Local charity Preston Community Network (PCN) has been relaunched and reinvigorated.

This is thanks to help from the National Lottery’s Community Fund.

Advertisements

The charity have enthusiastic new staff, new branding, a new website and a fresh social media stream.

Read more: Grimsargh Wetlands Trust receives £1,250 donation

The resources and support offered mean that the future is looking bright for the city’s community and voluntary organisations and other not-for-profit enterprises concerned with making Preston a better place to live and work in.

Established in 2002, PCN was set up to provide a voice and an infrastructure for Preston’s community and voluntary sector, in partnership with Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council.

The relaunch has been shaped and supported through 18 months of conversations with their 32 member organisations, to really see how the community can be strengthened and empowered by unity, with shared best practices and pooled knowledge and resources.

Read more: Cottam’s Tipping family raise over £25,000 for charity

To facilitate this, the Lottery funding has seen dynamic new manager, Prestonian Jack Bamber, recently put into post to spearhead the reinvigorated PCN through this exciting new phase.

He said: “It’s really quite humbling to be working alongside member organisations like Sahara, Preston District Citizen’s Advice, Lancashire LGBT, Preston Black History Group, and so many others.

“It’s inspiring to be providing proactive support for these groups, along with new grassroots start-ups, to work in new ‘Digitally Capable’ ways.

“The ethos of PCN is to enable mutual help in co-creating a social infrastructure to nurture community action.”

The funding has enabled Jack to work closely with prominent designer Jack Knight, from Preston, to create the new website that will provide the friendly and engaging new face of the organisation.

Read more: Former Royal Preston Hospital nurse makes great strides for Rosemere Cancer Foundation

On signing up via the site, members will have access to a wealth of resources including template policy documents, advice on topics like brand development, engagement and governance, and information on the current funding streams available, from the Lottery and elsewhere.

Membership also entails access to training courses, seminars and other events beneficial to the running of their organisations.

Find food banks in your area below

Proud Preston. This, and many stories like it, show how the people of Preston are making a difference. Our Proud Preston section showcases all the charitable, kind, uplifting and great things about our city and the people who live here. #ProudPreston is alive and well, and there’s much to celebrate and be proud of, despite the challenging times we all face.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines