This newsletter is normally emailed weekly, to inform you of local entertainment, events, clubs, community organisations, support, and volunteering opportunities.

The weather over the next few weeks should be back to the seasonal norm for the Furness area, i.e. rain, wind, and sunshine, all together, but hopefully nothing too extreme. However, any more rain on top of the already sodden ground could cause problems, and localised flooding is possible at any time. Please continue to report problems with roads, drainage, etc for fixing.

W&F Highways Website: Report a problem

There is an ongoing Westmorland and Furness Council formal investigation into recent flooding in the Ulverston area. If your property has been flooded in the last few months and you haven't yet been contacted by the W&F Flood Investigations team, please email Jason Harte at the following address. Please attach photos and any supporting information that you have. Jason will be available for a chat at the Ulverston Indoor Market from 10am to 1pm on Friday 1st December, so pop in to meet him and discuss local flooding issues that affect you. No appointments necessary.

W&F Flood Team Email: LLFA@Westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

If your property is at risk of flooding and you're having difficulties in getting insurance, there may be some help available. Flood Re is a re-insurance scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable as part of your home insurance.The Flood Re tool will tell you if your property might qualify for support.

Flood Re Insurance Website: Flood Re - A flood re-insurance scheme

Build Back Better offers homeowners the chance to install Property Flood Resilience measures up to the value of £10,000 when repairing their properties after a flood. This way the next time the area floods their home will be better prepared to keep as much of the water out as possible.  Measures can also be installed so that when water does enter it is easier, quicker and safer for families to clean up and move back in – often in a number of days rather than many months.

Build Back Better: Build Back Better - Flood Re

Website: South Lakes and Eden - Community Catalysts 

Community Catalysts is a social enterprise working across the UK to try to make sure that people who need care and support to live their lives can get help in ways, times and places that suit them, with real choice of attractive local options.

Community Catalysts can support people who are currently running a community enterprise that helps older or disabled people who need some care or help to live a good life. They can also help people who are interested in starting a new community enterprise.

Contact Jade Gibson on 07435 943933 or at jade.gibson@communitycatalysts.co.uk

Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet has confirmed it will take over the management of The Coro in Ulverston from 1st January 2024, committing to keep the venue operating and retaining the current temporary pop-up library offer.

The Cabinet agreement follows the announcement by The Coro’s current operators, social enterprise Ulverston Community Enterprises (UCE) and its subsidiary Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Ulverston Coronation Hall (UCH), of its intention to pass responsibility for the day-to-day operation of The Coro back over to the council at the end of the year.

UCE/UCH has operated The Coro since 2016, under a lease management agreement with the previous authority, South Lakeland District Council.

In an announcement last week, the current operators said a combination of factors, including the impact of the pandemic, followed by drastically rising costs and inflation, changes in audience and hirer behaviour, recruitment difficulties, and a tough landscape for arts and culture funding, meant they found themselves faced with an uncertain future and unable to continue with their plans for The Coro.

The meeting of Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet on 14th November confirmed that from 1st January 2024 the management and operation of The Coro will revert to the council and that the council will continue to operate it as a cultural and community venue, initially until March 2025.

This will allow the council time to prepare a detailed operational model and business case for the operation of The Coro after March 2025. This will be presented back to Cabinet for consideration by no later than September 2024. The business case will also consider what capital investment would be required to enhance the visitor experience at The Coro and to improve the long term sustainability of the venue.

The Cabinet meeting also agreed that the current temporary pop-up library offer will continue to be provided from The Coro and Ulverston Market Hall, whilst options for reinstating the permanent library offer in Ulverston are developed and consulted on.

The Cabinet has allocated a £435,000 budget for The Coro’s running costs up to March 2025.

Councillor Virginia Taylor, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities, said: “This decision today secures the immediate future of The Coro and will hopefully provide reassurance that this popular cultural and community venue will continue to operate.

“The Coro currently hosts national and international acts alongside local events and community organisations.

“It is a historic building built by public subscription and so it is right that it continues as a much-loved local venue. We will be carrying out an extensive appraisal and putting together a full business case of options to keep the Coro for the people of Ulverston in the long term.

“We would again like to place on record our thanks to the dedicated staff, board members and volunteers of both UCE and UCH who have worked tirelessly since 2016 to operate the Coro and to provide the town with a vibrant cultural offering, and a venue for many community groups and events.

“We recognise that a change in the management may cause some uncertainty, but we can reassure the community that we absolutely recognise the importance of The Coro to Ulverston and our ambitions are to maintain, protect and enhance its role as a vital arts, cultural and community venue.’’

Work is now ongoing to fully investigate and understand the emerging opportunities that result from having The Coro back under local authority control from 1 January.

In the meantime, all public and private events booked until the end of 2023 will be going ahead as planned, and anyone with an event pencilled in for 2024 will be contacted over the coming weeks.

Coffee, lunch, competitions, stalls, tombola and raffle.

Website: https://fesp.org.uk/ulverstem/

Free educational event aimed at families with interactive STEM demonstrations and activities for young people aged 6-16. Opportunity for young people and their families to find out what is on offer in Furness, in terms of continuing education and future careers.

With interactive STEM demonstrations, activities, exciting modern technologies and VR experiences from big names like Siemens Energy, BAE, Oxley and Bender, it’s bound to be a hit with all ages.

