“We don’t stop playing because we grow old;
We grow old because we stop playing .”
… George Bernard Shaw
Contact Us
For general information about Park View 4U please email info@parkview4u.org.uk
To contact the Community Centre Development Manager please email cath@parkview4u.org.uk
To contact the Trustees please email trustees@parkview4u.org.uk
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Check out our new Facebook Group
Congratulations to Cath Powell MBE
Cath, as many of you will know, is now the Community Centre Development Manager for ParkView4U.
Amongst other things she also has responsibility for maintaining this web site.
That might explain why there hasn’t been any mention here so far of the fact that she was awarded an MBE in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List. 
As the admin of this site I thought we really ought to put that right, and I am sure you will all join me in congratulating her on some very well deserved recognition for all of the hard work put in by her and the other trustees.
We ARE expecting pictures of the big day on here Cath!
Park View 4U honoured by the Queen!
The Queen pays tribute to a Lytham volunteering group with a prestigious Award
Park view 4U from Lytham has been announced as one of 95 volunteering groups from across the UK winning this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, recognising the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.
The prestigious National Honour, which is equivalent to the MBE, sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, and the activities of those awarded have been judged of the highest standard.
Park View 4Uhas received the Award for its work in regenerating Park View Playing Fields .
Winners of this year’s Award were selected from 406 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.
Park View 4u will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal. These will be presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth at a special ceremony arranged by the Lieutenancy office. Group representatives have also received an invitation to a Royal Garden Party event at Buckingham Palace in the summer.
Speaking of their success, Mr Ray Norsworthy from Park View 4 U on behalf of his fellow trustees said: “The Charity ‘Park View 4U’ was set up with the simple aim of regenerating the Park View Road Playing Fields for the benefit and enjoyment of the children and people of Lytham. Over the years the project has grown beyond our wildest belief, but at no stage did we ever dream that our efforts would be honoured by Her Majesty the Queen. We are extremely proud to receive the Queens Award and humbly do so on behalf of all those who have helped us achieve our goal.”
The Award is overseen by the Office of the Third Sector, in the Cabinet Office. Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, said,
“Volunteering binds communities together and builds a stronger and kinder society. Often these unsung heroes go about their work without much recognition, that’s why I’m particularly pleased to see their efforts recognised and rewarded by the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.”
More than 700 groups around the UK have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, over the seven years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
For details of all this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service winners and information on how to nominate a group that really makes a difference, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk, where a nomination form can be downloaded.
Problem Orientated Partnerships (POP) awards
The Park View 4 U community group and the local police are celebrating as The Park View 4U initiative won the Fylde category of the Problem Orientated Partnerships (POP) awards, designed to recognise responses to problems that have used partnership working. Park View 4U also clinched the De Vere overall prize as the best initiative.
At the De Vere
Councillor Tony Williams, Chair of BSafe Blackpool, who organised this year’s awards, said: “All the initiatives nominated for the awards deserve recognition .They show how, by working together, the different agencies across Blackpool and the Fylde can tackle issues that threaten the safety of residents and visitors.”
“The winning initiatives worked particularly hard and made a huge difference to the lives of the community. They truly embraced the philosophy of sharing expertise and resources and set an example to all community groups.”
Fylde took the overall prize which gives them £1,000 from the De Vere. Park View 4U was designed to deal with criminal damage to street furniture, juvenile antisocial behaviour and an apparent lack of facilities for families in the Lytham area. Road safety partners were involved in making Park View road in Lytham safer by altering its layout in some areas and also reducing the number of cars parked on the road by introducing a new car park on the site of the park itself. This encouraged more local residents to make use of the park and to encourage further use of the park two new cycle paths were added. The council dealt with drainage issues to make the land in the park suitable for four new football pitches. A BMX track was introduced and this has seen the development of a club that meets at the park on a weekly basis.
To encourage the use of the park by all ages a toddler play area was designed and installed within the park near to a skate park for teenagers. Even senior citizens were catered for through the installation of eight pieces of Thai Chi equipment.
The scheme has brought the community together to enjoy their local space. It has provided them with things to do and encouraged respect for the area. It was recognised as having a huge impact on the community by helping to cut down on anti social behaviour and youth nuisance and it is hoped the scheme will develop even further with their next project The Core.
Cath Powell from Park View 4U said “This award is a wonderful recognition of all our hard work and the fantastic work that the P.C.S.O’S are doing with the young people of the area.”
Bryan Ward, Community Safety Manager at Fylde Community Safety Partnership said: “I am delighted that the overall winner is from the Fylde but must say that all the initiatives involved are truly excellent and have all done a wonderful job in protecting our towns.
“The Park View 4U was a huge project at the time and has received a tremendous response from local residents. It was truly partnership led and is well deserving of this accolade and I add my congratulations to all involved.”
Chief Superintendent Russ Weaver, Divisional Commander for the Western Division of Lancashire Constabulary, presented the awards and said “These awards aim to recognise the excellence in achieving solutions to local community problems.
“The entries demonstrated the fantastic work that goes on in Blackpool and the Fylde to improve the quality of life for residents. It provided an opportunity to recognise these achievements and to celebrate the effects that they have had on the local community.”
From Park View to Parliament
Park View 4 U Come Runners up in the BURA Award (British Urban Regeneration Award)
The Park View 4 U Community group is celebrating after coming runners up in this year’s BURA Awards, a prestigious national award to reward community regeneration projects.
The project had two separate visits from the judges who said “This project stood out as more than the usual green space facelift. The ambition and confidence demonstrated by Park View 4U was matched by their skill and dedication in creating an innovative project of high quality.”
One panel member said: “There’s not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe this project and the effect it’s having on the whole town and beyond”.
A spokesperson for Park View 4 U said “Just to reach the final is astonishing, as it is the first national award we have been nominated for, and then to hear we are runners up in such a prestigious competition is fantastic. It is a wonderful recognition of the community’s hard work and dedication”
The award will be presented at a special luncheon at the House of Lords this Friday, representatives from the group including some of the young people who have been involved in the project will be travelling to London for the ceremony. Their spokesperson said “We have always worked very closely with the young people, so we felt that it was only right to include them in the celebration”
LiveCom Awards
Park view 4U played a big part in the towns Live com presentation, helping Lytham to win third place. This was an international event and our little park received a tremendous reception from towns from all over the world.
Pride of Place
Park View Playing Fields topped the poll for the public’s most favourite place in the Borough with 43% of the votes!!
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