Signal Films invite to people from Barrow Island

Consultation event on Barrow Island this weekend

Do you have a New Year’s resolution to take up a new challenge, but don’t know where to start?

New Year can bring new beginnings, and it may be you want to get fit, change your lifestyle, or learn something new but don’t know where to start, or how to find information, or need someone to go along with you to offer encouragement.

The Inspiring Barrow project can provide just the sort help, advice and support you need to get you started. We have recruited Community Learning Champions who are local volunteers and can help you find the right learning opportunities for you.

They have all been in the same situation and know how difficult it can be to take that first step. They can research suitable courses for you, find out about the times and venues and even come along to the first session with you to provide some initial support if required.

There are many exciting learning opportunities available in Barrow but as Sandra Brown, Community Action Learning Forum (CLAF) says “Sometimes we just need some-one to direct us to what is available and help us through the initial process to get us going. If you are keen to take up something new but don’t know where to start, why not come along for a coffee and chat to find out how we can help.”

The next drop-in session is at Barrow Island Community Development Centre, Island Road on Wednesday 26th February 2014 9am-11am, children welcome.

“We would also like to meet people that have already taken that first step and benefited from learning new skills, activities and lifestyles and feel they can use their experience and knowledge to help others by becoming a Learning Champion” said Sandra.

Community Learning Champions receive full support from the CLAF co-ordinator; undertake accredited training and receive travel expenses. The next training course starts in March we would love to hear from anyone interested in joining us.

For more information about the Inspiring Barrow Programme and Community Learning Champions contact info@inspiringbarrow.co.uk , telephone 01768 800350 or go to the Inspiring Barrow website www.inspiringbarrow.co.uk

Public consultation on Barrow Island - have your say about planned landscaping changes

Barrow Island CDC Open Day - 2 July

UnLtd – Star People Awards on Barrow Island

We award Cash and Support to people like you with great ideas to improve your neighbourhood!

Are you a star?

Star People are individuals who live, work, run a business, volunteer or have a deep connection with the Big Local areas – Barrow Island is one of these areas. If you know Barrow Island, and have a great idea to help make it an even better place to live, UnLtd may be able to help you with cash and support to turn your idea into a reality. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about making things better in their area and want to lead their idea. We don’t make awards to existing groups or organisations.

What kind of awards are there?

Try It Awards are for having a go, trying something out small, finding out what others have done , testing something to see if you are the right person and if it is the right idea. You can apply for up to £500 - and we’ll support you through your application and getting your idea off the ground. Do It Awards are for ideas you have thought through and are ready to go. You know there is a need, and you have thought about how you can bring in money and support to make it last beyond the cash award. You can apply for up to £5000 and support. Build It Awards, in exceptional circumstances we can make awards of up to £15,000 for individuals with a big idea with potential to grow. This has usually that has been tested in some way. Here the award can even be used for living costs to help dedicate more time to expanding the enterprise.

What sort of things can I do?

You know best what’s needed in your community – so it’s your ideas that matter. Here are a few examples of what Award Winners are already doing in other areas – but your ideas may be different. Setting up an affordable handyman service – offering reduced rates for people on low incomes. Recycling school uniforms and making them available to local families (also we’ve helped people who recycle other things like bikes!). Setting up a support group for single parents (or other groups of people). A street dance class for young people. Running a healthy eating and cooking project for children – and producing a cookbook of healthy meals you can make on a budget. Setting up a not for profit music studio for local musicians. Neil Burgess was awarded a Do It to help set up a website to support people caring for family and friends in times of need. Visit www.curahq.com to see what Neil has done with his award.

If you’d like to know more about what UnLtd offer and want to see more local people make a difference on Barrow Island, and think you can help us find some Stars over the next 12 months then please come to: Barrow Island Community Drop In on Island Road at 5.30pm- 7pm on Wednesday 12 of June 2013.

Please can you confirm if you will be attending by Wednesday 5 June by contacting Alison Greenhalgh on 07977887473 or email: bict@hotmail.co.uk

Barrow Island walking group

Barrow Island Community Trust Big Local Steering Group Meeting

Thursday 27 September 2012, at 6pm. Barrow Island Community Trust invites the residents of Barrow Island and the Ferry Road triangle to their next Big Local steering group meeting at the Drop-in Centre, corner Island Road and Anchor Road.

What is Big Local? Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas, Barrow Island being one of those areas, around England to use at least £1m to make a massive and lasting positive difference to their communities. It’s all about bringing together the local talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an even better place to live. Big Local is run by Local Trust, which is working with the Big Lottery Fund and a range of partners providing expert advice and support for residents.
What’s it not about? It’s not about the government or a national organisation telling you what to do. It’s not about individual groups fixing their favourite problem without talking to wide range of different people who live and work in the community. It’s not about short term thinking – we’ve got 10 years or more to plan and deliver the best options for our area.
Who are the key people? We are. Unlike lots of big initiatives, this is about putting residents in charge. We have to make sure everybody in our area can input on the plans and decisions and that we get access to lots of support, including a Big Local rep, but basically it’s our shout.  We have at least £1m and at least 10 years to make it happen.
For more information visit www.barrowislandcommunity.com or email bictlisam@hotmail.com

Barrow Island FREE Family Fun Day - 4 August

FREE Family Fun Days - Greengate and Barrow Island

   

Bringing Empty Homes in Barrow Island back into use

Barrow Borough Council has been allocated £3.4m from the Clusters of Empty Homes Fund to help bring empty properties back into use. This fund, totaling £60m across England, was set up to deal with neighbourhoods where more than 10% of properties are empty, and where at least 100 homes can be brought back into use. Barrow Island was selected for a bid as the only area in the Borough that met these criteria, and a bid was submitted to bring empty homes back into use amongst barrow Island flats. More detail on the fund can be found from the Homes and Communities Agency.

