MP gets into the VE Day spirit

MP Angela Rayner is pictured with volunteers

Ashton MP Angela Rayner joined volunteers from a dedicated community group to help care home residents embrace the wartime spirit ahead of VE Day.

Smallshaw-Hurst Community Action Group is a collection of local charities and organisations that have joined forces to mobilise support for those that need it during the coronavirus crisis.

It is made up of Smallshaw-Hurst Children’s Community, Ashton United in The Community, St John’s the Evangelist Church and Broadoak and Smallshaw Association.

Staff at Kings Park Care Home in Hurst Cross reached out to the group on Facebook and asked for help to make the 75th anniversary of VE Day special for residents, who are struggling with isolation, anxiety and lack of visits from family and friends.

The group’s volunteers immediately got to work, printing hundreds of VE celebration posters and flags to be coloured in by local children.

The youngsters were also given VE Day party kits containing flags, hats, balloons and sweets.

The completed designs will be given to residents at their celebratory afternoon tea tomorrow (Friday) and Mrs Rayner, whose constituency includes Failsworth, will speak to them via Zoom as their special guest.

Staff at the care home will also be presented with special stress busting kits by the group to thank them for all their hard work on the frontline.

Mrs Rayner, who was recently elected as Labour’s Deputy Leader, said: “It was great to get stuck in with volunteers from Smallshaw-Hurst Community Action Group.

"I really enjoyed delivering the packs to local families and I can’t wait to see the finished results.

"It will be fantastic to join the celebrations at Kings Park Care Home on Friday.

"We can’t celebrate VE Day in the ways that we usually would, but we can certainly find ways to make the day special.”

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.