A toast to all that’s good in the Valley
IT’S that time of year when many people take a moment to reflect on what they have to be thankful for. In Rossendale, there’s a lot to be thankful for, not least the people who live here.
As well as being a friendly place to live, Rossendale is also home to many, many people who go above and beyond to make the area a better place to live.
Take, for example, the Community First Responders team, who are volunteers who give their time to help care for people and save lives in the local community.
Very often, these volunteers are called upon by the ambulance service to get to an emergency before an ambulance can, maybe giving reassurance when someone is having chest pains, but in more extreme circumstances performing CPR themselves.
The North West Ambulance Service says its community responders are ‘heroes.’ They are volunteering to save lives every week.
They aren’t the only ones doing their bit either. Another organisation which rarely gets the attention it deserves is Community Defibrillators for Rossendale which aims to raise the money for defibrillators to be installed around the Valley, ensuring people suffering heart attacks and similar don’t have to wait for an ambulance.
Seconds matter in such circumstances, and last week, the organisation confirmed the installation of the 32nd defibrillator, this time at Stubbylee Park in Bacup, funded through a donation by the Citizens Advice Bureau and a Lottery grant.
Again, lives will be saved because of their work.
Another group who continue to marvel are the area’s team of retained firefighters. If your house is ablaze you won’t know a retained firefighter from a full-time one.
The difference is the retained firefighters are people who have regular jobs, and provide cover for the fire service when at home.
It’s a remarkable thing to do - holding down a regular job and then providing on-call cover to help save lives, and avert people coming to harm.
Another emergency service not mentioned so far is Lancashire Police, which last week celebrated the arrival of 13 new special constables who bolster stretched full time police resources when the public need them most.
Last week for example, East Lancashire had 11 extra officers on duty on Saturday night. In one shift alone, they arrested someone for cannabis possession, dealt with a problem driver, helped a vulnerable person will mental health issues, seized a vehicle with no insurance and dealt with numerous 999 calls. All give at least 16 hours a month to making the area safer, which is a remarkable thing to do.
Then, of course, there’s the emergency service with Rossendale in its name - Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team. Around the clock, a team of specialist volunteers are waiting for the call to help people struggling in some of the most inhospitable surroundings. The team train every weekend, and also have to raise around £35k a year just to keep going.
While many of us were busy getting the last Christmas shopping in over the weekend, the mountain rescue volunteers were at Asda in Rawtenstall explaining what they do, offering advice on how to stay safe over the winter, and raising money too.
It’s at this point of the column where it could be easy to offend by not mentioning any of myriad organisations which make a difference in Rossendale. Take Rossendale Hospice, for example, which provides priceless care and support for people with life-limiting conditions in the Valley. Like most hospices, it relies heavily on donations to keep up its work - which costs around £750,000 a year.
It would cost a lot more if it wasn’t for the network of 200 volunteers the hospice can draw on to provide support - both emotional and practical - to patients and the organisation.
Or the Civic Pride groups dotted around the Valley who go out in all weathers to keep our town and village centres free of litter, and are responsible for many of the stunning floral displays we are treated to. Earlier this month, they planted 500 hyacinth bulbs in Jubilee Gardens in Crawshawbooth, which will look stunning - and smell great - in the spring.
Meanwhile, Civic Pride in Helmshore and Haslingden has clocked up 672 rubbish bags during the course of this year. Just imagine how much worse the area would be if it wasn’t for the work of these heroes in high-vis jackets.
Animals get their support too. There’s Rossendale Responsible Rescue which rescues and cares for animals across the area, while Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary above Edenfield rescues all sorts of animals - and relies heavily on volunteers too, both to fundraise and look after the animals.
This column could go on forever, and obviously this is just a small selection of the community spirit alive and well in this area.
Brownie, Rainbow, Guide, Cub, Scout and Beaver organisers are busy across the area as are local theatre groups, church and other religious organisations making a difference.
Then it’s worth remembering that behind every public event we attend, there’s normally a team of hard-pressed volunteers who have helped to make it happen.
This column, as ever, is keen to celebrate the great things going on in Rossendale. You can email rossendalescribbler@gmail.com if there are people or organisations who should be celebrated in this column. In the meantime, Happy New Year!