On the 18th of September 2022, my dad, Shaun Banks unfortunately lost his battle against cancer. My dad loved getting out on his bike and wanted to ride 100km to raise money for charity. Click here to see me and Aidan do it in his memory.

A business created by a successful University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) graduate has won the King’s Award for Enterprise.

GaraDry Ltd, created by alumnus Ashley Smith, has been awarded the special prize in the International Trade category after the King approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation.

Formed in 2009, GaraDry is an eCommerce business that designs, manufactures, and sells various types of threshold seals for residential and commercial garage doors.

The BA (Hons) Industrial Des

As humans, it is only natural that we are intrigued by the past, including the lives – and deaths – of those who have gone before us. And on April 27, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)’s own Dr Philip Stone will be exploring the darker side of Lancashire’s history, with a virtual tour of the region’s places of ‘pain and shame’ – including the very spots where some of our ancestors met their unfortunate ends.

Dr Philip Stone is the Director of the Institute for Dark Tourism Research (

Service users and staff from Guild Lodge Forensic Hospital in Whittingham and the new Wesham Rehabilitation Unit have once again come together to collaborate with students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) for a free art exhibition.

This is the third time the Being Human Exhibition has been held and the first-year counselling and psychotherapy students worked hard to create pieces that represent their individuality and opinions of what it means to be human.

The project explored

The small coastal town of Lytham has reached the final of the Britain in Bloom competition for the first time since 2018.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced 44 community gardening groups had secured a place in the 2023 Britain in Bloom UK Finals. The seaside town has made the shortlist for the coastal category this year.

Bernard Pendleton, Chair of North West in Bloom said: “Lytham has received Gold in the North West in Bloom “Coastal category” and been category winner for more ye

He said: “It’s about the idea of displacing people so there’s nowhere to go, so you are just creating the problem elsewhere with this type of architecture, you’re not really solving it.

“But in places like Denmark they are very forward thinking about public space, particularly an area called Superkilen. Due to the amount of immigration from all over the world, this part of Denmark decided to create a place designed by the neighbourhood.”

Sam’s work therefore took inspiration from these Scandin

Former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle understands, from painful personal experience, just how important it is to look after your mental health.

His desire to improve the support available for those in crisis has led him and his wife Carrie to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), to create a course that provides an academic qualification for mental health advocates – the first-of-its-kind in the country.

During his 17-year playing career, Preston-born Clarke made more than 500

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) this week welcomed around 100 veterans to our Preston Campus, as the hosts of an event to match up former members of the Armed Forces with new employment opportunities.

For many of the ex-forces personnel, finding work in ‘civvy street’ can feel daunting after military life, and so the University, Job Centre Plus, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local councils all worked to bring around 27 employers and employer support organisations t

It's Friday night, your stomach is rumbling and you know full well that a takeaway is on the cards (actually, make that any night of the week).

In Blackpool, there is an abundance of fast food restaurants to choose from - so many, in fact, that deciding what to have can feel quite overwhelming. That's why we've done the hard work for you.

Here's we've put together a list of the top 10 takeaways in Blackpool, according to Trip Advisor. There's something for everyone here, whether you fancy the

The Australian National rugby league team are heading over to play in the Master's World Cup and will be playing Leyland Warriors Masters team in a warm-up game.

The contrast of city skyrise and endless countryside was evident staring out of a coach window as we made our way from the bustling city of Preston to the calm of Clitheroe.
Arriving at Clitheroe there was a breath of fresh air in the lowly rural town, contrasting the menacing Castle looking down on us atop of Pendle Hill almost intimidating.
A visit to the 1000-year-old Clitheroe Castle brought some sense of renewal after struggling with the Covid pandemic over the last year. Due to the Lockdown imposed upon the country, museums and attractions like Clitheroe Castle felt the affects when visitors were taken away and the attraction was forced to close.
Clare Sutton, manager of Clitheroe Castle and Museum for the past six years has said: “We certainly have seen an impact.”
Fortunately, the lockdown seemed to give a new lease of life to Clitheroe Castle and due to the closure of the museum, the team at Clitheroe were able to work on collections and objects which may otherwise have never been put on display.
She also added: “All things considered, we’re just as popular as July, August in 2019 on comparable terms.”

Snowy showers and cold temperatures could lead to disruption across Lancashire.
The warning for snow and ice is set from 8pm on Thursday to 11am on Friday.

This “bold” plan is set to give older people and adults with mental health needs a system in order to remain independent in their own homes whilst receiving safe support from a carer.

A group of parents have spoken out against – what they call “vicious” plans to turn the last church run primary school in Lancashire to an academy, saying earmarking is an ‘easy target’.

Preparation work will begin on Wednesday night as part of a scheme to replace the Expressway Bridge.
The M56/A533 Expressway Bridge, a concrete bridge that carries the Chester Road over the M56 motorway, will be closed overnight in both directions.
The bridge is located between junctions 11 and 12 and is a vital link, providing access across the M56 to Runcorn from Preston Brook and Northwich.