On The Ground Summer 2013

I s s u e 1 1 - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3

G E T G R O W I N G

Help us celebrate our 30th anniversary

M a n d a l e P a r k B M X Tr a c k

New Work Skills Job Club

Groundwork Oldham & RochdaleOn The Ground | Summer 20132

p4

p4

p6

p6

p7

p8

D i d y o u k n o w o v e r 6 0 % o f o u r s t a f f c o m e f ro m O l d h a m o r R o c h d a l e ?

Q Gardens in June

I n s i d eHelp us celebrateJoin our 30th anniversary event

A snapshot over the past 30 yearsof changing places changing lives

Mandale Park BMX TrackWork finished on track refurbishment

New Work Skills Job ClubSupport to secure employment

Changing Lives: DanielleTeam programme success story

Help GroundworkFind out how you can help

We l c o m eWe hope that you will enjoy reading our latest newsletter. This edition not only gives an update on some of our projects but it also provides some advice and guidance on how to get involved in volunteering.

It’s also good to read about the experiences of local people who have recently been involved in the many opportunities offered and read their personal thoughts on what they have gained and the difference it has made. It’s been a great pleasure saying ‘Thank You’ to the volunteers who regularly contribute to our success and the difference we make locally.

For Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, volunteers continue to play a vital role in the life of the charity, much as they did when we first started in 1983. We are extremely grateful to the many volunteers who give up their time to volunteer with us – whether that’s improving a public space or making life better for local people. Groundwork offers all volunteers the option of completing an accredited qualification and gaining next steps support such as help with their CV. Anyone interested in volunteering at Groundwork should call 0161 624 144 or visit www.gwor.org.uk/volunteer

2013 is for Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale a special year as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary in October. We have some special events planned to lead up to the anniversary.

Please get in touch if you can share any special experiences of being involved with Groundwork.

So enjoy the summer and enjoy reading about the achievements and opportunities provided here at Groundwork!

Vicki DevonportExecutive [email protected] me on Twitter @GwOR_Vickihttps://twitter.com/GwOR_Vicki

3Groundwork Oldham & RochdaleOn The Ground | Summer 2013

The Q Gardens community food growing project in Rochdale is really taking shape and gaining support from local residents and groups. Groundwork continues to run weekly volunteer sessions on Wednesdays and through this work, the site at Queen’s Drive, Kirkholt, has seen a massive transformation.

In only two months volunteers have planted a fruit orchard with apple, pear and plum trees, and growing on the ground are strawberries, rhubarb, herbs, salads, potatoes, cabbages, runner beans, broad beans and peas.

G e t g ro w i n g i n R o c h d a l e

The fresh produce will soon be put to good use as part of a series of healthy cooking workshops that will also be run at the site.

If you live in Rochdale and would like to get involved you can attend the weekly volunteer sessions from 11am to 3pm every Wednesday. Come for as little as one hour or stay for the full day. Tools, safety equipment, brews and fresh fruit will be provided!

For more details contact Gemma Russell; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

Q Gardens in July


H e l p u s c e l e b r a t e o u r 3 0 t h b i r t h d a yYou’re invited to join us on Friday 13th September for a special celebration looking back at both the history of Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale and the Environment Centre building.

The Environment Centre is the headquarters of Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale. The Grade II listed building was built in 1866 and was formerly the Higginshaw School from 1870 to 1983. As part of Heritage Open Days, we’re inviting ex-students of Higginshaw School and members of the public to come and find out more about the life of the building. You will be able to take part in a guided tour, hear from some of the people who attended the school and learn about the history of the building.

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale. As part of this important landmark we will also be celebrating the achievements and impact of Groundwork over the last 30 years. Join us and learn more about our work, look back at some of our important achievements and share your memories of Groundwork in the local area. We’re keen to hear from anyone who has had a connection to Groundwork, either as a past staff member, volunteer, participant on one of our projects or a local resident who has benefitted from our work. We would love to hear your Groundwork or Higginshaw story even if you can’t make it on the day. If you would like to attend or have a memory you would like to share with others please contact Stuart Brierley; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

2004Street Party and our 21st anniversary

30 years ofchanging placeschanging livesin the local area...

1996A local business gains a Brightsite National Award


2002Community Day at Boarshaw Clough,

Middleton

2001HRH Prince Charles visits the Environment Centre

2006Dirty Dozen clean up campaign sweeps across Oldham

1985Oldham Mayor planting wild flowers with local children

1988Volunteers clear vegetation at Kingsway ponds

2000Refurbishment finished at the Environment Centre

2011A company team-

building day at Jubilee Nature Site

2009Volunteers from across Oldham and Rochdale

C e l e b r a t e t h e w o r k o f v o l u n t e e r sYou’re invited to join us at one of our upcoming Final Presentations. Listen to volunteers talk about their time on Prince’s Trust Team and Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA) programmes. These presentations will give you an insight into what it’s like to volunteer with Groundwork and what you will get out of it. The presentations are usually followed by a buffet lunch where you can speak to the volunteers and ask them questions about their experience.


