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For stronger communities in and Tameside

Oldham and Tameside News Edition Two | Autumn 2017

Improving lives in

Oldham and Tameside

together

Action Together 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6EP Tel: 0161 339 2345 www.actiontogether.org.uk #BelieveItsPossible

At Action Together we believe local people have the power to improve lives and communities, particularly through collective action. It’s evident 2,398 organisations from this research that Oldham and Tameside have active and vibrant Hello and welcome to Action in the VCSE sector in communities and a strong base for Together’s newsletter that features community action. all of our latest research, projects and Oldham and Tameside We know that local people, with the news in Oldham and Tameside. Action Together strives to build support of community organisations, dynamic and strong communities Action Together commissioned the can affect meaningful changes and in Oldham and Tameside. We are in State of the Voluntary, Community, we’re committed to doing all we can a time of immense political, system Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector 2017 to help and support this. and structural change with increasing research with Hallam to inequalities and levels of poverty. gather insight into how VCSE activity From this research it is clear that the 71,000 people in Oldham and Tameside is changing. need for our work and that of the The results showed the breath of volunteering their VCSE sector is as critical as ever. activity, highlighted the impact of the time to benefit others sectors work and identified areas for Of significant concern and a call to collective action. The findings also 3.3 million action for Action Together is the fact helped Action Together understand interventions with that sustainability for many groups the support we need to provide and organisations continues to be a and the external factors that will clients, users or major challenge. More groups and affect the sector’s sustainability. beneficiaries organisations are using their reserves

2 How can we help? Welcome to our first Oldham and The Teams Tameside newsletter as Action Together. We’ve celebrated our first Central Support birthday and had many successes The team takes care of the in the first 12 months of Action administration and finance of Action Together. Together, and also provides a payroll bureau service and accountancy to Contact us groups. Our main contact number is 0161 to ensure that services run, people are 339 2345. Partnerships supported and change happens in The partnerships team works We’ve launched our new website communities. to develop opportunities for groups www.actiontogether.org.uk. We can help if your organisation to make connections and have needs support or advice. Please Our email addresses follow the influence. contact our teams. pattern firstname.surname@ actiontogether.org.uk. Active Communities £110.6 million Encourages and supports people in Post or Visit their community to become more contributed to the active through giving their time, economy by paid Action Together Oldham office skills and expertise. employees of Oldham 12 Chambers, West Healthwatch Street, Oldham, OL1 1LF. and Tameside VCSE Is the independent consumer Opening times: champion for health and social care sector organisations Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm in Oldham and Tameside. Finally, we’d like to say a big thank Action Together Tameside office Development you to everyone that completed the survey and all those involved in 95-97 Penny Meadow, Ashton-under- Provides grass roots groups with supporting us and the VCSE sectors in Lyne, OL6 6EP. support with all aspects of running a group including 1:1 support in Oldham and Tameside. Opening times: planning, managing projects and You can view the full reports at Monday - Friday, 9.30am–4.30pm, finding resources. www.actiontogether.org.uk/ StateoftheSector2017 Please call ahead if there’s someone specific you want to see. Liz Windsor-Welsh, Chief Executive Action Together

3 Supporting local volunteering together

Action Together brings together Tameside to deliver a one stop shop of information about your organisation. two nationally accredited Volunteer local volunteering opportunities. We are running a series of information Centres, improving the volunteer offer We have developed a new way sessions and inviting volunteer across the . of recruiting volunteers to your managers to come along and receive We offersupport, information and organisation. Come along to one hands on, practical support from guidance to Oldham and Tameside of our information sessions to find the team. We will also help you think residents on a wide range of out how you can attract volunteers about how to write a winning role volunteering opportunities. through the Action Together website description to grab the attention of www.actiontogether.org.uk. those potential volunteers. We are a volunteer brokerage service that helps organisations in Oldham Volunteer managers are able to If you would like to discuss your and Tameside find volunteers. We upload volunteer opportunities volunteering needs call Sian work with hundreds of voluntary, directly to the website and to manage Goodwin on 0161 339 2345 or community and charitable them, ensuring that potential email sian.goodwin@ organisations in Oldham and volunteers get the most up-to-date actiontogether.org.uk.

