Council-funded project helps families thrive in West Lancashire

Families across West Lancashire will benefit from healthier lifestyles thanks to extra funding for Shares Lancashire’s P.A.S.T.A. (Play and Skills at Teatime Activities) programme. 

The Council has awarded £10,750 from its 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) pot to fund P.A.S.T.A. - a dynamic after-school program that’s revolutionising the way children and parents approach nutrition and physical activity. 

The six-week initiative offers after-school courses that bring together parents and children from ages five to 11 to learn about healthy cooking, nutrition, and the benefits of physical activity. The sessions include: 

• Hands-on cookery sessions teaching easy, low-cost, healthy meals 

• Fun physical activities encouraging movement and wellbeing 

• Nutrition education to promote informed food choices and healthier lifestyles 

Courses are run weekly in schools and local venues across West Lancashire, helping to build healthier habits and stronger family bonds. 

Councillor Vickie Cummins, Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We’re proud to continue supporting Shares Lancashire as part of our ongoing commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of families across West Lancashire. 

“Our support for this initiative in recent years through funding reflects our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of families in West Lancashire. Balancing busy schedules while trying to cook healthy, affordable meals and staying active is challenging and so the practical advice and information P.A.S.T.A. provides is invaluable.    

“The P.A.S.T.A. programme gives families the chance to come together, learn new skills and have fun while doing it. It’s a brilliant example of how community-led support can make a genuine, lasting difference to people’s lives.”   

Emma Hart, Senior Project Lead at Shares Lancashire, added: “This further funding has allowed us to grow the P.A.S.T.A. programme even more to help reach more families across the borough and to deliver high-quality sessions that really make a difference.  

“We’ve seen first-hand how much parents and children benefit - from learning to cook simple, healthy meals to gaining confidence and enjoying time together. This support is helping us create healthier, happier communities and we’re excited to see how the funding positively impacts even more people.”  

To find out more or sign up for upcoming sessions, visit: www.shareslancashire.co.uk