• West Lancs Community Network

Network building

During Spring 2025, CVS held a series of networking meetings with local voluntary sector groups under the banner of West Lancs Community Network.

Funded by UKSPF and Lottery monies, designated CVS staff worked to bring together our local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise members to connect with each other,
exchange information, celebrate the good work going on, and identify common issues and resource needs.

Four area-based meetings took place across the Borough, followed by four gatherings of groups with shared interests.

Further networking activities are planned to build on this work.  More information can be found here.

Area meetings

1.  Ormskirk – 14th January

  • Meeting notes
  • Community Lives Matter – Supporting the local community – Paul Griffiths
  • The Sewing Rooms – An incredible journey – Paula Gamester MBE
  • Ormskirk & District Family History Society – Enriching Lives – Kathryn McDonald & Dot Broady-Hawkes (slides)

2.  Mere Brow – 21st January

  • Meeting notes
  • The Hub at Banks – Developing a community vision and making it a reality – Annie Ives
  • West Lancs Light Railway– Steaming Ahead – Mike Spall (slides)
  • Hesketh Bank Community Centre – Pipe Dream to Dream Venue – Diane Earles (slides)

3.  Skelmersdale – 28th January

  • Meeting notes
  • The Power of Networking – The Sewing Rooms – Paula Gamester
  • Upholland Community Hub – Cameron Latham
  • Made in WN8 – Claire Cooper – (slides)
  • Trinity Methodist and United Reform Church – Jenny Ashcroft

4.  Burscough – 7th February

  • Meeting notes
  • The Liberty Centre – Lisa Larsen (slides)
  • Parbold Community Association – Sue Halton

Thematic groups

1.  Community venues – 24th February

  • Meeting notes
  • Hesketh Bank Community Centre – Diane Earles (slides)
  • Upholland Community Hub – Cameron Latham
  • Parbold Village Hall – Sue Halton

2.  Arts & culture – 7th March

  • Meeting notes
  • Becconsall Living Museum – Graeme Iddon
  • Introduction to E Rooms – Ste Horrocks

3.  Environment – 11th March

  • Meeting notes
  • Applecast – Neil Farnworth
  • Community Energy Project – Paul Cotterill  (slides)
  • Groundwork CLM – Rob Noon & Sam Marine – (slides)

4.  Volunteering – 20th March