Post your own Huncoat news - click here to send it to us.
Please note this section of the website is 'live' and contributions from the online correspondents are not monitored or moderated. If you have any concerns over the contents of this section, please contact us here.
Yesterday afternoon I attended a small celebration at Huncoat Youth Project on the Within Grove estate.
The purpose of the get-together was to give a good sending off to Sharon Connery, a youth worker with the group for the past seven years.
The celebration also included the club's recent success in gaining charitable status, which means they have a bit more freedom to apply for additional grants and funding.
I chatted to a few of the well-wishers to find out what they thoguht of the whole day.
Gordon Russell, Chair of the Lancashire Youth Association reminisced about the first meeting he had with Sharon.
"We conducted our first meeting in a hearse.
advertisement
"Before joining the LYA, Sharon worked at a funeral directors and they gave her this big black estate car as a leaving present."
Gordon, at this point, began laughing quite heartily...
Top buffet supplied by Craig Mills
"It was such a bizarre meeting but set the tone for the rest of our working relationship!"
Currently there are 107 young people registered at the Huncoat Youth Project.
For a project that was set up and started from scratch this is a massive achievement and something that Sharon and all the volunteers are really proud of, just as they should be.
The Rank Foundation has been instrumental in the development of the youth group, which is a grant-giving charitable trust.
As Sharon said "we couldn't have done it without the money and support from the Rank Foundation.
"I want to thank everyone especially Andrea and Kayleigh, the volunteers.
"I wouldn't have done most of the thing sI have done without the support of them and others.
"Thanks to Erika Penrose, (admin at Lancashire Youth Association) for being available in my times of crisis, to Graham Whalley (Chief Officer of Lancashire Youth Association) for being the best boss in the world - he's the only one I had.
"And thanks to my lovely husband Paul."
Gill Foster, who has taken up Sharon's role, has said that she will be sorely missed.
"All the kids and staff love her, it will be hard to replace her.
"I just want to say thanks to her for all her hard work over the past few years."
Despite the event being attended by lots of important people in nice suits, there was that lovely informal atmosphere of friends just hanging out and appreciating each others' support and kindness.
Posted by: Paul Gott, Huncoat on 8:20pm Mon 12 May 08
Thanks very much Sharon for all your hard work, sorry I couldn't make it to your final official farewell. I know we will still be seeing you around Huncoat and still volunteering no doubt.
All the best to you and Paul
Thanks very much Sharon for all your hard work, sorry I couldn't make it to your final official farewell. I know we will still be seeing you around Huncoat and still volunteering no doubt.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
