Rachel’s Reach

22/08/2026

event was on the Flag Market today.

I popped along to see Laura and Helen from Green Rose Community Interest Company having conversations with passers by about energy saving, EV chargers, solar and plug-in batteries for Greener Homes in Lancashire
and Cosy Homes in Lancashire

I also caught up with Robin Jones
from Community Energy Preston, Stephen Sykes FRSA from Chamber Low Carbon and Andrew Glasford from Preston City Council

Our varied and interesting convo covered:
☀️Robin now looking for investors for solar panels on the college
🔥 Andrew’s take up of the funding to host screenings of The People’s Emergency Briefing in community venues
🌏 The origin of the award-winning Chamber Low Carbon
🚽 Belgian urinals and Tokyo toilets (hi-tech stuff)
🎸 how to start a community music festival from scratch

Excitingly, I grabbed some scran when, for the first time ever, I saw no queue at SpudBros. I never got the hype but that was the best jacket potato I have ever had 🥔

21/08/2026

I’ve been a bit deskbound recently so this week was quite exciting, with 3 visits to South Ribble and one to Fleetwood.

😢Tuesday night’s meeting of the South Ribble Community Action Network in Penwortham saw a presentation about social value by my colleague of 3 years on her last day in the job which was sad.

💰Wednesday was the biggest event the LACVS LOCAL team have hosted to date. Our “Meet the Funder” day at St Mary’s Community Centre in Leyland was a great success with 125 people from funders and community organisations and non-profits going really positive feedback. We couldn’t have done it without amazing volunteers from Morris’s Bakery, Coppull, Bowmer & Kirkland, and St Mary’s.

🍓Today I visited 2 foodbanks in my Green Rose Community Interest Company role. I signed up a few people for energy advice home visits and callbacks from the Cosy Homes in Lancashire advice team. Drove from Bamber Bridge to meet Adam from Wyre Council at The Big Food Truck in Fleetwood via a quick visit to Community Roots at Deepdale, Preston.

Definitely feel like I reached and informed a lot of people this week, 88 of them today.💚🧡

20/07/2026

If you’re able to get to St Anne’s next Tuesday and would like to meet other community-facing staff and volunteers, for peer-support -and information-sharing, we would love to see you at the:

Fylde VCFSE Network meeting

📅 Tuesday 28th July
⏰ 1.30 - 3.30pm
📌 Wesley’s Community Cafe & Larder, St Alban’s Rd, Lytham St Anne’s, FY8 3NQ

Facilitated by LACVS LOCAL project, funded by the National Lottery. This meeting is kindly hosted by Wesley’s and supported by Co-op.

03/07/2026

I went to yesterday to visit 3 venues which offer food support and group activities to combat isolation and promote mental wellbeing.

At HOPE COMMUNITY CARE HUB they were very busy preparing for their upcoming gala.

I was promoting the new “Don’t Wait for Winter” campaign - encouraging residents to access free energy saving tips and grants through Cosy Homes in Lancashire and Green Rose Community Interest Company.

27/06/2026

Enjoyed chatting with Sir Lindsay Hoyle about solar power and clean energy when he popped by our Greener Homes in Lancashire stand today.
Cosy Homes in Lancashire

26/06/2026

20/06/2026

Unexpectedly glorious weather for hanging about in Worden Park today with Ashlea from Greener Homes in Lancashire and Stacey from Cosy Homes in Lancashire.

Talked to lots of people about saving energy at home and I managed a bit of outreach to some of the other stallholders with our leaflets… and to the ice cream van 😃

16/05/2026

16/05/2026

💥Super Me – A FREE 5‑Week Wellbeing Programme for Children and Parents or Carers! 💥

Looking to support your child feel more confident, understand their emotions and enjoy meaningful time together? Super Me has been designed to deliver exactly that.

With support from Lancashire Health Visiting and School Nursing, we are able to share our award-winning approach across families in Wyre.

👇 Click the link below or scan the poster to book your place — spaces will go quickly!

https://forms.gle/oBaJHoVrc8Cr1Dpg6

25/04/2026

Had a fabulous day in the sunshine at the Let's Grow Preston Spring Fair with Green Rose Community Interest Company colleagues.

Many conversations about greener cleaner energy and saving money on bills took place at the Greener Homes in Lancashire and the Cosy Homes in Lancashire stands.

Annie Wynn BEM, her staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to put on this amazing free community day of entertainment and connection for which we are so grateful.

Great to see so many community groups: Community Energy Preston, Sing Preston, Blue Flamingo Cafe & Dementia Hub, Preston Pedals Community Bike Hub and I even managed to join Chrissie Jones’ Scratch Choir for a performance. Nothing like winging the singing!