Julie Hesmondhalgh announces exciting new initiative for Accrington

By Scott Dawson Advertising

02 Oct 2023

Julie Hesmondhalgh.jpg.jpg

#AmazingAccrington business leaders have been asked to support an exciting new initiative led by actor Julie Hesmondhalgh.

The Winter Writing Trail, in conjunction with #AmazingAccrington, will see local primary and secondary school children, and those in the wider area, as well as students from North Lancs Training Group (NLTG) and Accrington & Rossendale College, invited to take part in a themed creative writing competition.

The students will be asked to write a story or poem up to 300-words, on the theme of winter or Christmas, before 12 winning entries are selected by Julie and displayed in shop windows around Accrington centre.

The winners will also receive £50 each, donated by the #AmazingAccrington business leaders, who were asked to get involved in the campaign at the #AmazingAccrington business leaders meeting held at St James' Church on Thursday 21st September, where Julie spoke to business leaders, training providers, education establishments, members of Hyndburn Borough Council and many more.

Those winning entries will be joined in 12 further shops by written pieces from professional writers, who will also be awarded £50 each from the money donated by #AmazingAccrington business leaders.

Audio recordings will then be produced, with various celebrities reading out the 24 poems, and QR codes of the recordings to be displayed in the participating shop windows.

All 24 shops will then be part of an exciting Winter Writing Trail competition, which will see Under 12s visit each of the shops to collect one highlighted letter from each poem/story, which will then make a phrase. Entries will then be submitted to Accrington Market Hall, for the chance to win prizes.

The competition trail will be officially launched at the Accrington Christmas Light Switch On, which takes place on Thursday 23rd November, where the 12 winners will be invited on stage.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, said: "I am so excited to be working on this wonderful initiative here in my hometown of Accrington, it is going to be fantastic to see all the community getting involved and both writing and thinking creatively.

"It will also be great to see the work of professional writers and our local students coming together, and to involve local businesses as part of the competition trail leading up to Christmas is just incredible."

Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington, commented: “We would like to encourage our business leaders to get involved in this amazing initiative by donating £50. It is going to be a great activity for local youngsters to get involved in, and to be working with Julie, who is such a local legend, is inspiring for us all.

“The donations need to be pledged by 6/10/23 to be included in the activity, by emailing [email protected]

Sameena King, Manager at Accrington Market, said: "This is such a brilliant idea and the Market Hall are delighted to be hosting the post box to receive the competition entries. Not only will this support our market and town centre businesses with extra people visiting, it will brings people together in a creative way. Hopefully, it will help inspire the next generation of creative writers from Hyndburn too!"

For further updates on the Winter Writing Trail, please visit: www.amazingaccrington.co.uk

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin