GOOD NEWS - 25th September

Following the successful launch of Fleetwood's Blue Plaque Trail, support is welcomed for another local heritage project.

Next door to Fleetwood Museum is No. 8 Queen's Terrace, one of the oldest built buildings in the Town. Designed by the renowned architect Decimus Burton it's a traditional Victorian house, fortunately with many of the original features. Thanks to the Museum, the house has been saved for Fleetwood and it has huge potential to be used in many different ways, possibly including ...

- A historic house where you can explore the stories of people who lived there

- New gallery spaces ... the Museum is always looking for ways to display their collections

- Community workshop spaces and a community garden

... maybe all of these and more!

Fleetwood Museum wants to know your ideas for No. 8 - how would you like to use the space?

Suggestion forms and boxes are available at locations around the Town - there's one in the Healthier Fleetwood Information Centre. Fill in a form, drop it into the box or return it to the Museum at 6 - 7 Queens Terrace. The project is funded by the UK Government and supported by Wyre Council. We look forward to hearing more about the exciting future 'Inside No. 8'.

Congratulations to one of Fleetwood's younger residents for picking up a 'Make A Difference Award' with BBC Lancashire last week.

10-year-old Evie was walking home when she found a man unconscious in the street. She ran around the corner to the Fire Station to raise the alarm and medical services were able to come to his aid. Last week Evie picked up the Bravery Award for her quick thinking - Dave Fishwick (Bank of Dave) made the announcement at the Gala event in Blackpool Tower. Well done Evie, you're a star!

A unique fundraising challenge reaches a milestone in Fleetwood this weekend.

London couple Belinda & James are calling into every one of the 238 RNLI lifeboat stations and having started from Morecambe in August, they finish the UK & Ireland circuit at Fleetwood on Saturday 28th September, around 11am. They will then take a ferry to the Isle of Man, completing the challenge which has already raised over £80k. If you'd like to know more about the RNLI - 911 challenge, or to make a donation, please visit the website and pop along on Saturday to congratulate Belinda & James.

With the start of a new academic year, the Healthy Heads Education Team are delivering their PASTA programme in two new schools.

This week children and their families at Flakefleet Primary and St Wultsan's & St Edmunds Academy have been joining in the fun physical activities. They also took part in the cookery sessions, learning how to make delicious and healthy pizza pasta. Healthy Heads works in Primary Schools across the UK, supporting children to feel empowered and better equipped to face challenges. Locally they partner with Lancashire County Council, Wyre Council and Fleetwood Town Community Trust.

> See the Healthy Heads Education page on Facebook for more about their programme

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work in their local communities.

The annual award, equivalent of an MBE, was created by HM Queen Elizabeth in 2002 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of her coronation. Nominations for the 2025 award are now open. Healthier Fleetwood was honoured to receive the Queen's Award in 2022 and we recommend local voluntary groups consider making an application.

> To find out more about the application process please visit the KAVS website

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up in this year's Grow The Tallest Sunflower Competition with Fleetwood Wellbeing Way.

The new champion is Charlie Chesher with Frazer & Spencer Barlow in second and previous winner Carol Harris third. They will all be invited into the Healthier Fleetwood Information Centre next month to receive their trophies. Huge thanks to Debby and the volunteers at Fleetwood Wellbeing Way for all their hard work, to Jayne at Fleetwood In Bloom for distributing seed packs to some of the local schools and to everyone who entered the competition launched in May.

A reminder that the new men's health programme 'Hit Your Goal' starts on Monday 30th September.

It's a FREE, 8-week course based at Fleetwood Town's Highbury Stadium, including football, boxing, general fitness games, nutrition advice and support, and weekly weigh-ins to monitor your success.

Places are still available but limited, email jake.barr@fleetwoodtownfc.com for info.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS ...

As part of the series of fascinating talks at Fleetwood Museum, hear more about Lilian Bolicca on 2nd October. A fisheries worker and campaigner for improved safety in the industry, Lilian was a leader of the "headscarf revolutionaries" - a group of fishermen's family members, spurred into action by a trawler tragedy in the late 1960's. Local historian Maureen Blair will host an illustrated talk upstairs at the Museum.

Places for these events are limited and can be fully booked on the day. Attendance is FREE but donations are welcome and much appreciated.

> See the Facebook event here - call into Fleetwood Museum to reserve your tickets.

Also on Wednesday 2nd October is this month's Healthier Fleetwood Open Meeting.

Join us at Emmanuel Church, Mount Road from 6.30pm to hear from some of the amazing groups in the local community: their successes, their plans and how to get involved. If you have an idea for something new, come along to get support and make it happen! Free to attend, no need to book. Doors open around 6.15pm for a brew before we start and the meetings usually finish around 8pm to 8.30pm ... all welcome!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the volunteers from Fleetwood-based group Behind Closed Doors are hosting an event for the community.

It's being held at The North Euston Hotel on Thursday 17th October, 10am to 12noon. You will hear from a lived experience team, shedding light on the realities of Domestic Violence and Coercive Control.

As domestic abuse is a largely hidden crime, learn to identify the signs and find out what support is available. This is a FREE event open event to anyone age 18 years and over.

> Read more about this event and reserve places on Facebook here

Behind Closed Doors are also hosting a seminar for agencies and professionals.

> To contact the group please email bcdoors22@gmail.com

WHAT'S ON AT THE HEALTHIER FLEETWOOD CENTRE

We look forward to seeing you for the Macmillan Coffee Morning at our Information Centre on Friday 27th, 10.30am to around 1pm. If you can call in, or to any of the other events taking place this week, you'll be supporting a great charity working here in Fleetwood and across the UK. Thank you.

If you're looking for new volunteering opportunities working with children and families, Home-Start UK can help.

Pop in for a conversation with Katie on Thursday 3rd October from 1pm to 3pm to find out more about getting involved. If you can't make it along this time, Homestart are with us on the first Thursday of the month or visit their website for contact details and more about the support available on the Fylde Coast.

We're delighted to host a new drop-in with another wonderful local group ...

Members of Fleetwood Rotary will be joining us on Friday 4th October from 10am to 12noon. It's an opportunity to hear more about their fantastic work in the local community and also their busy calendar of social events. Fleetwood Rotary is one of the oldest clubs in the Fylde, meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, one of these includes the option to enjoy a meal before the members listen to guest speakers and catch up on all the news. If you'd like to know more about Fleetwood Rotary and get involved, call in for a chat on the 4th October or send an email to the Club Secretary on jennyhaytree@gmail.com or follow their page on Facebook here.

AND FINALLY ...

We join the community in sending our best wishes and saying 'Farewell to Fr Alf'.

This week Fr Stephen Talbutt has been appointed as the new Parish Priest for St Wulstan's & St Edmunds, Fleetwood. He succeeds Fr Alf Hayes ... beekeeper, Manchester United fan, musician & singer, community leader and local legend! Thank you Alf for all your work and kindness ... enjoy your retirement.

Keep sending in all your GOOD NEWS to share with the community!

Until the next time, take care.

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