Event will foster community spirit

PARISH Councillor Jamie Curley

A DYNAMIC parish councillor is on a mission to showcase the best of Saddleworth and Oldham at a high-profile community day.

Jamie Curley, who has been a member of Saddleworth parish council for two years, is bringing together volunteer and community groups at Uppermill's civic hall on Sunday, April 2.

The plan is to encourage the organisations to explain their individual attributes to the wider community and attract new members.

Heartbeat

It's Your Community Day is a four-hour event which will be packed with local groups and associations including representatives from the Saddleworth and Lees District office, MAHDLO and Action Together.

They will be on hand to offer advice, workshops and training for community and volunteer groups. And a bonus is the real junk food project will be serving up a treat.

In addition to raising organisation's profiles, Cllr Curley believes the day will attract new members/volunteers, possible funding and to offer networking with other groups.

And by demonstrating to the wider Saddleworth community the range of community-based activities, people with some time to spare can contribute and get involved with a group that suits them.

Cllr Curley said: "Volunteering can be really rewarding. People meet new friends, learn new skills and get real satisfaction from playing an active part in the community.

"It can also be a way for people to enhance their CV if they are job hunting as employers always look at outside activities positively."

He added: "I am constantly struck by the fantastic community spirit we have and through working with groups such as SSYCA who are reenergising the Satellite at Greenfield, the community associations and others.

"I realised volunteers and groups such as this are the very heartbeat of our community.

"However, they usually rely entirely on volunteers, people giving up their spare time and offering their expertise and sometimes volunteers can be thin on the ground.

"What I hope to achieve from the day are a number of things including networking of community associations and groups and swapping of ideas about projects, resources and fundraising ideas.

"Attracting people into volunteering with a group, even if they only have a couple of hours to spare or could do something like the administration for a group, keeping a database or accounts.

"It will mean people will know what is available. Many groups offer services to families, such as FACET who are a support group for Families of children with ASD.

"Our partners at Action Together will be available to provide workshops and training for community groups with advice on setting up, running and fundraising."

He concluded: "The message is 'this really is your community - get involved'."

Anyone who would like to book a stand for the event which takes place between 11am and 3pm, contact Christine Wilson or Jane Sorienti on 0161-772 6804/8416 or email jane.sorienti@oldham.gov.uk.