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Pendle YES Hub Supports Local Young Person Into Employment and Beyond

Pendle YES Hub, a Youth Employment Support Service run by Active Lancashire in partnership with Pendle Borough Council, Positive Action in the Community (PAC), and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has played a key role in helping 17-year-old Abdul-Raheem Araf overcome barriers to employment and personal growth.

Abdul was referred to the YES Hub in August 2024 by his work coach, Maymuna, as he navigated uncertainty about his future. Approaching his final year of college, Abdul struggled with low confidence and anxiety over his next steps. His initial goal was to find part-time work, but he was also eager to gain a clearer sense of direction for life after education.

Upon joining the YES Hub, staff quickly recognised the pressure Abdul was under and supported him in accessing NHS mental health drop-in sessions. This was a crucial first step in helping him improve his wellbeing and begin exploring new opportunities.

As Abdul began to engage more with the support on offer, he took part in a series of confidence-building activities, including outdoor adventure sessions with Move2Change, indoor climbing sessions at West View Better Health Leisure in Preston, and songwriting workshops with Blaze Arts and rising artist OneDa. A highlight for Abdul was being able to participate in an indoor kayaking session delivered by Worldies CIC at Pendle Wavelengths – an activity he had always wanted to try, but hadn’t previously felt confident enough to do so. Abdul found that the physical activity sessions and wellbeing support offered by the YES Hub, in collaboration with local partner organisations, helped him to reduce stress and gain a clearer sense of direction for his future, whilst connecting with other young people facing similar challenges.

Abdul added, “I’ve been supported in many ways, and it’s really helped build my confidence. The YES Hub’s outdoor activities have given me some mental stability and provided a helpful distraction from anxiety. I also attended their counselling sessions, which were great when I needed someone to listen and offer advice.”

Throughout his time at the Hub, Abdul received ongoing guidance from his dedicated work coach, Chris, who adopted a compassionate, no-pressure approach. Chris and Abdul worked together to explore the barriers Abdul had faced to securing employment and, as Abdul’s wellbeing began to grow while accessing the YES Hub’s provision, the pair were able to form a plan for Abdul’s future. Chris supported Abdul in creating a CV and developing interview skills and, in November 2024, Abdul secured part-time employment at Banny’s British Kitchen in Colne. Moreover, through Chris’s no-pressure approach, Abdul has been able to realise his dream of becoming a Paramedic – something he had felt was beyond reach before he accessed the YES Hub’s support.

As Abdul prepares to begin studying Paramedic Sciences, he continues to work part time and attend the YES Hub as a means to destress and socialise with others. This summer, Abdul will visit the Houses of Parliament with Pendle YES Hub, and is planning to attend a variety of the Hub’s summer activity sessions.

Mehvish Ashraf, Youth Engagement Worker at Pendle YES Hub, is delighted with the progress that Abdul has made stating, “Abdul has made the most of the wide range of support available at the YES Hub. It’s been incredible to watch his journey; he has truly grown in confidence and flourished through every opportunity he’s taken on.

“We’re excited to see what the future holds for him, his determination proves that with the right support, anything is possible. We hope that more young people will relate to Abdul’s story and reach out for help and support, whether it be through attending a physical activity session as a way to meet new friends and destress – or by accessing the wide range of mental health and employability support we have on offer here at the YES Hub.”

Pendle YES Hub is open Monday – Friday and is open to anybody aged 16 – 24 living in Pendle and surrounding areas. All of its activities are free of charge and are designed for those of all abilities. For more information on Pendle YES Hub or to access its provision, please email [email protected].

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A young Pendle woman recovering from a difficult time with her mental health, has turned her life around with the help of Pendle YES Hub.

The Hub, managed by Active Lancashire and Positive Action in the Community on behalf of Pendle Borough Council, is designed to build the confidence, health and wellbeing of people aged between 16 and 24 and boost their employability through skills training and work experience.

Elecia Richardson referred herself to the Hub with the support of her parents.

Having deferred sixth form, she wanted a structured timetable with a variety of social, physical and creative activities to help rebuild her confidence and give her a routine to fill the gap deferring sixth form had left.

A critical part of the Hub’s work is ensuring young people can explore their interests and build confidence at their own pace. Elecia chose to play pool with Mehvish Ashraf, a Youth Engagement Worker at the YES Hub.

Elecia was reserved at first, but the fun and competition of the game provided an opportunity for her to open up.

She also got involved in other activities, including guitar lessons which gave her a creative outlet and a sense of accomplishment; and outdoor walks, which significantly benefited her wellbeing, providing both physical activity and a space for reflection.

She attended the Hub regularly for six months, with the consistency of her visits playing a key role in her development.

As a result, Elecia has become more socially active, spending more time with her friends and family and the progress she has made has been amazing, with her confidence growing and her social anxiety reducing greatly.

Elecia is due to start college in September. In the meantime, she has enrolled on the King’s Trust 12-week programme at her local fire station. This will give her the opportunity to go on a residential as well as get involved in a community project.

Elecia said: “I am thankful for the support from everyone at the Hub, especially Mehvish, who has helped me to gain my confidence back.

“I feel my time at the Hub has helped to improve my mental health massively, as it gets me out socialising and being around other people.”

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “Elecia’s journey at the YES Hub demonstrates the power of a supportive, person-centred approach.

“By allowing her the freedom to choose her own path while providing encouragement and mentorship, has seen her grow into a more confident and independent young woman.

“Her experience reinforces the impact of creating a nurturing environment where young people feel empowered to take control of their personal development and future aspirations.”

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Biggest year for This Girl Can events in SPAR Lancashire School Games

Activities aligned to the This Girl Can campaign have included more young female participants in physical activity than ever before in the SPAR Lancashire School Games.

Seven hundred girls from primary and secondary schools across Lancashire have participated in a range of Girls Active events in the 2024-25 SPAR Lancashire School Games this academic year, in what marks the 10th year of the This Girl Can campaign since its development by Sport England in 2015.

This Girl Can is designed to tackle the gender gap in activity, promoting a change in how females of all ages, abilities and backgrounds think and feel about exercise, empowering them to exercise with increased confidence to develop regular exercise habits that build resilience.

Within the SPAR Lancashire School Games, Girls Active events are designed to improve engagement physical activity and have included dance, glow dodgeball, rollerblading, climbing and bouldering, orienteering, padel, volleyball, fitness tennis, and spinning.

Run by Active Lancashire and the School Games Organiser Network, the Lancashire School Games have been sponsored by SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd since 2006.

Andy Clark, Schools Partnership and Skills Officer at Active Lancashire, said: “We have enjoyed another fantastic year of Girls Active events within the SPAR Lancashire School Games, and our biggest yet, having first integrated This Girl Can’s aims and ambitions into our calendar through a series of events several years ago.

“What we tend to find with school age girls here in Lancashire is a lack of participation in sport and we have been working hard to improve that. We work with a lot of underprivileged children and the low participation could be due to inequality and the cost of accessing sport, but there is also a huge problem of confidence, and particularly female body image when exercising.

“With the Girls Active programme, we have specifically targeted those hard-to-reach young females in Lancashire across our three delivery areas with a broad programme of activities to great effect and we look forward to building on that in the years ahead.”

Nic Greaves, Head of Division for Physical Education at Parklands High School in Chorley, said: “Girls Active has been a fabulous opportunity for our pupils. It has allowed them to experience atypical sports and activities that they do not often get exposed to in the education environment.

“It was fantastic as their PE teacher to see pupils being successful, building their confidence and resilience, and most importantly, being active. The girls really enjoyed themselves, and what I liked the most was seeing them outside of PE lessons building important relationships and working with new people.

“I also had feedback from many parents about their children enjoying themselves and they think it is wonderful. One that really stuck out was a parent whose daughter had sent them photos of her from a Girls Active event happy, confident and with some new friends at a time when she had been struggling with her mental health.”

The SPAR Lancashire School Games are delivered in three distinct clusters in Lancashire – Coastal, Central, and Pennine – aligned to local needs. In 2023-24, the Games engaged 26,000 children in sport and activities across the county through 27 feature events and competitions.

James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.

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Active Cycles to Launch Free Bike Hire Library for Lancashire Residents

Active Lancashire’s community-driven bike shop, Active Cycles, is launching Free Bike Hire Libraries, ‘Try a Bike’ sessions, led rides, and more — all made possible by funding from Lancashire County Council through the new Adult Cycling Scheme, aimed at getting more people cycling.

The initial launch of the Adult Cycling Scheme will begin on 1st July with the brand-new Free Bike Hire Library from Active Cycles’ shop in Accrington Arndale. Adults will be able to reserve a bike for free online or in-store for as little or as long as they wish. Further rollouts of the Free Bike Hire Library are planned for Pendle, Rossendale and Padiham later this summer to give even more adults access to free, active travel. By removing financial barriers, the initiative will enable more people to experience the health, wellbeing and environmental benefits of active travel, whether for commuting, leisure, or simply getting back into cycling. What’s more, those who hire a bike for 2 weeks or more will receive a £10 voucher for Active Cycles which can be used toward the purchase of an adult’s bike, with prices starting from just £50.

