5 Community Opportunities for February

The first month of 2024 is complete so here is information about 5 community opportunities for February:

1. Chinese New Year(Sunday 4^th February)
2. Commemorations to mark 20 years since the Morecambe Bay Cockling Tragedy (4^th & 5^th February)
3. HIV Testing Week - PrEp Van in Market Square, Lancaster (Tuesday 6^th February)
4. Take part in an online exhibition for International Women’s Day(closes Monday 19^th February)
5. Disability Access Community Conversation (Thursday 29^th February)

Please scroll to the end of this information for other mentions including a local family’s mission to raise £250,000 to fund research into treatment for visual impairment caused by albinism, videos from Bay Volunteers, and information about the Lancaster District Directory.

1.Chinese New Year – Year of the Dragon (Sunday 4^th February)

The Chinese New Year Festival in Lancaster takes place on Sunday 4^th February. The festival starts at 10am with performances and activities centring around the Market Square plinth and other parts of the city centre.

The official opening ceremony starts at 12 noon in Market Square followed by the lion and dragon parade around the city centre.

The following links provide further information:

https://www.lancasterchinesenewyear.com

https://www.facebook.com/lancastercny/

2.Commemorations to mark 20 years since the Morecambe Bay Cockling Tragedy (4^th & 5^th February)

On Sunday 4^th February an event will take place on West End beach (by the Battery) to commemorate 20 years since the cockling tragedy when 23 people died at Morecambe Bay. There will be a sculptural bonfire, lanterns and music beginning at 4.30pm. At 6.30pm, Long Walk Chinese Ensemble featuring Guo Yue, will perform at More Music (13-17 Devonshire Road, Morecambe LA3 1QT). Other musicians will perform and there will be food. It is a pay-what-you-feel event.

On Monday 5^th February there will be a candlelit vigil on Morecambe promenade at the memorial dedicated to those who died (it is near the RNLI lifeboat station). Candles will be distributed at 5.45pm and the service will start at 6pm.

The Mayor of Lancaster, Cllr Roger Dennison, invites those wanting to pay their respects to bring along candles and lanterns. The service will be led by the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Revd Philip North.

3.PrEP Van in Market Square for HIV Testing Week (Tuesday 6^th February 2024)

National HIV Testing Week is next week (5-11^th February). The charity Renaissance will be bringing their PrEP van to Market Square all day (from 9am on Tuesday 6^th) to talk about PrEP and to offer advice, support and HIV testing.

To ask a question or to request further information, please contact Jane Altham, sexual health practitioner with Renaissance, via email jaltham@ren-uk.com

https://www.ren-uk.com

4.The Woman Who Influenced Me- an online exhibition for International Women’s Day 2024 (Closing date Monday 19^th February)

King Street Arts and Lancaster City Council are working together to mark International Women’s Day on Friday 8^th March.

The Woman Who Influenced Mewill collate responses from people living in the Lancaster district about women they know who have played an important role in shaping their character and interests, being a positive influence in their life.

It only takes a few minutes to submit a response. Entries are open until Monday 19^th February. (It may not be possible to include all responses.)

There is a way to submit online: https://keepconnected.lancaster.gov.uk/international-womens-day (it will be live later this afternoon, 1st February.)

The exhibition will be available at https://www.kingstreetstudios.art on Friday 8^th March.

5.Disability Access Community Conversation (Thursday 29^th February)

A community conversation will provide the opportunity for residents to have their say about the subject of Disability Access in the Lancaster District.

Participants will be discussing, in small groups, where they have faced barriers to access in the Lancaster District (under the four themes of transport, public & private buildings, attitudes and environmental access) and what they feel could improve access in these areas.

The issues identified will inform future campaigns.

There will be two events at Lancaster University’s Management School. The venue has plenty of car parking (including disabled parking bays) and is accessible via bus. Please see the map: https://link.mazemap.com/Fyft0Bzf There will be an afternoon session and an evening session on the same day to enable a wide variety of participation.

Refreshments are available and the event is free to attend.

Partners involved include: NHS, LDCVS, RNIB, Neuro Dropin, Enabling You!, Morecambe Bay ME Group, Lancaster University and Lancaster City Council.

The 2 sessions will be on Thursday 29^th February. The first session will start at 2pm (finishing at 4pm) and the second session will start at 6pm (finishing at 8pm). You only need to attend one session.

Please use this link to book your place: Community Conversation: Disability Access Tickets, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster | TryBooking United Kingdom

Funding research into treatment for visual impairment caused by albinism

A local family is seeking support to fund treatment into sight loss brought on by albinism. The research will cost £250,000. Please see their Justgiving page for further information:

Abby Arrowsmith is fundraising for Gift of Sight (justgiving.com)

Bay Volunteers

Please take a look at this video (available on social media platforms) to hear Catherine talk about volunteering with Bay Volunteers:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/793627502596551 X: https://twitter.com/BayVolunteers/status/1751341152073081333

If you would like information about Bay Volunteers (becoming a volunteer or asking for support from a volunteer) please contact Matt Parker via email at bayvolunteersmanager@hopelancaster.co.uk

Lancaster District Directory

The Lancaster District Directory helps residents find and get in touch with essential services provided by community groups, the NHS and Lancaster City Council & Lancashire County Council. Use this link to visit the directory: Elemental Software - Population Plus (lancastercvs.org.uk)

If you would like support to use the directory or to ask a question about something listed, or that you think should be listed, please phone 01524 555900 or email digitaldirectory@lancastercvs.org.uk

Kind regards

Adam / Community Connectors