Volunteer Coordinators Forum

Our volunteer coordinators forum Venue: The Honeywell Centre, Coordinators. Please invite colleagues provides a regular space for volunteer Hadfield St, Hathershaw, Oldham, who work with volunteers to attend. coordinators in Oldham and Tameside OL8 3BP. Light breakfast provided. Booking is to network, learn and access relevant essential. Our forum is open to Volunteer training and support. Coordinators across Oldham and Keep an eye on our website for more Volunteer Coordinator Breakfast Tameside to offer greater networking, information www.actiontogether.org. Forum learning, support and partnership uk or call Sian, Lisa or Alishia on the opportunities. Volunteer Centre team 0161 339 2345. Date: Thursday 30 November The session will provide opportunities At Action Together we believe Time: 9am – 11am to network and meet other Volunteer #YouMakeTheDifference.

4 New volunteering opportunities in Oldham and Tameside

Volunteering is a rewarding activity for create new products and pass on their Volunteering is all ages, with something for everyone. skills to people within our community. You can make new friends, learn new Second Generation Furnishings about giving your skills and even have some fun! Below collects unwanted furniture from the are some of the new opportunities time to make a public, clean it and safety test when available locally: necessary before offering it for sale to difference the general public and at a lower price To register your interest in any of Oldham Personal to people who are referred as being these volunteering opportunities in particular need of support, by and or to look at what other roles are Advocacy Limited agency/support worker. available please visit: Treasurer www.actiontogether.org.uk/ Key Skills/Interests volunteer/search-for-opportunities. Do you have a strong financial • Joinery experience essential background and strategic leadership We can also offer you a experience? • Experience of working in a joinery confidential, informal appointment shop with one of our advisors. To OPAL works with people with book an appointment, contact learning disabilities and autism • Knowledge of workshop machinery us on 0161 339 2345 or visit who live in Oldham and develop e.g. bandsaw, sanders www.actiontogether.org.uk. activities and services which they • Repair, refurbish and re-upholster identify and suggest. Voice, Choice furniture Oldham and Independence for people with • Paint, varnish and polish furniture Call in and visit us Monday learning disabilities and autism to Friday, 9.am – 5pm at 12 underpins everything they do. • Adhere to workshop heath and safety practises Manchester Chambers, Oldham, OL1 1LF. Volunteer Befriender • Creative with good problem solving skills Tameside Tameside Hospital Voluntary Services • A willingness to pass on skills and Call in and visit us Monday is recruiting volunteers to visit hospital teach others to Friday, 9.30am – 4.30pm at 95-97 patients who do not get a regular Penny Meadow, Ashton‑under- visitor and chat to them to help them Lyne, OL6 6EP. pass the time and also make them feel Social Group Leader valued. DBS check required. Oldham Disability Arts is looking for volunteers to lead on the setting up Key Skills/Interests of room and welcoming the members • Patience on either Mondays, Wednesdays and • The abilit to talk to anyone Thursdays. • A good sense of humour Key tasks • Wantig to support older people • Set up the room To register your interest in this • Welcome and sign in members volunteering opportunity, please visit Serve drinks the Action Together website, click Give • Talk to members help then volunteering. • Get involved in arts and crafts Volunteer Up-cycler • Experience of working in a joinery shop Second Generation Furnishings, , is looking for someone to • Knowledge of work help bring old furniture back to life, 5 about becoming a Miles of Smiles driver, contact Lisa on 0161 339 2345. Training passengers from their home, take #YouMakeTheDifferencethem to their destination and (in Interested in volunteering? Unsure most cases) wait until they are ready of what is involved? ​​​​​​​Come along to to return home, unless they are being one of our free pre-volunteer courses Volunteer Drivers Needed admitted or the appointment will to find out more before making a Miles of Smiles is a unique take several hours. The passenger commitment. We will be running project covering Tameside. It links pays a small charge for the service. these courses in both Oldham and a team of volunteer drivers with Tameside on the following dates: The service is extremely popular and vulnerable people across the in need of more volunteer drivers Tuesday 28 November – Oldham that need help getting to their health to avoid disappointing vulnerable Tuesday 12 December – Tameside and wellbeing appointments. passengers. All expenses are covered, Tuesday 30 January – Oldham Missed appointments cost the NHS you just need to be willing to give millions of pounds a year, and it’s some of your time to help a vulnerable Tuesday 27 February - Tameside important to people’s health they person attend their appointments. Tuesday 27 March - Oldham attend all their appointments. Drivers can offer as little as a couple of To find out more or book on visit Our dedicated team of drivers hours or a few days a week! www.actiontogether.org.uk or call each use their own cars to collect If you’re interested in finding out more 0161 339 2345.

