Word on the Street: Charities at Christmas
by Colne Life magazine
In this issue, we strolled down Colne’s Christmas-light-adorned high street to chat with the charities that support our communities all-year-round.
Meet… Hayley, Manager at Colne Citadel
What is Colne Citadel proud of in 2024?
“Just this morning, we woke up to an email from Acquisitions International awarding us with Community Centre of the Year 2024. We’ve also just celebrated our 10th anniversary and celebrated with a big Citadel’s Got Talent party. We’ve noticed an increase in service users this year and have made many connections with different partners in Colne, which is fabulous as it means we’re working together as a town to help people.”
What do you enjoy about Christmas in Colne?
“I love Christmas in general! The Christmas trees went up in the town centre last week, and the big Christmas in Colne event is always fantastic. For shopping, I enjoy supporting local shops, especially Saint’z Dragons and Funky Gifts. At the Citadel, we’re also hosting a wreath-making workshop on December 11th.”
What could make Christmas in Colne even better?
“If it snowed!”
Meet… Sarah, Assistant Manager at the YMCA
What do you enjoy about Christmas in Colne?
“It’s just really nice to see the whole town come together, which they do. We get many people in the shop who have come to the events – the community comes together. The Whimsical Wonderland event is fantastic; the community handmakes huge light-up flowers.
There are so many events throughout the year, like the Soapbox Race – it’s a good little town. We’ve got a lovely strip of shops on the main street for Christmas shopping, but you’ve also got Boundary Outlet. There are some lovely little shops in Shackleton Hall, too.”
What could make Christmas in Colne even better?
“It’d be nice to have more toy shops in the town, and I imagine they’d do well at Christmas.”
MEET… Jacqueline, Volunteer at Pendleside Hospice
What do you enjoy about Christmas in Colne?
“We’ve just got the Christmas stuff into the shop today, so I’m just putting it all out. I actually live in Nelson rather than Colne, but I do my Christmas shopping here.”
What could make Christmas in Colne even better?
“Maybe if it snowed, or if there were more lights in the town centre – that would be brilliant!”
MEET… Sam and Julie, Volunteers at Colne Open Door Centre
What is The Open Door Centre proud of in 2024?
“The charity was featured on the BBC National News in October. The café has also had a revamp. As always, we’re making up food hampers this Christmas to give out to families. We make sure it includes food and toys, biscuits and sweeties, the Christmassy things that people can’t afford to buy at the moment.”
What do you enjoy about Christmas in Colne?
“I love the Colne Light Switch On, with celebrities coming to Colne! It’s cool as we’re only a tiny town really, so for people on the telly to come, it’s quite good. At Open Door, we’re open Christmas morning, offering bacon butties, and the manager, Nick, gives out selection boxes because we get a few families who come down on Christmas morning. We try to make sure we give out board games and toys so that the family has something to play on the day. We’ve had some really nice thank-you emails from people. It makes you feel appreciated.”
What could make Christmas in Colne even better?
“We need a lot more for the kids, for teenagers especially.”
MEET… Jolene, Assistant Manager at Colne Citadel
What do you enjoy about Christmas in Colne?
“Last year at the Citadel, we had a big Christmas party. My children also love the Christmas Light Switch On. Everyone comes together; all the communities work as one in Colne. I always go round to the little shops for window decorations at Christmas. I’m really into Matalan at the moment – we’ve even got our Christmas pyjamas already! I try and use the smaller shops as much as I can. I think because I work here, I’m seeing we need more of the community to use the smaller businesses as well as the bigger ones.”
What could make Christmas in Colne even better?
“I think it’s a really good community, and all the charities help at Christmas; there’s always a lot going on. It is a hard time for a lot of people, and this year, there was a very high male suicide rate in the area. We have a male support group, and we put on free counselling, but we’re trying to think what else we can do.”
MEET… Tracy Lea, Volunteer at Colne Citadel
What do you enjoy about Christmas in Colne?
“I like going round the shops. I’m looking forward to the opening of a new market. There are lots of nice little shops in the town, including Funky Gifts. I always like the Christmas tree and the decorations in the town centre.”
What could make Christmas in Colne even better?
“It’ll be good when they open the new market. I think that’ll be brilliant for everybody, just having more places to go and shop. It’s a bit lost up there in the old Poundland. People don’t really know it’s there. So I think that’ll be really good for Colne, and hopefully, it’ll attract more people.”
To share your views on Colne, email – editor@northernlifemedia.co.uk
ColneLife Dec/Jan/ 24/25
