The CCG Picture-Book - Episode 9 - '2020' - The Final Installment

Aug, 5 2020


Welcome to the  final episode of ‘The CCG Picture-book 2012-2020’. For the past eight weeks I’ve been looking back at some of the fantastic highlights the CCG has had the absolute privilege of being involved in over almost a decade of  culturally sophisticated events. Let’s do a chart rundown of the past 8:-

  • Episode 1 - 2012 - The Time Capsule
  • Episode 2 - 2013 - 1 Billion Rising
  • Episode 3 - 2014 - Royalty Graced UCLAN
  • Episode 4 - 2015 - Aziz Appearance
  • Episode 5 - 2016 - Stand Together Against Racism
  • Episode 6 - 2017 - Sir Tom Finney Honoured at UCLAN
  • Episode 7 - 2018 - The Preston Health Mela
  • Episode 8 - 2019 - Preston/Poland Connection

So that brings us to Episode 9 -2020.

For the past 20 years SOLIDAR has organised an annual event in the European Parliament in cooperation with the S&D Group, which appropriately accolades Civil Society Organisations and individuals whose personal struggles have attributed to social justice and solidarity throughout the world.

For the last episode I’ll be looking at an excellent achievement for the CCG which was  deservedly won in response to a nomination for the Silver Rose Award.

It was within the category :- Building Learning Societies - Education and Lifelong Learning that the CCG were the worthy recipients of such a fantastic prize.

Professor Romesh Gupta OBE plays a significant part in the annual Health Melas that the CCG are involved in and he recognized the amazing work the CCG does in the community which moved him to nominate us.

This is what he had to say:-

“The CCG focuses on visual and performing arts, great stories and narratives to inspire others to ‘make a difference’ through lifelong learning. Members raise awareness of important issues and inspire others to get involved in the common good. The CCG’s aims can be reduced to micro levels such as a campaign to clean up your local street; medium levels such as Preston Soup and macro levels such as educating people on the importance of participation”.

The CCG collected the award in recognition of active citizenship and lifelong learning.

Nigel Farnworth became the first employed member since 2015 and he spoke about receiving the award and it’s EU connections,

“We understand the postponement of course, and we are grateful – indeed this award has strengthened a working partnership with numerous EU colleagues, and we are proud to say that those relationships will continue beyond the UK-EU withdrawal agreement at the end of 2020”.

In addition to putting on and promoting events the CCG also shares candid personal experiences to an appreciative audience known as the Towards a Better Tomorrow Workshops. These workshops are designed to inspire participants by promoting and celebrating people who are successful despite perceived obstacles such as:-

  • Disability
  • Mental health issues
  • Poverty
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Sexual discrimination

These are delivered in a classroom setting at a  University.

The other University led event is the successful One Billion Rising Campaign. Pro-active dancers unite in response to  serious issues affecting women on a global scale. You can view this years events by accessing the following the  You Tube video above.

Chair of the CCG Russell Hogarth has these closing words upon receiving such an award,

“Working closely with a local community partner can achieve more than can be done alone, as communities can tap into different knowledge sets to generate and expand new understandings of social problems and situations – they alone, know what needs to be achieved in their own backyard, and the CCG listens, advises and supports worthwhile causes without judgement or agenda.”

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger