Local Army base teams up with UCLan on volunteering initiative
Hundreds of Preston locals were treated to a free community fun day at Fulwood Barracks thanks to a partnership between the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), the 42 (North West) Brigade based at the Barracks and the College for Military Veterans and Emergency Services (CMVES).
Arranged by the University’s Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership (CVCL), CMVES and with additional support from Armed Forces Group Preston and Lancashire Infantry Museum, the collaborative event aimed to promote positive engagement between the military base and the local community.
Visitors were given an insight into the inner workings of Fulwood Barracks followed by a guided tour of the Lancashire Infantry Museum, which houses the largest regimental collection in the country. They also had lunch in a field kitchen and tested out their climbing skills and agility on a climbing wall and assault course.
Young people from Jamea Mashid Youth Club, Creativity Works, Hollinshead Scouts and Duke of Edinburgh groups join staff and student volunteers from UCLan to run the inaugural event.
Staff from volunteered as part of the University’s ‘Time to Shine’ initiative that was established last year through the CVCL. The programme aims to encourage all staff to undertake some form of voluntary or charitable work and provides an additional day of paid special leave for every member who takes up the challenge.
"It was a pleasure meeting and speaking to Deputy Commander Colonel P Harrison and his military colleagues to hear first-hand about their community outreach programme and to witness how the Army is supporting community engagement"
UCLan Honorary Fellow, Community Ambassador and Chair of the UCLan Creative Communities Group (CCG) Russell Hogarth also attended.
He said: “As the UCLan CCG actively engages throughout the year on a number of community projects both on and off campus, supported by our UCLan staff, students, Honorary Fellows and community members, I welcomed the opportunity to attend the day to get a real insight into the work of the British Army and community partners.
“It was a pleasure meeting and speaking to Deputy Commander Colonel P Harrison and his military colleagues to hear first-hand about their community outreach programme and to witness how the Army is supporting community engagement.”
The College for Military Veterans and Emergency Services, which is based at UCLan, also helped to run the activity day and has been specifically set up to support UK veterans in employment and education following their previous careers.