Tickets NOT REQUIRED, please just turn up on the day.

Worried about parking? No problem! There will be parking available on site at UVHS as well as additional parking at Sandside Lodge School car park just next door.

Event outside Ulverston Library to campaign for its re-opening. All welcome to come along and show your support.

Book here: Eventbrite

Join Ulverston Radical Book Club for an online discussion about the November book with the author herself, Jane Hardy on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 19:00 GMT.

Nothing to Lose but our Chains

Through a range of case studies, from cleaners to university lecturers, Hardy looks at how workers are challenging employers’ assaults in the neoliberal workplace, comparing these new actions to a long history of British working class struggle. She explores the historic role of migrants in the British workforce, from the Windrush generation to more recent arrivals from the European Union, as well as placing women's collective action centre stage. Analysing the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence, she refutes claims that we are entering a post-capitalist society.

Nothing to Lose but our Chains is an optimistic exploration into the power of the working class, showing that no matter what tools capitalism uses, it can always be resisted.

Jane Hardy was Professor of Political Economy at the University of Hertfordshire. She is now an independent writer and researcher.

Online event. Book via the link above.

Tickets £10.45 online: Book here

Join us at Croftlands Community Centre for a heartwarming Charity Drop-In Choir Session! This holiday season, we’re singing for a cause and spreading joy.

Learn a Christmas classic and raise funds for "The Choir with No Name". The Choir with No Name runs choirs and builds joyful singing communities with homeless and marginalised people around the UK. Let’s make a difference, one note at a time.

Website: EVENTS at Ford Park

Making a Traditional Christmas Wreath marks the start of the festive season. Come and join us at Ford Park for a relaxing and friendly workshop creating your own Christmas Wreath.

The workshop will be run by the very talented Sally Whittaker and all materials are provided, including a straw wreath base, fresh holly, ivy and similar foliage, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, dried chillies, pinecones, and raffia ribbon.

We will also have lots of tea and cake, and all you need to bring is a pair of gloves and some secateurs.

Why are we using straw wreath bases? Once the festive season is over you can strip back your wreath and cover with birdseed and leave it in the garden to help feed the birds through the cold winter months.

The festival will take place in the last weekend of November as usual, complete with market stalls, mulled wine, food stalls, free entertainment, funfair, and costume parades. There will also be indoor activities at the auction room, formerly the Theatre Royal, in Theatre Street.

The festival website is now fully updated with information on this year's event, including what's on, parade details, and practical information on coach arrivals, parking, etc.

Official festival entertainment will take place between 10am and 5pm on both days. Of course, Ulverston shops, restaurants and bars will continue to operate during and outside of those hours, and some will be providing their own Dickensian-style entertainment, so expect a lively evening around town on Saturday.

Please be aware that many of the town centre roads will be closed to traffic for the whole weekend, and will not be available for parking. If you normally park your car overnight in King Street, Market Street, Theatre Street, Cross Street, New Market Street or Brogden Street, please move it away before the weekend.

All of the town centre car parks will be open as normal, except for Theatre Street. Temporary visitor parking will be available at Ulverston Auction Mart, and also at Ford Park (subject to weather).

Festive crafts, dressing up, christmas carols, nativity trail. Please book in advance via email if possible. Walk-ins welcome.

FREE by optional cash donation to Ulverston Food Project on the day.

For the last 'Flourishing Futures' event of the year, Mycelium Thinking CIC is working with People Planet Pocket CIC to bring you a creative Eco-Christmas Fayre. Have a very merry season whilst shopping ethically, reducing household waste, and saving costs too! Keep an eye on our pages for stall & activity announcements.

ECO-FRIENDLY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES
Pay What You Feel creative activities using local surplus to make simple sustainable gifts and festive deco.

REDUCE HOUSEHOLD WASTE
Let's move towards a zero waste Christmas. Ideas for growing mushrooms on household and local waste. Composting options - even if you only have a 'yarden'.

MUSIC
Alternative Christmas playlist compiled by Dave Crossley (Another Fine Fest). Also - get involved in a festive Tuneless Choir style singalong! Slots throughout the day for communal carols and lip sync performances - get in touch to sign up or make any requests.

SURPLUS SHOP
Festive gifts and activities with People Planet Pocket CIC. Pay As You Feel surplus stock.

FANCY DRESS ENCOURAGED
Our team will be dressed-up in ridiculous festive gear. Join us if you like & bring any instruments you'd like to play during the sing-a-long slots.

HOT & COLD DRINKS AVAILABLE AT BAR

SUSTAINABLE EXHIBITORS & LOCAL STALLS

HUGE thanks to community members who voted in our poll for the themes of this final event, as well as Cumbria Action for Sustainability, Ulverston Town Council, and CGP for funding this year's 'Flourishing Futures' community programming.

PS - we could do with another couple of pairs of hands to help out on the day if anyone fancies it? Also if anyone wants to donate ethical/sustainable prizes for the raffle - get in touch - we would appreciate it massively XX

Tickets: Book here

Join us this January to help break the Clubbercise record! We'll be in Ford Park in Ulverston hosting the biggest Clubbercise class on record. The goal is 261 to break the current record so we need all hands on deck!

All proceeds from this event will be donated to support three much-loved charities in the area: St Mary's Hospice, Cancer Care and Ford Park Community Group.

Grab your tickets to join the fun and help us set a new world record!