Latest News
Blackburn Connexions light up for Nightsafe
7 November 2008
Staff at Blackburn Connexions Centre shed a little extra light on charity fundraising when they organised a bring-a-bulb-to-work day in aid of Nightsafe.
The team collected scores of energy-saving light bulbs to donate to the Blackburn-based project that provides holistic services to homeless young people. Nightsafe is CXL's adopted charity for 2008/09.
CXL Connexions Charity team Cathryn Smith, Cassandra Haskey and Janet Hope light up for Nightsafe
Young people find life behind bars ain't so sweet
10 October 2008
Young men from Blackburn with Darwen got a chance to sample life behind bars – if only for a few minutes – when Prison Officers from Lancaster Farms and other Young Offenders Institutions demonstrated a mobile prison cell at Blackburn Connexions Centre as part of Blackburn with Darwen’s Stay Safe Week (4-11 October 2008).
The week was organised by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) to help spread the word that keeping young people safe is everyone’s business.
Prison Officer Paul Wilkinson demonstrates the mobile prison cell
Blackburn and Accrington young people are Olympic champs!
23 June 2008
Around 20 young people from Blackburn with Darwen and Accrington teamed up to play – and win – at this year’s e2e Olympics held at the JJB Stadium in Blackburn in June.
The team of young people were supported and trained by staff at Accrington Connexions Centre and CXL and went on to win not only the Football event and a Fair Play Award but also the overall tournament.
The e2e Olympics bring together young people and staff from e2e Providers across Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen to compete against each other in sports such as football, netball, quick cricket and softball.
At the end of the tournament the champs donated £200 of their £1000 prize money to the Paul Hunter Foundation, with the remainder going to support young people Not in Employment, Education or Training in Blackburn with Darwen and Accrington.
“Congratulations to all the young people who got involved and a big thanks too, to the Lancashire e2e forum for inviting us to put a team up” said Steve Foster, Operations Manager at CXL in Blackburn with Darwen.
PWP scheme raises achievement in Blackburn with Darwen
Young people from Blackburn with Darwen were awarded certificates of achievement for successfully completing courses to help improve their future prospects under the Partnership Works Project (PWP).
PWP is a joint initiative between Blackburn College, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, CXL, the Learning and Skills Council, the NHS, Training 2000 and other local partners to help raise achievement among 16-19 year olds in the borough.
Around 40 young mums who took part in PWP’s Young Mums To Be and Parents With Prospects schemes were in attendance at the ceremony along with the first cohort of young people to have completed PWP’s football coaching programme in association with the Lancashire Football Association.
Blackburn with Darwen young people celebrate jobs boost
21 April 2008
A project to get more Blackburn with Darwen youngsters into Apprenticeships and Work Placements in the Public Sector has been celebrated as a huge success after 18 months in operation.
The Public Sector Apprenticeship Project was launched in July 2006 by Blackburn with Darwen Connexions in partnership with CXL. Financially supported by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the project works with 16-18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training to help them find Apprenticeships and Placements with Public Sector employers such as Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Lancashire Constabulary and the NHS.
CXL’s Dawn Stead says the initiative has captured the imagination of both employers and young people:
“There’s been a tremendous take-up from Public Sector employers in the Borough, offering opportunities in a wide range of areas from Business Administration to Construction, Childcare to Catering and Finance to Gardening.
“The project has already helped more than 50 young people gain opportunities, which is great news all round: young people get the work experience and training they need, and the Public Sector gains fresh new skills and ideas: everyone stands to gain”.
Young people and employers from the project got together at King George’s Hall on 17th April to celebrate their achievements and to receive certificates of commendation for their involvement.
Pictured: The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Mrs Maureen McGarvey, celebrates with the young people at King George’s Hall