6 Nasreen Rafiqfirst found out about volunteering when she attended a volunteer appointment at Volunteer Centre Oldham with her husband to translate for him. Listening to how valuable volunteering sounded, She enquired for herself. As Nasreen and her husband were for their development. Supporting new to volunteering we identified parents to give their children a stable, that our pre-volunteering course loving family environment can make would be a great start for them all the difference to their confidence, both. Our course opened Nasreen’s Home-Start Oldham, happiness and life-chances. eyes - she didn’t realise how many opportunities were out there. & Tameside • You’ll receive full training prior supports parents to give their children to delivering support. Home-Start Attending the course really helped the best possible start in life. With also offer a wide range of additional Nasreen gain a great start to her the help from volunteers it offers training to enhance your skills, volunteering journey and find a two main services to families; Home- from Parent-Infant Mental Health volunteer role to suit her interests. Visiting Support and Breastfeeding Awareness to Human Trafficking Nasreen is currently volunteering Peer Support. All its volunteers Awareness. at Positive Steps Oldham. She says #YouMakeTheDifference are parents themselves, so they • Whether you’re looking to get back it’s a,‘win-win’, ‘I help them and they understand how hard it can be! into work, or want to give something help me’. Home-visiting volunteers are matched back to your community, volunteering Volunteering has improved her with a local family in need of support with Home-Start is a great experience! confidence and put her computer and use their parenting experience • Volunteer social events throughout skills into practice. Nasreen to support them as parents learn to the year enable you to meet other encourages more people to enquire cope, improve their confidence and lovely people with similar interests. about volunteering, being a build better lives for their children. volunteer has made her want to do • Home-Start only ask for 2-3 hours more within the community. Breastfeeding Peer Supporters of your time each week, and won’t support mums on their breastfeeding ask you to volunteer during school journeys by offering support and holidays unless you wish. advice at home, at local groups, over “Volunteering the phone or on the maternity ward. You can contact Home-Start Why volunteer with Home-Start? Tel: 0161 344 0669 is a life lifting • You can change a local family’s life: Email: [email protected] experience’’ The early years of a child’s life are vital Or visit www.home-starthost.org.uk 7 #StrengthenOthers

Action Together provides Commission’s templates to submit Your organisation will be assigned a wide range of services, good quality accounts. a mentor, who will support you to work through the file and who Action Together’s Community training and accrediations will assess your evidence. For more Accountancy Service can help to strengthen the voluntary information contact development@ you with your year end accounts, actiontogether.org.uk / 0161 339 and community sector in the provision of an Independent 2345. Oldham and Tameside. Examination and can help you develop systems for your financial New Volunteering in Action Help with Grant Applications recording to help you produce It can be so useful for someone timely and relevant management Quality Award outside your organisation to accounts that are easy to understand Is a new quality award we are read through grant applications. and prepare. Contact us on Tel: offering for organisations who Something may make sense to you, 0161 339 2345 or Email: accounts@ involve volunteers across Oldham but not to a potential funder and actiontogether.org.uk and Tameside. It enables your could jeopardise your chances of a organisation to demonstrate they are successful grant application. Get in Quality in Action Award following best practice guidelines in touch with our development team The locally recognised quality volunteer management. The award and we will be delighted to help you assurance framework for voluntary, provides a framework for those who with your bids. Call 0161 339 2345 or community and faith organisations want to improve how they work email development@actiontogether. working with children and young with volunteers and offer a positive org.uk. people in Oldham and Tameside. experience for all. Quality of Charity Accounts The Quality in Action Award The Volunteering in Action Award can enable an organisation to will sit within the established Quality Charity Commission records show demonstrate that they meet a set of in Action Award that supports that only 55 per cent of small charity minimum standards when working organisations to meet safeguarding accounts were of an acceptable with children and young people. standards. standard last year, Civil Society Reports, although this is a slight By achieving the Quality in Action Why should you get involved? increase on the previous year’s 47 per Award, organisations meet the • Enhance your organisation’s cent. 77 per cent of larger charities requirements for signing up to reputation submitted accounts of an acceptable local safeguarding children’s • Demonstrates your ongoing standard - a fall from 75 per cent the audit. This is often a requirement commitment to your volunteers previous year. The Charity Commission for commissioning opportunities is encouraging charities to use the and many external grant funding • Looks great on a funding bid opportunities. 8 • A great marketing tool to attract new • Developing Funding Applications volunteers • Simplifying Business Plans • Receive recognised branding • Crowdfunding • Great step towards the National Place of Welcome • Volunteers and the Law Investing In Volunteers Award Prices vary – to discuss your Receiving the Volunteering in Action Places of Welcome is a growing organisations training needs contact Quality Award will show that your network of hospitality run by local Adele on 0161 339 2345 or email: organisation values volunteers community groups who want to [email protected] and demonstrates your ability to make sure that everyone has a place provide a welcoming and supportive For more information, to book on or to go for a friendly face, a cup of tea environment for people to spend their to see a full list of our courses visit and a conversation if and when they time unpaid. www.actiontogether.org.uk/training. need it. For more information contact Places of Welcome aims that “every Creativity4Wellbeing: neighbourhood has places where all [email protected] / resources for workshops 0161 339 2345. people feel safe to belong, connect Creativity4Wellbeing is a free art and contribute.” resource website designed to Boost Your Skills Wednesday Welcome has set up at encourage creativity and a sense Action Together can deliver in-house St John’s Church, Hurst in Ashton- of belonging in communities. The training direct to your organisation. under-Lyne. People are encouraged aim of the site is to share ideas to get involved in the fun activities. If you have a number of people and make it easier for people to Volunteers are also available to give requiring the same training or start their own activity group or art bereavement support. development it can often be more workshop in their community, to affordable to arrange a workshop at benefit others and help improve There are four Places of Welcome your own premises. health and wellbeing. Visit www. in Oldham and Tameside - to find out what’s available in your area Our trainers have specialisms in a creativity4wellbeing.com for more visit: www.placesofwelcome.org/ diverse range of topics. If you are information and let Action Together locations/GreaterManchester/ looking for a specific course or a know if you start up a new group or facilitation workshop that will help project and have found this website And you can also find out about strengthen your organisation, then useful. setting up your own Place of please contact us to discuss your Welcome! requirements. Examples of our training courses: 9 Local Giving Schemes

