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Local Writers’ Group is awarded donation from Co-operative Bank

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The Co-operative Bank has given £550 to Skelmersdale Writers’ Group, a community group that is dedicated to the promotion of writing in Skelmersdale. The donation will support the creation and publishing of an anthology themed on historic Lathom House and New Park for the benefit of the local community of Skelmersdale and surrounding areas.

Secretary Carol Fenlon said “We have been considering this project for some time but did not have the funds in place to produce the anthology so this award from the Co-op Bank is a wonderful opportunity to promote the group and involve local people in contributing to the book as well as reading it! Many people still do not know very much about the history of Lathom House or of the powerful families that lived there. There are some fascinating stories to be told, dating from before Tudor times, through the Victorian period and the first war and even after its demolition, right up to the present day with the work of Lathom Park Trust and the role of the chapel in the community. One of the aims of Skelmersdale Writers’ Group is to encourage self expression through writing and we welcome input from local people. Submissions for the anthology are welcomed and can be fiction, poetry, memoir or creative non-fiction. Anyone interested in writing for the anthology can contact me at writeme@carolfenlon.com, phone 01695 728320 or check our facebook and Twitter pages.”

Ben James, Head of SME Banking at the Co-operative Bank said, ‘It’s great that our Customer Donation Fund enables us to give money to organisations like Skelmersdale Writers’ Group who make a difference to their community and bring people together. All of us at the Co-operative Bank feel especially proud that we’ve been able to make this donation at a time when many charities and community organisations are facing new challenges and a loss of vital income due to the coronavirus.’

About Skelmersdale Writers’ Group

Skelmersdale Writers’ Group is currently holding only virtual meetings due to the coronavirus. Normal meetings are second and fourth Mondays at Trinity Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Skelmersdale. Details of our activities are posted regularly on our Facebook page and information about developing the Lathom House project will also be available there or by contacting Carol as above.

About the Co-operative Bank

The Co-operative Bank plc provides a full range of banking products and services to around four million retail and SME (small and medium sized enterprises) customers and is committed to values and ethics in line with the principles of the co-operative movement.

The Co-operative Bank is the only high street bank with a customer-led policy which gives customers a say in how their money is used. Launched in 1992, the policy has been updated on five occasions, with new commitments added in January 2015 to cover how the Bank operates its business, products and services, workplace and culture, relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders and campaigning.

The Co-operative Bank Customer Donation Fund is available to all Community Directplus account holders. The fund grows in relation to the deposits made, so for every £100 increase in collective deposits across Community Directplus accounts 20p is added to the fund and the Bank promises to distribute a minimum of £5000 twice a year. Community Directplus account holders can apply for up to £1000 from the Customer Donation Fund to support special projects and fundraising activities.

Since 2003 the Co-operative Bank has donated nearly £888,000 to 1020 organisations. Deadlines for applications are at the end of March and September every year. Donations range from £500- £1000 and applications are judged twice a year in April and October. If successful, the money is paid into the organisation’s Community Directplus account shortly after.

For more information about the Co-operative Bank’s Customer Donation Fund visit:

www.co-operativebank.co.uk/business/community

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