The second phase of the Adult Cycling Scheme, also set to launch in late summer, will see the introduction of ‘Try a Bike’ sessions at Active Cycles and partner locations which will provide adults with guidance from trained mechanics on bike sizing, maintenance, and suitability, helping individuals feel more confident and informed before starting their cycling journey. Building on these sessions, Active Cycles will also begin working with partner organisations to offer led rides, learn-to-ride sessions, bike maintenance workshops and cycling leader training, providing ongoing support and development opportunities for those new to cycling or looking to build their skills further.

The Adult Cycling Scheme falls under Active Cycles’ wider mission to enable more individuals to begin cycling, thereby creating a greener, healthier Lancashire. Active Cycles already has a well-established bike shop based in the Accrington Arndale Centre, which has rescued over 1800 bikes from landfill in the last 12 months, which have been restored by volunteer mechanics and sold to the community from as little as £25. 

Speaking about the launch, Michelle Grimes, Manager of the Active Cycles project at Active Lancashire said, “We’re delighted to be launching the Free Bike Hire Library in Accrington thanks to the generous funding from Lancashire County Council. Cycling is a fantastic way to stay active, reduce travel costs and support mental wellbeing, but for many people, access to a bike can be a barrier.

“Thanks to this new scheme and the ongoing work of Active Cycles, we’re making it easier than ever for local residents to get on two wheels and experience the many benefits that cycling has to offer.”

The Bike Hire Library will launch in Accrington on 1st July. Bookings can be made via the Active Lancashire website, calling Active Cycles on 01254 919393 or by visiting the shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:30AM and 3:30PM. Individuals can receive an email reminder of the launch and the expansion of the Adult Cycling Scheme by signing up via this link or by following Active Cycles on Facebook.

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Rossendale Works Helps Local Man Overcome Isolation and Secure Employment

A local man has turned his life around after engaging with Rossendale Works, a community-focused employability programme that supports residents in overcoming personal and professional barriers to find meaningful work.

Rossendale Works is a partnership between Rossendale Borough Council, Active Lancashire, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The initiative provides tailored one-to-one support, access to skills development, volunteering placements, and employment opportunities for individuals facing multiple challenges—including mental health issues, long-term unemployment, and social isolation.

Since its launch in 2017, Rossendale Works has supported over 400 local people into sustainable employment. The programme takes a holistic approach, focusing not only on employment but also on confidence-building, wellbeing, and community reconnection.

One recent success story is Chris, who discovered Rossendale Works through a Facebook post. At the time, Chris was struggling with depression and severe social isolation, feeling that he didn’t fit in anywhere and had little motivation to engage with the world around him.

That changed when he began attending Rossendale Works sessions every Monday and Thursday. The regularity and supportive atmosphere gave him structure and helped him build confidence. Chris describes the programme as giving him “a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”

With growing confidence, Chris took on a volunteer role at the Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary Charity Shop in Bacup, gaining valuable experience and reconnecting with his local community.

Chris said, “the only way I can describe looking for a job at almost 50 years old is like looking through the wrong end of a telescope. It takes people like the employees at Rossendale Works to teach you not to give up, but to turn the telescope around!

“I don’t know if Rossendale Works realise just how much they have supported me – a huge thank you to their team for all of their help and encouragement!”

Now, Chris has secured a position at a local health equipment manufacturer, where he is thriving. Chris continues to attend sessions ran by Rossendale Works where possible, even stating that he would love to volunteer in the future and support others who are in similar positions to him

Rossendale Works Employability Officer, Oliver Chadwick, who worked with Chris from the beginning of his journey, said, “I’m incredibly proud of the progress Chris has made in such a short period of time. It takes real courage to admit you need help and to take that first step—and Chris not only did that, but showed real commitment by engaging with us twice a week.

“Through consistent support and the use of physical activity as a tool to build confidence and wellbeing, Chris was able to overcome the significant barriers that had been holding him back—not just from employment, but from connecting with others and finding a sense of belonging.

“Seeing him now, thriving in his new role and re-engaged with the community, is a real testament to what can happen when the right support is in place.”

Rossendale Works offers a variety of free, weekly activities open to those of all abilities, including both physical activity sessions and access to free training and qualifications. For more information, visit www.activelancashire.org.uk or email [email protected].