Action Together runs two charity out to the community. I want to On the night we asked Oldhamers initiatives, Action Oldham Fund and encourage young people to support to join with us in supporting the Tameside 4 Good, to improve lives in the charity’s causes and show their Action Oldham Fund to spark change Oldham and Tameside. support to future fundraising events.” in our communities. All the money raised is given out in grants to smaller Andy Hall added: “I love Oldham. is voluntary groups across the borough, Action Oldham Fund Action Oldham does a brilliant job a charitable fund that supports good supporting disadvantaged young of supporting fantastic causes in our causes across borough with grants, people, giving a helping hand to borough. When they asked me to so they can make a real difference to those affected by illness, improving be an ambassador it was a genuine local lives. health and reducing isolation. honour. When they asked if I would Action Oldham Fund encourages jump out of a ‘plane I was genuinely We are thrilled that so many local giving to the smaller volunteer- terrified. But if it helps just one local businesses and individuals attended, led organisations, such as older person who needs support, consider and that everyone had a ball!” people’s luncheon clubs, self-help it done.” The main sponsors for the evening groups, support groups for children Together they have raised £1,500! were Pearson Solicitors, Smooth and young people, to transform the Moves, Chambers Business Centre and lives of people right on our doorstep. Spring Into Action Ball Kuvalab Creative. Ross Care sponsored You can be sure your money makes a the table wine. real difference to the lives of Oldham On 29 April the Action Oldham residents. Fund held its first fundraising ball at The evening started with a Smokies Hotel . performance from the Pennine Mencap choir, one of the many Charity Skydive The theme for the night was organisations the Action Oldham In April six thrill seekers took to the “Revolution”. The venue was decorated Fund has supported. Elliot Eastwich skies for a 120mph, 11,000ft tandem to recall a time when Oldham was put from Revolution 96.2 hosted the skydive. on the map as a boomtown of the event, face art creators offered glitter . As the textile No challenge was too big for the embellishment, with a magician, industry came to a close, Oldham Action Oldham Fund Ambassadors, entertainer and professional portrait sparked its own revolution - one of who led the way in fundraising by photography volunteered from change, innovation and growth. taking on the skydive. Andy Hall is Oldham Camera Club. the Fund’s Digital Ambassador and Clare Taylor, Action Oldham Fund In total £5,000 was raised for the Zack Grimes is the Fund’s Youth and development coordinator, said: Action Oldham Fund. Education Ambassador. “Whether individuals, charities, businesses, or public sector workers, Vikki Strang, All in One Business , Zack Grimes, said: “I’m doing the we all can continue this revolution commented: “It was a wonderful skydive not only to raise money for of change, across our communities: event! l and all my friends really the charity and the groups that it transforming lives right on our enjoyed it, and can’t wait for next year. supports, but to raise the profile of doorstep.” And for such an important cause.” what the charity does in reaching 10 Business Partner - Molly Maid Molly Maid runs professional cleaning services across the borough. They employ local staff and want to Paint It Pink contribute to the local area. Last year they were proud Bronze business partners. This year they would like Last year Glass Ltd took and so it is only natural that we work to sponsor the kit of a sports team, part in our Paint It Pink campaign together. It was great to be able to and are particularly interested in raising £415 for Tameside 4 Good. one of the first events supporting supporting a girls team, to help this years Paint It Pink campaign.” encourage more girls into Sport. This year they have picked Tameside Although, all applications will be 4 Good as their chosen charity. Businesses that joined for Paint It considered. Droylsden Glass Ltd is an award- Pink are Pearsons Solicitors and winning double glazing installer Ultimate Marketing who held Director, Simone Berisford-Ince, says: of high-quality uPVC Windows, collection buckets and wore their “We are in the community and want Composite Doors, Conservatories pink clothes for the day. Community to support the community. Through and the new Tiled Conservatory groups that joined in were Tameside offering this sponsorship to a wide Warm Roofs. This year for every Voices and Neonatal Knitters who range of groups through the Action project they undertake they will at their weekly choir practice wore Oldham Fund, it gives us the perfect donate £1 to help local good causes. pink, sung pink themed songs and opportunity to make a positive donated their usual membership. impact locally and demonstrate good Paint It Pink We would like to thank everyone business practice.” that took part in this years Paint it Paint it Pink took place between Pink campaign. To register your interest, please email 8 – 14 May, a full week where [email protected] businesses and community groups This year IKEA Manchester selected or call 0161 339 2345 by 30 November wore pink, held cake sales, raffles Tameside 4 Good as their chosen 2017. and sponsored events. Starting off charity. Through various activities the week of fundraising was BAPS, such as a quiz night for staff, a cake Tameside 4 Good helps who held their annual 10K challenge sale and having collection buckets in young people and good causes. It with around 200 people taking part store. So far they have raised £390 for is a charity initiative from Action donating towards Tameside 4 Good. Tameside 4 Good and still have a few Together, designed to drive the giving Mansukh Dhokia, commented: “We more events lined up. of time, skills, money and resources to are delighted to have Tameside 4 To find out more contact Candice voluntary and community groups in good as our local charity partner. We Tel: 0161 339 2345; Email: candice. Tameside. have common values in wanting to [email protected]. help individuals and the community 11 Become a member @WeActTogether

