Throughout the year various fund raising events have been held....

Skelmersdale Community Food Initiative expands

Following the success of the initial Food Initiative box scheme, which served 80 families in the area, Skelmersdale Food Cooperative has extended the scheme to serve another 120 families. By Easter 2006 this will double in size to four areas served by the scheme.

The not-for-profit scheme, funded by the National Lottery, aims to improve diet in areas of low income and poor access to fresh produce - so called "food deserts".

Wigan Council has been so impressed with the success of the Skelmersdale initiative that it is proposing its own scheme, starting in September. Bootle and Sefton Councils look set to follow also.

Meanwhile, secondary schools in Huyton and Crosby (Liverpool) are running Schoolyard Markets. Manned by 14-15 year old pupils, these serve fruit and vegetables to parents, visitors and locals. Redbridge will begin to supply two sites in September.