It’s end of the line for Love Ormskirk
LOVE Ormskirk has ceased trading, due to a lack of volunteers and funding.
For the past four years, the organisation has helped businesses and has worked with other partners to try to change the town.
Love Ormskirk was independent from the council and was given funding in 2012 and 2013 from the High Street Innovation Fund, which was a central government initiative and which West Lancs Borough Council helped to administer.
The money was provided to assist Love Ormskirk in putting on events during this time, buy branded merchandise, carry out advertising, and market the town.
But, from 2014, the organisation was given no further funding and since then they have been using the income from their members to enable them to pay for the running of the website, social media platforms and the running costs of the business.
Unfortunately, with the business members diminishing to only 23 members this year, the decision had to be made to wind up, as it was no longer financially viable.
One of the directors, Katie Givens, said: “We believed we could get enough members to pay for the essential website and social media, plus pay for events and marketing. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get enough members to do this.
“Of course, we are sad that we have had to end Love Ormskirk, because it’s the end of an era, but when I think about what we have achieved, certainly in the first few years, it makes us proud.
“Ultimately, we needed more money to do more than just run the website and social media.
“To put on big events, we needed more funding from the council or a lot more members! We just didn’t have enough volunteers to make this happen.
“Our relationship with the council has paved the way for better communication and our involvement in the Town Centre strategy contributed to the Town Centre Management Group being formed, which is made up of key organisations and businesses in the town. We believe, with this in place, Ormskirk will thrive.”
Leader of West Lancs Borough Council and portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration, Cllr Ian Moran, said: “We are sorry to hear that Love Ormskirk has ceased trading.
“The council has provided as much support as it could to Love Ormskirk’s activities to promote Ormskirk, and will continue to work with businesses and other partners through the Ormskirk Town Centre Strategy to ensure the town has an even more vibrant future.
“Actions in the strategy will ensure that Love Ormskirk’s work to promote the town will continue.”
Love Ormskirk are happy that other organisations and key businesses are playing a key role in the development and marketing of the town.
Katie Givens added: “I would like to thank BITC and their Healthy High Street initiative, in helping Ormskirk with the support from their members, Marks & Spencer, Santander and Boots. Having these key organisations on board is very important for Ormskirk.
“I’d also like to thank and acknowledge Ormskirk Community Partnership.
“They have done an amazing job on their Gingerbread project, and they have lots of exciting things planned.
“They have worked very hard, and should be very proud of what they’ve achieved. I, more than anyone, know how hard and often unrewarding a job like this is!
“Love Ormskirk would like to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses who believed in Love Ormskirk and invested their time and money.
“They would also like to thank individuals who have worked for and volunteered their time to Love Ormskirk in the past 4 years.
“We wish Ormskirk the best of luck for the future.”
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