PHX offers climate courses to help West Lancs businesses

A leading Lancashire training provider is helping businesses in Ormskirk and Skelmersdale to become more carbon friendly by offering a range of fully funded courses to help employees learn about climate change. PHX Training, which has offices across the county, is delivering 1,500 qualifications with Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership to help businesses skill up their staff with a range of short courses. The climate change course is an accredited Level 2 qualification and teaches employees about sustainability, including the science behind global warming, its effects on local businesses and ways to limit a company's carbon footprint.

Darren Pond, Business Manager for Work Based Learning at PHX Training, said:- "For many businesses, committing to reduce carbon emissions is a new challenge which can offer some uncertainty. Reducing carbon emissions requires all staff to understand how they can play their part, from taking carbon friendly approaches to commuting and transport, in addition to thinking about how emissions can be removed from a supply chain. Showing commitment to reduce carbon emissions from companies can also help give them the edge when bidding for funding or contracts. Our courses are fully funded and can allow staff to build a greater understand of how to meet the low carbon agenda, while also allowing them to harness the potential business, financial and sales benefits which are possible."

The programme, which is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions alongside the European Social Fund, is aimed to help businesses become more productive and plug skills gaps across the county. PHX Training has training centres in:- Barrow, Carlisle, Morecambe, Preston and Blackpool, to help people complete training courses to help them back into work.

PHX Training delivers Government backed initiatives including adult skills in:- Maths, English and vocational courses, NEET (not in education, employment or training) and employability contracts. To find out about the full range of support PHX Training offers, contact:- 01228210317 or visit:- PHXTraining.Co.UK.

New name for community group which raised ₤26,000 to transform historic Southport park

A community campaign group which has raised over ₤26,000 through its fundraising efforts last year has now revealed its new name. The new:- 'Make A Change For Botanic' will now press forward with plans to make substantial improvements to the Botanic gardens in Churchtown in Southport.

The group was founded by David Rawsthorne and is working closely with the volunteers from the Botanic Gardens Community Association, who have led the maintenance of the historic Victorian park over the past decade, and with Green Sefton.

Plans for this year include the installation of new water aeration fountains to help to clean the Botanic Gardens lake, a new mural which is being created by Artist Robert Newbiggin and a fun day with more details to be revealed soon.

The group was previously known as:- 'Make A Change For Ben,' which was dedicated to local man Ben Smith Crallan, who died after falling into the lake in 2018, He was just 37 years old.

Last year's fundraising efforts included a Sportsman's Dinner at Bliss Hotel with VIP guest John Barnes, with the event sponsored by Southport Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis. A successful raffle was held last Christmas, while a fundraising page was also established.

David Rawsthorne said:- "As I stated before Christmas, I intended changing the name of the group in March on the 1st Anniversary of the campaign starting. I have now decided to bring this forward and have now changed the name of the group to:- 'Make a change for Botanic.' The tragic story of my best friend Ben dying after a fall into the lake in May 2018 has always been and will forever remain very painful for me and Ben's family to cope with, but we felt the story had to be told to see change in the park and for things to 'change.' 9 months on, with 4,300 group members and over ₤26,000 raised to date I feel it's now time to take the spotlight off Ben and move it solely onto concentrating on all things Botanic. I will miss my best friend every day forever, but with regards to our campaign it's time to let him rest in peace. Ben, you really have made a change for our beautiful Botanic Gardens. The fountains that will be up and running in the next couple of months will be a lasting tribute to your life and our friendship."

Would you like to help the campaign to improve the Botanic Gardens, located in Churchtown, in Southport? Please join the Make A Change For Botanic Facebook group here.