Branksome Good Neighbours

The 3R Foundation recently awarded £324 to Branksome Good Neighbours in Morecambe for two large gazebos.

Branksome Good Neighbours is a community-led residents’ association in Morecambe, supported by Lancaster City Council’s Community Engagement Team. Since forming in 2022, the group has organised a wide range of activities aimed at bringing local residents together and strengthening community spirit.

Their activities include free weekly coffee mornings, fundraising events, family fun days and community litter picks. For many residents, especially those who may otherwise feel isolated, these gatherings provide an important opportunity to socialise and connect with others.

One of the biggest challenges facing the group has been the lack of a dedicated community centre on the Branksome Estate. Despite this, volunteers successfully organised events including a Halloween celebration and Santa’s grotto using a resident’s garden and a small gazebo.

The grant funded two larger gazebos with side panels, helping the group create flexible outdoor community spaces that can be used in different weather conditions. The new equipment has made it much easier for volunteers to organise events without the ongoing cost of hiring venues.

The gazebos will support future activities including Easter events, summer fun days, holiday play schemes and Christmas celebrations, helping bring the local community together throughout the year.

The 3R Foundation funds grants like this through the Recycle, Reuse, Rehome charity shop in Carnforth (next to Tesco). With a large number of grant applications coming in recently, continued support from the local community is more important than ever.

Every purchase in the shop helps raise the funds that go straight back out as grants to support local charities, clubs and community groups. If you are nearby, please call in and support the shop so we can continue helping even more organisations across our area.