Mayor's salute for women power and much-needed Round Table fund-raising

Women power and Round Table fund-raising has been praised in the latest personal appreciation awards from the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Ginny Alexander.

Community heroines Dovestone WI have received a special certificate in recognition of their outstanding community support and charitable work. 

In the citation, Mayor Ginny said: “I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding efforts that you have all done to raise such a fantastic amount for local foodbanks. 

“Life is really challenging at the moment and even more so, for those in our community that are vulnerable.

“Your kindness is felt community wide and is very much appreciated.”

Industrious Dovestone WI have raised a staggering £11,000 in donations for their 'Fabric into Food' initiative of  making reusable face coverings. 

 And every penny has been turned into food for struggling families and local foodbanks.   

The cotton face coverings are available in adult and children sizes for a minimum £2 donation at local outlets or on-line, plus Hard of Hearing stickers which stick to both fabric and disposable masks. 

Jessica Moreland, Dovestone WI president, said: “We are immensely proud and humbled to receive this award.

“A huge heartfelt thank you goes to our members, honorary members, and people across the wider community, for all their help in helping us to help others."

For further information on Dovestone WI, visit their Facebook page or website at: www.dovestonewi.com

Meanwhile, Saddleworth’s Trojan fundraisers have also received a personal accolade from Cllr Alexander.

The loyal members of Saddleworth Round Table also received the Mayors Appreciation Award.

In a citation, the Mayor said: “On behalf of the people of Oldham, I would like to award the Saddleworth Round Table with the mayors appreciation award in recognition of your outstanding community support and charitable work.

“I have been overwhelmed by your hard work and dedication during COVID-19, offering your support and raising funds for local charitable organisations.

"It was delightful to see the virtual Santa Dash taking place, what a lovely way to keep people’s spirits up!"

John Arthurs, chairman of Saddleworth Round Table (pictured above), said: “It’s a real privilege to receive the mayor's appreciation award.

"It has been a very different year with all of our events having to be cancelled.

“We had to come up with new ways to help the community, and at the end of March we started with our campaign to raise funds for the frontline staff at Oldham hospital supplying them with meals, hand creams and much more.

“We managed to raise over £11,000 and had many donations from local businesses .

"We also teamed up with Oldham foodbank to help to help organise food drops-offs which are much needed at this current time.

"We have had four drop offs with almost 10 tonnes of food dropped of with a value of around £25,000."

Mr Arthurs added: “We did manage to run our Santa Dash, even if it was virtually. 

"Five hundred people signed up to the event and we raised more than £2,000 for the foodbank.”

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