West Lancs CVS have recently been awarded a four year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to support their core services.

To head up this new phase, they are looking for two people to join their team – to help strengthen the organisation and develop business support services.

Finance and Admin Officer – 16 hours a week

Funding Advice Officer – 18 hours a week

Closing date: 5pm on Friday 31st July 2026.

The Charity Commission has published some basic new guidance, entitled ‘What is a charity trustee?’

It includes:
• What trustees do
• What being a trustee involves
• The benefits of being a trustee
• Who can become a trustee
• Getting started, finding a charity to become involved with

People of all ages came together in Prescot and St Helens recently to explore DJing, graffiti art and Break Dance as part of Age Without Limits Day 2026.

Delivered by Powered by Hip Hop, the activities brought together Chatty Café attendees, grandparents, parents and children through creative workshops designed to encourage people to try something new and connect with others.

At Shakespeare North Playhouse, Chatty Café attendees explored DJ mixing, scratch DJing and graffiti art for the first time. 

Did you know that Tesco’s blue token scheme has recently been relaunched as Tesco Fruit + Veg grants?

They are inviting schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations to apply for up to £1,500 for local causes or a specific project that improves children and young people’s overall wellbeing, and includes a healthy food element to the project..

This could involve activities such as eating, cooking or growing food.

The Programmes team at Halton Borough Council recently caught up with Rachael Owen, Chief Executive of Halton Chamber of Commerce, who has been a driving force behind Reconnecting Runcorn since its inception.

As a founding board member and now co-chair, Rachael shared her reflections on the journey so far. From the early days of virtual meetings during COVID to seeing real change on the high street.

In this candid interview, she discusses the challenges, the community spirit and the exciting future ahead for Runcorn.

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More than 550 people enjoyed free entry to Catalyst Science Discovery Centre over the weekend of 11–12 July as the Centre hosted its popular STEAM Festival, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Chemical Business Association (CBA).

The free event welcomed families from across the region to take part in an exciting programme of interactive science and arts activities, alongside Catalyst’s hands-on galleries. By removing the financial barrier to entry, the festival enabled hundreds of visitors to experience science in an engaging, inclusive and accessible way.

If your organisation has volunteer opportunities but you're not yet using VCA Volunteering Portal, we'd love to help!

Getting started is easier than you think. We'll guide you through the process step by step, so your volunteer roles can be seen by people who are actively looking to get involved in their local community.

✅ FREE support✅ Easy to set up✅ Reach more potential volunteers

Get in touch today to book a free one-to-one demonstration and let us help you find the volunteers your organisation needs.

Email mbagshaw@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Organisations using the Volunteering Portal will soon have the chance to gain extra visibility for their volunteering roles through a new Volunteer Opportunity of the Week promotion.

The initiative will highlight featured volunteering opportunities advertised on the portal, helping organisations reach a wider audience of potential volunteers and raise awareness of the vital roles available across Halton and St Helens.

This new promotional opportunity aims to help local organisations attract volunteers, showcase the impact of their work, and connect more people with rewarding volunteering experiences in their communities.

In light of a new social value policy that was approved at the beginning of this year, we are now consulting with organisations across the VCFSE sector, to understand how better to provide resources, personnel and services to the Halton community, as part of the Halton Social Value Project.

We are keen to hear about upcoming projects, activities and service developments where social value support could help your organisation achieve greater impact. This could include requests for volunteer time, professional skills, training, equipment, materials, community improvements, employability opportunities or other resources that would enhance the work you do.

Youth Focus North West are working with St Helens Borough Council to carry out a Needs Assessment to understand what young people, parents/carers and those who work with young people think about the current youth offer in St Helens.

They want to hear from young people, parents/carers, and people who work with or support young people about what is working well, what could be improved, and what young people need more of in the future.

The surveys close on 7 August 2026.

We would love you to attend our Funders Festival. Drop-in between 10:30am and 3:30pm or spend the day with us.

The festival will help you develop your knowledge around how to access funding and resources that will support you to grow and sustain your organisation. The event will include workshops, a marketplace, networking opportunities, a peer support café and more….

Funders already confirmed to attend include:

The National Lottery Community Fund, John Moores Foundation, The Asda Foundation, Livv Investment, Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Halton Housing Trust, Capacity, Kindred and The Community Foundation.

Date: Thursday the 24th of September 2026

Drop-in time between: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Young people across Halton are being invited to take part in a series of free creative summer clubs designed to inspire creativity, develop digital skills and provide engaging activities throughout the school holidays.

Delivered by Digital Arts Box at Grangeway Community Centre, Runcorn, the programme is open to young people aged 8–16 years. The clubs are primarily aimed at children and young people eligible for benefits-related free school meals, with limited places also available for other eligible groups, including those with SEND, an EHCP, young carers and those who are NEET.

The programme offers a different creative theme each week, giving participants the opportunity to explore a variety of digital and hands-on activities

Halton Play Children's Charity Summer Play Schemes are back for summer 2026!

St Peter and Paul's Catholic High School - Monday the 10th of August to Friday the 14th of August, am and pm sessions. https://bookaby.me/halton-play-childrens-charity

Holy Spirit Primary School - Monday the 17th of August to Friday the 21st of August, am and pm sessions.

Bookaby // Halton Play Children's Charity

Sessions are available to children aged 5-12 years old.

Places must be booked in advance.

The Widnes Duck Hunt is back this August, offering a month of fun for families and communities across the town. 

The event culminates on 30 August with a Live Duck Hunt and Duck Festival at Victoria Park, Widnes (10am–4pm). Visitors can search for hidden glitter ducks to win prizes, enjoy stalls, games, a teddy bears' picnic, live music and enter a prize draw.

As well as bringing people together, the event aims to raise funds for community defibrillators, helping to make a lasting difference locally. Games will cost just 50p per go or five for £2, making it an affordable day out for all the family.

Date: Saturday 30 August 2026
Venue: Victoria Park, Widnes
Time: 10am–4pm

Registered Office: St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB