This week, 16 and 17 year olds are being urged to take up their coronavirus vaccine and Covid cases have been dropping in 15 areas of Preston and South Ribble, which is great news.

Here are five of the stories you may have missed from this week.

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Hundreds of children to be gifted UCLan superhero science book

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is working with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to ensure children from low-income families don’t miss out on fun and learning through science and reading over the summer.

‘Unmasked: The Science of Superheroes’, co-authored by seven practising scientists at UCLan, is one of several books to be gifted to families experiencing hardship as part of the Reading Agency’s Reading Sparks programme.

The Reading Agency is working with libraries, publishers and the STFC to deliver STEM theme gift bags to low-income families across the UK this summer. Libraries will donate the book bags through various partners including food banks and refugee support schemes and it is expected that the titles included in the gift bag will reach hundreds of children.

Read the full story here.

Intact granted over £214,000 from the National Lottery

The Ingol and Tanterton Community Trust (Intact) has received a £214,200 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for an exciting new heritage project, ‘Delivering Digital Dobcroft’, in Ingol and Tanterton, Preston.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will deliver a comprehensive volunteering programme and build partnerships with wildlife specialists, schools and universities to ensure the longer-term sustainability of our Dobcroft Nature Reserve. The work will begin in October 2021 after the successful recruitment of a Natural Heritage Well-Being Coordinator.

Supported through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will encourage wide community ownership in an urban environment and will help local people develop their skills, understanding and knowledge of natural heritage and biodiversity.

Read the full story here.

Rare piece of Preston’s railway history is up for sale

A piece of Preston’s railway history is up for sale.

A Virgin Pendolino nameplate featuring the Preston crest is being sold by Scott Doohan, a member of Virgin Trains staff, who bought it by making a donation to a cancer charity.

The City of Preston nameplate, which is one of only two ever made, travelled up and down the West Coast Line via Preston Station for 20 years before Avanti West Coast took over the contract in 2019.

Read the full story here.

Arts and culture festival Lancashire Encounter coming back to Preston

Lancashire Encounter will be back this September with an extended festival including performance, music, street theatre and art.

Beginning on Friday 17 September, the event will take place at sites across Preston city centre before ending with the Mayor’s Covid Thank You torchlight parade finale on Saturday 2 October.

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Activities will include an illuminated giant called Jabberwocky, comedy, puppet shows, music, dance and virtual reality. There will also be a Family Picnic in Winckley Square Gardens on Sunday 19 September.

Read the full story here.

UCLan’s graduation celebrations return

Thousands of students are returning to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) for their long-awaited graduation ceremonies.

Graduates from the classes of summer 2020, winter 2020 and summer 2021 will don their academic caps and gowns at 26 ceremonies taking place between Monday 6 and Friday 17 September.

As in recent years, the graduates will take to the stage in the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, but the post-event celebrations with family and friends will take place on the new multi-million pound University Square.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines