Recognition update from Phil Green, Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport and Health
It is my pleasure to once again take the reins of the recognition update. It is always eye opening to see how much great work we have going on across our organisation. We really do have some amazing people working for us, who put the residents of Lancashire at the heart of everything they do.
As you will know we are using Sway as our new format for these updates. Following on from your feedback, the team will now offer a PDF version of the newsletter with QR codes to replace links in the text. This means that you can print the email for staff who have little or no access to the network. If you would like a copy in PDF format, please email:internal.communications@lancashire.gov.uk.
Recognition for Trading Standards Service
For those of you who follow us on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook, or read the news area of our website, you will have seen that our Trading Standards Service has been busy. They recently took part in a national campaign called "Operation CeCe” Activities Against Illicit Tobacco, which aimed to disrupt and seize illicit tobacco.
This hard work has been recognised in a letter from Lord Bichard, the Chair of National Trading Standards. The letter confirms that Lancashire is in the top 15 of local authorities across the country for seizing tobacco as part of the operation. It's great to see the service's efforts recognised and to see Lancashire collaborating on a national level. Well done!
PROUD awards
Our annual PROUD event was held on 29 February 2024 at Burnley Football club. The annual event recognised and celebrated the achievements of Lancashire's Children Looked After and Care Experienced Young People. The event saw many of the nominated children and young people come together with their guests. I am told it was a fantastic event and everyone that attended had a great time. Well done to everyone that helped organise the event and to the children and young people that attended.
Recognised for healthy food
Our Trading Standards Service run a scheme called Recipe 4 Health for caterers. It promotes businesses that focus on healthier eating, environmental services, and social responsibility. I am pleased to announce that our very own Reflections, the café based at County Hall, Preston, The Gallery in Lancaster, and Beacon Fell Café, have been awarded the Recipe 4 Health award, achieving Bronze, Silver, and Gold at all three venues. It is a great achievement and I’d like to say a big thank you to the staff at these sites. If you know of a business that might want to take part in the free scheme, please ask them to look at our website or contact Trading Standards at recipe4health@lancashire.gov.uk or 01772 532145.
Music to our ears!
On Sunday 17 March, 120 young musicians aged 6 to 18, spent the day working with 20 students from the Royal Conservatoire Birmingham and professors Dougie Mitchell and Richard Shrewsbury, Head of Learning and Participation.
The day culminated in a spectacular concert, held at Ormskirk High School and was a sell-out, with nearly 200 parents and invited guests attending. Music from folk, classical and rock genres, was performed after being professionally arranged and premiered by Lancashire's young musicians.
The event was organised by Jay Hall, Progression and Ensembles Lead for Lancashire Music Service and supported on the day by music service teachers and parent volunteers.
There was a great atmosphere throughout the day, with the young musicians having an amazing experience. This feedback from Joanne and Jon Gladders sums up comments received after the event: 'We just wanted to say a huge thank you for the experience and memories you gave our children today. Words cannot express what a phenomenal performance the young people gave after their workshops. Incredible! Many thanks for the musical opportunities in Lancashire'./p>
I am sure that the young people involved will have thoroughly enjoyed this event and the memories that they made will last a lifetime. Well done to all involved and a special shout out to Jay, for all the hard work.
Registrars
Many of you will know that our Registration Service provides a varied, essential, sensitive and caring service right across Lancashire. Supporting people at key moments in their life by registering births, bringing people together through civil partnership and marriage ceremonies and supporting families when they lose a loved one. We often get messages of thanks from residents, and I just wanted to share a shout out we recently received for our team in Burnley. The team have been thanked and recognised for their support in arranging faith burials with special arrangements. These burials must often be arranged at short notice to support a religious belief. I understand our team is fantastic at doing this. Many thanks to you all and all our wonderful colleagues working in this area right across the county.
Round up of shout outs
I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Exchange Team, Preston. Jonno Wort in particular helped with sound at a recent visit to Singleton Highways Depot where Angie and I spoke to staff. It was no easy task ensuring that our Highways workers could hear us in such an open space!
Some of you may know that offers for Secondary School places were sent out on 1 March. Many parents find this a nerve-racking time, waiting to know which school their child will be going to. Alex and Adam from Digital Services made a very early start, ensuring that all the secondary school offers generated by our education management system were sent out via email to parents that morning. It ensured that the majority of year sixes would know their future high school before heading off to school that morning.
And finally, congratulations to Linda Garnesy from our Countywide Urgent Care, Acute and Prisons service who has reached 38 years' service!