Blackburn Diocese Rural Focus Group

What is the
Blackburn Diocese
Rural Focus Group?

We are a group of leaders from Church of
England and Methodist churches across
Blackburn Diocese, together with
representatives of other charities and
agencies with a concern for rural issues

We meet regularly to discuss current rural
issues and how they affect churches,
communities and businesses in rural areas


We actively take up rural issues seeking to
ensure that the rural voice is heard in our
County, our Councils and our Churches,
particularly in respect of the impact of
decisions in rural areas, and to influence
future policy
Blackburn Diocese
Rural and Environmental Officer
Revd Chris Halliwell
Blackburn Diocese
Rural Focus Group
Contact Details:
01254 503070 / 07891 615989
Chris.Halliwell@blackburn.anglican.org
Methodist Church
North Lancashire Circuit
Deacon Jane Gibson
We seek to provide support to those in our
rural communities, businesses and
churches who find themselves in
difficulties or struggling
Contact Details:
01524 793234
deaconjane@sky.com
A Directory
of
National and Local
Rural Organisations
and
Support Networks
Useful Contacts
Action for Communities in Rural England
01285 653477 www.acre.org.uk
Age UK
0800 1696565
www.ageuk.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous
0845 769 7555 www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Ambulance (Emergency)
999 (emergencies) or 01772 862666
www.nwas.nhs.uk
ARC-Addington Fund (Rural housing support)
01926 620135 www.arc-addingtonfund.org.uk
Arthur Rank Centre (Rural Church & Community)
02476 853060 www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
Childline
0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
Christians Against Poverty (Debt counselling)
01274 760720 www.capuk.org
Citizen’s Advice Bureau (General advice & help)
0844 4111444 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Commission for Rural Communities
01452 627508 (Tackling Disadvantage)
www.defra.gov.uk/crc
Country Land & Business Association
0207 2350511 www.cla.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
0844 4779400 www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Disability Information and Advice Line
0808 800 3333 www.dialuk.info
Men’s Advice Line (Domestic abuse - for men)
0808 8010327 www.mensadviceline.org.uk
FCN & Farming Help
0845 3679990 (Pastoral & practical help)
www.farmcrisisnetwork.org.uk
www.farminghelp.org.uk
MIND (Mental health support)
0300 123 3393 www.mind.org.uk
Gay Farmer Helpline
07837 931894 (calls returned)
www.gayfarmer.co.uk
National Care Farming Initiative
0845 0948286 (Care through farming)
www.ncfi.org.uk
Get Connected (Help for under 25’s)
0808 8084994 www.getconnected.org.uk
National Farmers’ Union
02476 858500 www.nfuonline.com
Help Direct (Advice & links to local services)
0303 3331111 www.helpdirect.org.uk/
Hospices
Claire House, Southport: 01704 549341
Derian House, Chorley: 01257 233300
East Lancashire, Blackburn: 01254 733400
Pendleside, Burnley: 01282 440100
St Catherine’s, Lostock Hall: 01772 731997
St John’s, Lancaster: 01524 382538
Trinity & Brian Ho, Bl’pool: 01253 358881
Hospitals (Main)
Blackburn Royal: 01254 263555
Blackpool Victoria: 01253 300000
Burnley General: 01282 425071
Chorley & South Ribble: 01257 261222
Lancaster Royal Infirmary: 01524 65944
Preston Royal: 01772 716565
Southport: 01704 547471
Lancashire Fire & Rescue (Fire Safety Advice)
999 (Emergencies) or 0800 1691125
www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk
Myerscough College Myfarmlink
01995 642206 www.myerscough.ac.uk
Lancashire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs
01200 426335 www.lfyfc.org.uk
NHS Health Advice (Non-Emergency)
111
www.northwest111.nhs.uk
Police (Farmwatch & Churchwatch)
999 (Emergencies) or 101 (Other)
www.lancashire.police.uk
Refuge (Domestic abuse - for women)
0808 2000247 www.refuge.org.uk
Relate (Marriage & relationship counselling)
0300 1001234 www.relate.org.uk
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)
0300 3037373 www.rabi.org.uk
Rural Stress Helpline
0845 0948286
www.ruralstresshelpline.co.uk
Samaritans
0845 7909090
www.samaritans.org
Tenant Farmers Association
01189 306130 www.tfa.org.uk