What will the funding be used for?

Barrow Island flats are all in private ownership and area rented out. A condition of the funding is that the government money has to be matched by investment from elsewhere. For Barrow Island, this match funding will come from the private owners, so the public investment will draw at least the same amount of private investment.

The bulk of the money will be used to work with the owners of the largest two property portfolios to accelerate a programme of refurbishment, to bring the properties back to a lettable condition. A programme of improvements to the environment around the flats will also take place, to improve the general appearance of the neighbourhood.

Barrow Council are currently working on the detail of this funding programme and will provide further information as it becomes available.

FREE Bike Security Marking on Barrow Island

Come along to the FREE Bike Security Marking at Dundalk Street Centre on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2012, from 2.30-4.30pm each day.

Get your bike security marked by local police officers and pick up your FREE high visibility wrist bands or get some high visibility strips put on your bike or scooter.

This event is organised by Cumbria Constabulary and supported by Neighbourhood Management.

Christmas Celebration at St John's Church, Barrow Island

  A Christmas Celebration will take place at St John’s Church,

Island Road, Barrow Island on Wednesday 21 December 2011.

The Barrow Steelworks Band will be appearing, with people being invited to bring along their lunch and enjoy some carols. The information gathering runs from noon, with mince pies, tea and coffee to be served.

Barrow Island Big Local Trust - News update

Barrow Island has been allocated £1m by the Big Lottery. This update will tell you what we’ve done, where we are now and what we are hoping to do next.

What we’ve done• We wrote to every household on Barrow Island in May to tell you about the £1m.
• We had a drop in on 9th June to get suggestions from the community
• We had a Streetsafe where people were asked for their views
• We have had feedback from Barrow Island young people in primary and secondary schools

Where are we now?We have had a series of meetings with Barrow Island residents to review all the suggestions and comments.
From all the comments to date, your community priorities appear to be;
• a community centre for all age groups including activities for young people

• an outdoor formal and informal sports and play

What next?Before we go any further, we need to report back to the Barrow Island community.
You are invited to an open meeting. This will be held at Dundalk St Centre, Dundalk Street, Thursday 3rd November, 6.30pmTea and coffee will be available from 6pm if you want an informal chat before the meeting. At the meeting, we will present a summary of what we have done and what you said.

We want you to:
• Confirm your priorities
• Agree a Steering Group to take matters forward

Contact us at any time

If you want to get involved, have some suggestions or have any questions, please get in touch. But not all at once!

Derek Brook, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road, LA14 1LG

Email: derek.brook@cumbria.gov.uk

Phone: 01229 407312

To keep up to date, 'like us' at  www.facebook.com/barrowislandbiglocaltrust  

Safer Stronger Communities Meeting - 9 August

Tuesday 9 August 2011 at Dundalk Community Centre, Dundalk Street Barrow from 6.30pm.

Residents living in Central Barrow, Hindpool and Barrow Island are invited to attend a Safer Stronger Communities Meeting to tell police officers their policing priorities in the area they live in.

For further information contact Inspector Dave Bosson on 0845 3300 247 or Email: BarrowBoroughNPT@cumbria.police.uk  

Barrow Island Big Local Trust Meeting

Thursday 4 August 2011. The first meeting of the residents steering group was very successful and they are now planning their way forward! The next meeting is at Dundalk Street, Barrow Island at 6.30pm. New residents are welcome but please get in touch first so you can receive all the background information and reports. Ring Derek Brook on 01229 407575 or email: derek.brook@cumbria.gov.uk

How would people on Barrow Island spend £1million?

The people who attended the Big Lottery drop-in on 9th June would spend it mainly on supporting young people. Priorities are a new Community Centre for all ages and improved formal and informal places for Sport and Play.

Many residents mentioned the possibility of upgrading Cavendish Park and making it more of a community facility for people on Barrow Island.

The results strongly mirrored the recent Streetsafe carried out on the Island in May.

All the information collected in the Drop in and Streetsafe will be presented to a meeting on 7th July.

County Council officer Derek Brook is hopeful that a group of residents will come forward to help to take the lead on proposed projects.

“We have over 30 people who have expressed an interest in working with us on the Big Lottery Big Local Trust project. But we are happy to have more. With £1 million we can really make a difference but it will involve hard work. It’s really important that the process is led by the community and not people like me – we are here to offer advice and to help.”

The first meeting of the Big Lottery Residents group will be at Dundalk Street on Thursday 7 July at 6.30pm. Anyone wanting to attend should contact Derek Brook on 407312 or sign up on the Facebook page Barrow Island Big Local Trust.

The £1M Barrow Island Big Lottery Award

Come and have your say on Thursday 9 June 2011 at Dundalk Street Centre, Dundalk Street, Barrow Island from 2pm to 4pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Dundalk St community drop-in

Safer Stronger Community (SSC) meeting

For Hindpool, Barrow Island and the town centre (Central)

14 February 2011 6:30 PM

Neighbourhood Management Offices, Dalton Rd, Barrow

Contact: Sgt McClymont Telephone: 0845 3300 247

Email: BarrowBoroughNPT@cumbria.police.uk