Mandale BMX Track Update

We’re delighted to announce that the improvement work at Mandale Park BMX track in Rochdale is now complete. The transformation has included re-shaping and surfacing the old trail with the addition of new features and jumps. Volunteers have also been working to lay dead-hedges around the site and reseed the grass slopes at the side of the track. It is hoped the new BMX track will appeal to novice riders as well as more experienced riders. Groundwork has been working with local riders and the project has been supported with funding from United Utilities, Transform Your Patch and Carillion.

Benefit from our new Work Skills Job Club

Do you need some extra help with finding employment? Do you feel that you are not getting much response from job applications? Do you need to brush up on some important work skills?

If you answered yes to any of these then you may find our new Work Skills Job Clubs very useful. We have helped hundreds of people get ready for work and find job opportunities related to their skills and experience. By completing this 4-day training course you will:• get up to date with I.T. and Universal

Jobmatch• learn your rights and responsibilities• discover job search techniques and

positive behaviours• prepare for interviews and learn about

employer expectations• gain advice and guidance with careers,

C.V. and applications• take part in transferrable skills sessions.

The Work Skills Job Club runs every two weeks, is free to anyone claiming benefits and we will also pay for your travel expenses. For more details or to join contact Toni Summerscales; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

C h a n g i n g L i v e s : D a n i e l l eAn important focus of much of our work is that we’re changing people’s lives in a positive way. Here’s a recent example…

Danielle, aged 16 and from Oldham, was bored, spent too much time in bed and was on the verge of being kicked out of her supported accommodation. She decided to join Groundwork’s Prince’s Trust Team programme as she realised she wanted to improve her confidence, meet new people and do something with her life. Danielle liked the sound of the Team programme and the many benefits on offer.

“The course stopped me being lazy and got me in to a good routine. I’m soon starting a YMCA course before going to college in September doing Performing Arts. The Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team programme is really good as it helps you develop your key skills. It is a very friendly course – all the staff are dead nice and helpful and I would recommend the course to other young people.”


N E W S I N B R I E F :

Team up to make a difference

Take part in our new Practical Countryside Skills course starting on Tuesday 27th August. If you’re looking to volunteer outdoors, improve your conservation skills or make a difference to the local environment then this is the course for you. The Practical Coutryside Skills course will improve your skills, provide you with a nationally recognised qualification and give you voluntary experience to add to your CV.

As part of the course you will be carrying out improvement work to nature sites – learning whilst helping to improve the local environment. The course lasts for ten weeks and will take place three days per week (Monday to Wednesday), 10am to 3pm. For more details or to join contact Matthew Lynwood; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

Aged 16 to 18 and looking for something useful?

Groundwork has lots to offer local young people. If you’re looking for an exciting challenge, specific training, work experience or support finding a job, we can help. For more details contact John Davies; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

Volunteers thanked for valuable support

We’ve recently said a big thank you to the thousands of people who have worked on Groundwork projects over the last 30 years. Volunteers continue to play a vital role in the life of the charity, much as they did when it first started in 1983. This year more than 150 people have already volunteered with Groundwork and over 60 people have pledged their support as volunteers via the Groundwork website. Read about our grateful appreciation of volunteers on our blog http://groundworkor.wordpress.com

A b o u t U sGroundwork Oldham & Rochdale helps people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, to build skills and job prospects, and to live and work in a greener way. We’re a registered charity with 30 years of experience working with partners to deliver successful projects in the Oldham and Rochdale area.

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, Environment Centre, Shaw Road, Higginshaw, Oldham OL1 4AW

Charity number: 514726 | Company number: 01762088

C o n t a c t U sGive us a call - 0161 624 1444

Visit our website - www.gwor.org.uk

Read our Blog - groundworkor.wordpress.com

Facebook - GroundworkOldhamRochdale

Twitter - GroundworkOR

Flickr - GroundworkOR

YouTube - GWOR30

Landscape InstituteRegistered practice

H e l p u s t o c h a n g e p l a c e s a n d c h a n g e l i v e sAs a charity we are increasingly dependent on the kindness of others to help us change places and change lives. We gratefully receive donations of money, materials and tools from both individuals and businesses.

This year we have received donations from companies large and small including B&Q, B&M, Crown Paints, Gordon Riggs Garden Centre, Granger Games, Iceland, market traders at Tommyfield Market, Park Cakes, Tesco, Wickes and Wilkinson.

Since April this year, individuals have donated over £1,600 to young people fundraising for local Prince’s Trust community projects. In May, Oldham resident Tawnia Norman ran the Edinburgh Marathon in support of Groundwork, raising cash for a community garden in Oldham. In July, Rochdale resident Pauline Massey donated a collection of unwanted tools for our volunteers to use on gardening projects.

There are many ways you can get involved and help:

Spread the word – about our work in the local area

Volunteer – on an environmental or community project

Donate – money or materials to local projects

On The Ground Summer 2013

Documents

Transcript of On The Ground Summer 2013