The Concourse Shopping Centre Has a Busy Few Months Ahead

The Concourse Shopping Centre has a busy few months ahead, with new events, creative projects, and community activities all on the calendar. From family-friendly Halloween fun to fundraising for a good cause, there’s plenty happening to bring people together.

Great News!
The Concourse Chaplains have recently been recommissioned by the Bishop at Liverpool Cathedral. This marks a renewed commitment to their work of loving and serving the wider Skelmersdale community, offering pastoral support and a listening ear to those who need it. Their presence continues to be an important part of life at the Concourse.

Halloween Fun at The Concourse Shopping Centre
This October, the Concourse will team up with About the Town Central for a free family-friendly Halloween celebration. Taking place on Thursday 31st October, between 10.00am and 2.00pm, this special Halloween event will feature face painters, arts and crafts, fancy dress competitions, prizes, and more. It’s a chance for families to enjoy the day together and get involved in creative activities, all without spending a penny.

Skem Life Heritage
Skem Life Heritage have been awarded National Lottery funding for another year meaning they can continue bringing traditional photography to the public, but this time, with a unique twist!

They’re currently converting a vintage horsebox into a mobile darkroom, and throughout 2025 and 2026, Skem Life Heritage will host several events in the Concourse Shopping Centre, encouraging people to capture images of the shopping centre itself and offering free pinhole prints.

These photographs will then become part of a public exhibition, giving local people a chance to see the Concourse through the eyes of the community.

Dates will be announced soon, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.

Join Us For Our Macmillan Coffee Morning
The Concourse will also be doing our part for Macmillan Cancer Support with a Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday 26th September, from 10.30am to 2.30pm in the East Square.

There’ll be cakes, hot drinks, a tombola, a guess the weight of the cake competition, and more. The aim is to raise £1,000 for Macmillan this year, so every coffee, slice of cake, and raffle ticket will help make a difference.

Stories of Breath Comes to Skelmersdale
The Concourse was proud to be part of the national Stories of Breath project early in September, a powerful and moving project exploring women’s experiences of asthma.

The project began in Spring 2025, when women from Skelmersdale affected by asthma took part in textile crafting workshops at Skelmersdale Library and About the Town Central. Similar workshops were held in Tower Hamlets, London, and Birmingham, with women sharing their personal stories and creating textile art to reflect their experiences.

These creations, along with sound installations and interactive displays, came together to form a striking large-scale installation in the Concourse for loca people to get involved with.

It brought science, art, and lived experience into one immersive exhibition, sparking conversations about asthma research and raising awareness of its impact, particularly on women, who are statistically more at risk from the condition.

Opportunities For Local Businesses
As well as community events, the Concourse continues to welcome new and independent businesses. If you’ve ever thought about starting a retail or food venture, there are opportunities to set up in a shop unit or in the Market Hall.

Market stalls can be a great way to test a business idea at a lower cost, especially as many units fall below the rateable value, meaning no business rates are payable. With a steady flow of foot traffic and support from the Concourse team, it’s an accessible way for small traders to get started.

For more information about starting a business in the Concourse, including Market Hall stalls, get in touch with Dianne on 01695 723785 or pop into the marketing suite.