Calling all community and • Get support with organisational media. development; such as choosing a voluntary groups in Oldham • Get the right people for your suitable constitution, developing and Tameside! Whether workforce by advertising jobs through your aims and objectives, building you’re a newly formed or a our extensive networks. long established voluntary or a business plan and fundraising • Get more volunteers by uploading community group, you’re invited strategy, applying for funds, and creating a dynamic and effective and managing your volunteering to formerly join Action Together committee. opportunities through our interactive CIO (free of charge). website and advertising them on our • Get help to achieve our quality social media channels. Our ambition is to work with all of the assurance awards; ‘Quality in Action’ 2,398 VCSE organistions in Oldham and ‘Volunteering in Action Quality • Get bespoke advice and support on and Tameside. Award’, which are a pathway to local managing volunteers and attend our Action Together is a member based funding. volunteer coordinator forums. organisation that supports local • Get regular information about local To become a member all you need to community action in Oldham and changes, news, funding and training do is visit www.actiontogether.org.uk/ Tameside by promoting the interests relevant to you. become-member of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. • Get to meet other organisations in If your group is already a member your area, work closer with others and of Action Together please get As a member group you will: receive peer support. in touch to make sure our •Receive an invitation to the Annual • Get to have a say and be involved in information is, detailed, up to General Meeting and are entitled decision making about the things you date, relevant as we are able to to seek nomination to our Board of care about. showcase your work through Trustees as well as vote on important our new and exciting ‘online – decisions for the organisation. • Get a spot on our online service directory that will be open for groups, directory’. •Have access to free training and funders, and potential users to find If you have any queries, please bespoke workshops on topics out more. contact the development team on ranging from business planning, [email protected] writing funding bids, safeguarding • Get opportunities to promote the or call 0161 339 2345. compliance, supporting volunteers work of your group through our and how to use social media. newsletter, ebulletins and social

