Progress Housing Group is helping to fund festive lunches in Chorley on Christmas Day

Progress Housing Group will award the volunteer group, known as Community Christmas 2025, £1,000 from its Community Investment Fund. The volunteers received the most votes at the Group’s Soup Dragon’s Den event after proposing to fund a festive lunch at St George’s Church Hall in Chorley.

Nathan Benson, lead volunteer, said: “This event has become a lifeline for many —offering not just a hot meal, but warmth, companionship, and a sense of belonging on a day that can be especially difficult and lonely for some in our community.

“If anyone in the South Ribble or Chorley area needs food and/or company on Christmas Day, please use this link to book. We offer a delivery service or a sit-down meal at 1pm, entirely free and run by volunteers.”

To boost their funding, the volunteers are holding a Now That’s What I Call a Christmas Fundraising Concert at St George’s Church Hall, in Chorley, on Saturday November 22, at 2.30pm. Tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions. Book tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-laurences-church/now-thats-what-i-call-a-christmas-fundraising-concert/2025-11-22/14:30/t-ejkxyyl

The other three community initiatives who pitched during the event, at St Mary’s Community Centre in Leyland, will receive £200 from the Group’s Community Investment Fund:

• iHOPE Fylde – a community group led by a Progress Housing Group tenant who has set up Family Stay and Play for adults and their children to have meaningful time together through arts, crafts, puzzles and games.
• Leyland Community Greengrocers – the initiative aims to promote healthy affordable food grown in South Ribble and surrounding areas to local communities. Join members at Leyland Market on Saturday 20 December for its celebratory launch.
• Rooted Connections CIC – a community interest company which will provide wellbeing workshops, exploring traditional herbal remedies for physical and emotional health.

Diane Nash, Customer Voice Manager at Progress Housing Group, said: “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part in our Soup Dragon’s Den event.

“It was inspiring to hear the incredible work being done across our communities, and to see participants not only sharing their ideas but also connecting with one another — a powerful reminder of the value of collaboration this event brings.

“Well done to our winners, Community Christmas. We know how much it will mean for people to feel part of a community on one of the loneliest days of the year.”

• Progress Housing Group is now planning its next Soup Dragon’s Den event in May. Applications will open from April. Keep an eye out www.progressgroup.org.uk for more details.