At B&E Boys, we believe that being part of the local community means more than simply working here. It means supporting the people, organisations and projects that help make Rossendale a great place to live.
That’s why we were pleased to recently support Community Assets Standing Tall (CAST), a local charity that has been working in the Bacup community since 2013.
CAST is a small charity, but the work it does has a very real impact. Its focus is on bringing funding, support and community projects to the people of Bacup and the wider Rossendale area, working alongside other local organisations to help make services and opportunities more accessible.
One of CAST’s current projects is its Thursday Lunch Club, held at the AB&D Centre on Burnley Road in Bacup. The lunch club provides an opportunity for older members of the community to get together, enjoy a meal and spend time with other people in a friendly and welcoming environment.
For some people, opportunities like this can be about much more than lunch. Regular community activities can provide valuable social contact, help people feel connected and give people something to look forward to each week.
CAST also works closely with other community organisations, including Dementia Friendly Rossendale, helping to widen the support available across the area.
A small charity making a local difference
CAST has been bringing funding into the Bacup community for more than a decade and has delivered a variety of projects over the years. Its work has been supported by organisations including the National Lottery, Rossendale Borough Council, the Community Foundation of Lancashire, the Eric Wright Foundation and other local and national funding bodies.
Like many smaller community organisations, CAST relies on a combination of funding, fundraising, volunteers and support from others to continue its work. That’s something we think is worth highlighting.
There are lots of fantastic charities and community groups across Rossendale doing important work, often with relatively small resources. Financial contributions can obviously help, but support doesn’t always have to mean a large donation. Providing materials, volunteering time, sharing information, sponsoring an activity or simply helping to raise awareness can all make a difference.
Could your business support a local organisation?
We were happy to play our small part in supporting CAST, and we’d encourage other local businesses to look at the organisations working in their own communities too.
You don’t necessarily need a huge budget or a dedicated corporate social responsibility programme. Sometimes, simply asking a local charity or community group what would genuinely be useful can be a good place to start.
For CAST, continued support helps them put more resources into the community and continue projects such as the Thursday Lunch Club.
They are also currently looking for people who may be interested in getting involved more directly, including potential new trustees and volunteers who could help with community projects and fundraising.
If you’re a local business, organisation or individual and would like to support CAST, why not take a look at what they do and see how you could help?
Find out more about Community Assets Standing Tall and the work they do in Bacup and across Rossendale: communityasset.org
At B&E Boys, we’re proud to be part of the Rossendale community, and we know we’re just one of many local businesses that can make a difference when we work together.
Sometimes, supporting your community starts with something quite simple: finding out who needs a helping hand and asking, “What can we do?”