Ciitheroe Advertiser &Times,Thursday, September 30,2010


www.clitheroeadvertIser.co.uk


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IN its quest to provide "quality leisure opportunities for all", one of Pendle Leisure Trust's biggest accomplishments over the last ten years has been its ability to gain grants in order to provide specialist projects relating to Arts Development, Sports Develop­ ment and Healthy Lifestyles. With some of the UK's most deprived wards located within Pendle, the Trust is constantly striving to make a difference with new initiatives, developing partnerships and crossover projects. In such a diverse community, social in­ clusion is always at the top of the priority list. HANNAH UPTON © takes a look at the different projects taking place.


') As Arts Development Man­


ager,^. Kirsty Rose is tasked with nurturing artistic talent, finding new audiences to engage with the Arts, and perhaps most significantly, using artistic expression to turn around tne lives of some of the most isolated and vulnerable in society. She said: "There is some­


thing creative in everyone; as children we are hugely creative but at some point most people lose it. "One siae of our work is with existing Pendle artists;


exhibiting their work and trying to help them make their work financially viable. "We can help with practical


aspects, how to get CRB checked so they can work in schools, how to win commissions. "But another side of what we


do is trying to get people who aren't necessarily artists to con­ nect with their creative side." Based at the ACE Centre, one


of the project's biggest events is the annual Open Arts Exhibi­ tion, which invites submissions from anyone and takes place this year over the Halloween weekend. The free event has always


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been a huge success; last year there were over 300 pieces of art on display and more than 600 visitors. A national project that has


Catch us at the


Muni Theatre, Colne, with our production of Cinderella:


7'i<-23"‘January 2010 Tickets: 01282 661234


been hugely successful in Pendle is Arts on Prescription, involving free art classes for adults who suffer from anxiety, stress or mild depression, following a GP or self-referral. ^ The focus of the classes is not just creating art but using the experience to learn techniques to relax, build confidence and develop healthy ways to deal with the demands and pres­ sures of life that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Kirsty said: "The class can


make the dif­ ference be­ tween some­ one leaving the house in a week or not venturing out at ail. Isolation can be over­ whelming. "Seeing


the journey they take is wonderful; it makes a big difference to their lives and can be the turning point that stops them devel­ oping more serious condi­ tions." She is keen


to continue the involvement of Arts Devel­ opment with youths, bring­ ing artists into schools and also working with the police and Youth Of­ fending Team to identify teen­ agers who would benefit from s^emes to get them off the streets. The recent youth project Art


www.clitheroeadvertIser.co.uk Ciitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, September 30,2010


tCommitted to your health S weUbctng


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|pendle leisure trust' IC - ' -


opportunities is Trust's u®al


The Healthy Lifestyles initia­


tive, or Healthy Communities as it was known, was incorpo­ rated into Pendle Leisure Trust at its inception. It works to i3romote various


activities anci facilities avail­ able to everyone in the com­ munity, in a bid to get people active and lead healthier lives. Team Manager Clive Escreet


said: "The work of the Healthy Lifestyles team is of great importance and has grown dramatically over the last 10 years". The team offers a variety of


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P'- '/ When the Sports Develop­


ment Unit was formed in 2000 it consisted of the lone figure of Suzanne Hodgson, who is still the team manager. Signalling the success and expansion of the scope of Sports Development in Pendle, the team now consists of six full-time staff, as well as five casual workers and a quickly growing cohort of volunteers. Suzanne said: "We don't just


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For Our Sake featured work­ shops for young people, but also discussions about issues which could affect their home lives, from buljying and racism


to drug use and domestic vio­ lence.


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deliver sports for sports sake; we use sport as a tool to give confidence, self-esteem and learning opportunities to some of Pendle's disengaged young people." The Street Active Youth (SAY)


Referral Programme, launched in March 2009, has been life changing. It welcomes 14-25 yetir


olds for six-week skills pro­ grammes based arounci sport


and healthy lifestyles. Many


partici­ pants are classed as NEETs - not in educa­ tion, employ- mentor training - or are on the verge of becoming disengaged. As a result of the mentoring


many of the youths have in turn joined the Pendle Volun­ teer Programme to give some-, thing back. The Volunteer Programme,


which was started in Septem­ ber 2009 is aimed at 16-24 year olds who hope to com-


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lete 200 ours of


voluntary activ­ ity con­ nected to sport. Another


successful addition to the team's work has been the Inclusive Club of


Exercise (ICE). This is a fully integrated session opien to both disabled and able bodied, young people alike. Sessions take place on Fri­


days from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pendle Leisure Centre. Co-ordinator Tom Howarth


said: "ICE is a great scheme to get disabled and able bodied


people active. It is especially great for carers to be able to have that bit of respite in the week." The Sports Development Team


supports many sporting clubs in the borough, helping with an accreditation process and offer­ ing advice on how to progress. Other areas the team works


in are organising the annual Pendle Sports Awards, de­ veloping rising stars through the Talented Athletes Scheme, delivering various community sports clubs and working with schools to provide coaching and holiday activities, as well as a youth football league. Suzanne said: "I am re­


ally proud of what we have achieved in a relatively short time and truly believe that sport can make a difference to people's lives."


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activities and advice from free walking and cycling events to growing your own food and stopping smoking. It also helps people to re­


cover from more serious condi­


tions. Heart Watch is a cardiac


rehabilitation programme for anyone who has suffered from heart problems. The team works closely with


local health services to ease the transition back to normal life after physical and mental health problems through the Exercise on Prescription pro­ grammes. Clive said: "The work is very


rewarding and hopefully helps people live a fuller and hap­ pier life. "We are hoping that over


the next few years we can develop this programme of ac­ tivities and advice even more, so that we can create a totally holistic approach to healthy lifestyles."


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