the organisation had received 3 years funding from National Lottery, ensuring they can continue their work in communities in Wyre and further afield. These include the weekly wellbeing sessions and events such as beach cleans and coast watches, all free to attend and a great way to explore and learn the local environment.
Reece is a volunteer for Healthier Fleetwood and Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs and the latter has just had a record-breaking month. 105 visitors used the range of chairs and equipment to access Fleetwood’s beach with their friends and families, making memories that will last a lifetime. The service is entirely run by volunteers and source their own funding to buy and maintain the chairs.
Reece is also a keen member of the Fleetwood Town Community Trust boccia team and was looking forward to the Fylde Coast Pan ability games in Blackpool.
The volunteers of Behind Closed Doors have been supporting women and families dealing with domestic violence and coercive behaviour for over 3 years. To allow them to focus more on direct support and working with partner agencies, they are making some changes to their hub on Adelaide Street. They will be offering ‘survivor packs’ of items such as clothing, shoes, toiletries and toys from October – Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Mandy and her colleagues are also hosting events in the community including on 10th October at the Heart of The Hub community café – open to all, and for professionals at a venue and date to be confirmed. Mandy wanted to thank Candice for all her hard work and support within the group.
This Sunday (7th September) there’s a UK-wide testing of the Emergency Alerts system and all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and tablets will receive the signal in the form of a siren or vibration. Mandy pointed out that this can be a difficult situation for anyone in a coercive relationship, who has a mobile phone, unknown to their partner and advised changing the settings before the test.
Wendy is one of Fleetwood’s Social Prescribers and the team continue to support a number of local residents to improve their health and wellbeing by suggesting new activities to try and opportunities to make friends.
The Fleetwood Colour Run on Sunday 14th September is in memory of a former Social Prescriber, Lisa. It's free to take part, fun for all ages. Meet at 11.30am to start from 12 noon on Central Beach with donations to local cancer charities on the day or online.
Wendy introduced Sam from the Community Mental Health Team at Mountcroft in Fleetwood … attending the meeting to find out more about what was happening in the Town. Sam has also called into the Healthier Fleetwood Information Centre.
Denise has been to a meeting before, travelling over from Central Lancashire. She has helped to set up a support network in her community for people coping with a hoarding disorder and has kindly offered to help the Social Prescribers start something similar in Fleetwood. There is a need for the service and more details will be shared soon, as the group is established while taking care not to move too quickly.
Wyre Council’s befriending service is welcoming volunteers who can offer any time to support others, either in person or through phone calls.
Julie is looking forward to adding a new session for Alcohol Free Women, starting soon at the Heart of the Hub community café. This will be alongside the regular meetings at Fleetwood Health & Wellbeing Centre, and those in Blackpool and across the Fylde Coast. Julie was also delighted to join the community partners at the Baton of Hope, suicide awareness event last week.
LPM Dance have a busy programme of classes including Fleetwood Fusion, an inclusive group at Barbara Jackson’s School (Farmer Parrs) on a Thursday. Helen said funding from Sport England has also secured the restart of a Fleetwood-based class for people living with Neurological Conditions – details to be announced soon. They are hoping to stage the Fleetwood Moves festival again in 2026 and are looking for community events where they can showcase their talents.
Barbara updated us on the KCA Cancer Support group. They raised around £2,000 from the recent Psychic Night and are planning events for Halloween and Christmas
Susan said all was well with the Wyre Flounders adult swimming group and John added that Emmanuel Church was busy with services, events and support.
Adam is part of the Community Team at Wyre Council. He will be back for the October meeting to share some of the outcomes from the Life in Wyre survey earlier in the year and get feedback from residents. He also directed us to take part in the Local Government Reorganisation consultation – ahead of decisions to change the structure of councils across Lancashire.
Feedback from the Fleetwood Community Comic Con event in June, continues to be very positive, around 2,500 people attended. Allan and his committee colleagues are now focussing on a series or workshops. Inquiries for costume characters to attend local event are invited, although they are dependant on be available as the group support the many other comic cons across the UK. They also go along to the new games night in Thornton Cleveleys and hope to set up a Fleetwood meet soon.
Colin was attending this month on behalf of Fleetwood Rotary and was delighted to hear so much good news from the local community. Rotary is thinking ahead with their plans for events including this year’s Santa’s Sleigh. With a background in the health sector he was interested in the discussions around help for hoarders and befriending and also encouraged everyone to take the opportunity to contribute to the LGR survey.
David updated on the opening hours of the Healthier Fleetwood Information Centre at The HUB Fleetwood, now 4 days a week, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 2pm, please call in soon to discover what’s happening in the community. He also said that the November meeting falls on the 5th, Bonfire Night. Although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, if there is a Fleetwood Fireworks event, we will probably delay the meeting to 12th November … a decision will be made at the October meeting.
Anne closed the evening by reading her poem, sharing the thoughts of a tram as they go about their everyday work
The next meeting is on Wednesday 1st October from 6.30pm, Emmanuel Mount Church … as always, all welcome.
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