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How Sports Can Boost Fitness and Team Spirit in Schools

Exercise and physical activity in schools are a crucial part of a student’s development and consistently promoting fitness and team spirit is essential.

National School Sports Week takes place from 16-22nd June and celebrates movement, motivation and unity through sport. This week-long but ongoing initiative brings schools, families and communities together and empowers young people to be active at school and embrace fitness.

According to the Daily Mile Foundation, 74% of primary school teachers in the UK think that children’s physical activity is declining. The same study found that 87% of teachers agree that daily physical activity would improve school children’s behaviour and their learning outcomes.

This year we want to make sure that all children in the UK are active and reaping the benefits of physical activity, whether it’s through rugby, dance or athletics.

The SPAR Lancashire School Games, which works with schools and School Games Organisers across the county to ensure more young people have access to sport and physical activity sessions, has partnered with Spencer Clarke Group, an award-winning recruitment agency, to create a comprehensive guide on how sport can boost fitness and team spirit, as well as the benefits of being active in schools.

What is National School Sports Week?

National School Sports Week is an annual campaign that aims to promote an active approach to school life and encourages children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, everyday.

Created and led by national children’s charity Youth Sport Trust, National School Sport Week aims to promote physical activity, health and wellbeing among young people. This year, Youth Sport Trust is celebrating its 30th anniversary of bringing schools, families and communities together to empower young people through sport.

The theme for the 2025 National School Sports Week is ‘Always Active,’ which focuses on ensuring every child has opportunities to be active every day. The ‘Always Active’ approach aims to integrate physical activity into daily school life to create positive, inclusive experiences and ensure it becomes a lasting part of the school routine.

What are the benefits to promoting physical activity in schools?

Benefits to promoting physical activity in schools for children and young people, include:

  • Improves physical fitness.
  • Boosts team spirit.
  • Enhances physical health and wellbeing.
  • Supports students’ overall development.
  • Creates a more productive learning environment and better learning outcomes.
  • Improves behaviour and discipline, leading to fewer classroom disruptions.
  • Increases motivation and concentration.
  • Creates more inclusive experiences.
  • Promotes lifelong habits of physical activity, health and wellbeing.

How can sports in schools boost fitness and encourage team spirit?

Different ways schools can boost fitness and encourage team spirit, include:

  • Creating sports teams.
  • Encouraging individual school activities.
  • Offering extracurricular activities such as after school clubs.
  • Hosting in-school tournaments.
  • Attending competitions and national tournaments.

Exercise is proven to significantly enhance cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength through aerobic and anaerobic activities that can be done in schools. When it comes to boosting fitness in children and young people, one of the most obvious solutions is to promote exercise and physical education in schools.

Encouraging children and young people to be active is crucial as it can significantly enhance fitness levels and strengthen team spirit, ultimately promoting an active lifestyle for students. Doing sports at schools can help break down barriers and create inclusive experiences which can help forge friendships and connections that can improve mental health and wellbeing.

Whether it’s football, netball or hockey, trying different team-based school sports and activities inside and outside of school can help students understand the values of teamwork.

School sports allows students to express themselves, develop a new skill and stay active which can garner a greater sense of belonging and mutual support. Even sports, activities and games that focus on individual performance can foster a sense of unity as students can encourage each other and share tips and advice for best practice.

Sports events like sports day, inter-school tournaments and competitions can boost team spirit and motivation, as students can bond over shared experiences and common interests. Having school sports teams and afterschool clubs not only provides provision, but can inspire ongoing engagement and provide opportunities for students to compete while improving their physical fitness.

Students, parents and communities can support each other and celebrate their successes to ensure every child and young person feels seen, valued and appreciated.

Through physical activity, students can gain confidence and resilience, which can improve their mental health and wellbeing as well as their ability to socialise. This is important as promoting the power of physical education, sport and activity in school helps build happier, healthier futures for children and young people while also supporting their mental and physical development.

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Spencer Clarke Group is a specialist education recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Operating nationwide, they help schools to find experienced teaching and support staff on a daily, temporary, temp-perm or permanent basis.

After growing exponentially since they launched in 2017, Spencer Clarke Group was named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the 2024 Recruiter Awards.

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    James Rasmussen Avatar James Rasmussen
    June 11, 2022

    Great place

    Tamasin Lamb Avatar Tamasin Lamb
    June 11, 2019

    Still a great place with hard working staff to get the inactive active.

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    June 11, 2024

  • Great people willing to engage sport for all

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Active Lancashire Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales Company No: 06859894 and Registered Charity no. 1159832. 

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