12 Training and Events

When What Where Thursday 16 November Creating a Community Group Action Together Oldham Office 10am–12.30pm Unit 12 Manchester Chambers West Street Oldham, OL1 1LF

Thursday 16 November Website Information Session for Volunteer Action Together - Tameside Office 10am–12pm Managers 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EP

Tuesday 21 November Planning your Finances Action Together Oldham Office 10am–12.30pm Unit 12 Manchester Chambers West Street Oldham, OL1 1LF

Tuesday 28 November Pre-Volunteer Course Action Together Oldham Office 10am–3pm Unit 12 Manchester Chambers West Street Oldham, OL1 1LF

Tuesday 28 November Level 1 Child Protection Awareness Action Together - Tameside Office 6pm–9pm 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EP

Wednesday 29 November Advanced Social Media Action Together - Tameside Office 10am–11.30am 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EP

Wednesday 7 December Level 1 Child Protection Awareness Action Together - Tameside Office 10am–3pm 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EP

Tuesday 12 December Pre-Volunteer Course Action Together - Tameside Office 10am–3pm 95-97 Penny Meadow Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EP

Training is FREE to the Voluntary, Community and Faith organisations with an income under £25,000 per annum Places cost £20 per person to Voluntary, Community and Faith organisations with an income over £25,000 per annum Places for public, private sector and non-Oldham/Tameside based organisations cost £30 per person For more information, to book on or to see a full list of our courses visit www.actiontogether.org.uk/training

13 Your Spotlight on Local Health Services

Action Together runs Healthwatch accessed. Healthwatch Champions - people who Oldham and Healthwatch Tameside, can help us to have a local presence in The answers to these survey the independent consumer their communities. questions have been collated and champions for health and social care analysed to identify any patterns and Lay Advisors - people who have in Oldham and Tameside. We listen to trends within their experiences and experience of specific health and care local people, and gather information understanding. services and who can advise us on about their experiences of using individual projects. health and social care services. We are The full report and its findings can careful to share ideas in a way which be accessed online at http://bit. Enter and View Representatives - will not identify any individuals. Any ly/2xOwCFL. people who can help us to use one information we are given will remain of our powers: the power to go into anonymous. Volunteer for a service and observe the delivery of Healthwatch care. Healthwatch Oldham Representatives - people who Our Healthwatch’s have a range of can attend meetings on behalf of Low Mood, Anxiety volunteer opportunities. Healthwatch, using their knowledge and Depression People choose to volunteer for and experience to make sure the Forum Report Healthwatch for a number of reasons views and experiences of local people including: are heard. Our Heathwatch Forums continue to be a popular and effective way of • gaining new skills and experience If you are interested in volunteering engaging with the Oldham public, • helping other people to benefit from for Healthwatch get in touch: with 120 people attending the your skills and experience Healthwatch Oldham January Forum on Low Mood, Anxiety •wanting to make a difference in your Email: info@healthwatcholdham. and Depression. Healthwatch Oldham local community co.uk; Tel: 0161 622 5700 or visit www. published a report on the findings healthwatcholdham.co.uk. collected at the Forum. Volunteer roles: Healthwatch Tameside This survey asked specific questions Board Members - people who take about people’s understanding of responsibility for what Healthwatch Email: info@healthwatchtameside. their own mood, diagnosis, possible does and who set our overall co.uk; Tel: 0161 667 2526 or visit www. treatments and services they have priorities. healthwatchtameside.co.uk.

14 Mental Health Care

On 1st April 2017, Healthwatch Tameside held a public event at The Grafton Centre in Hyde. The event was attended by mental health service users, their families and carers, and representatives of care and service providers. Ambition There was an opportunity for honest round-the-table discussions about a range of mental health related topics, followed by feedback of the for Ageing key points to the rest of the room. A summary of the discussions can be found at www.healthwatchtameside. co.uk/sites/default/files/summary_ Ambition for Ageing- Creating more projects, walking groups, craft activities, of_event_discussions.pdf. If you do age-friendly communities in Tameside theatre groups, bowling for people not have access to the internet, but and Oldham. with dementia, community befriending groups, singles nights, linking letters, would like to know more, please give Ambition for Ageing is a five year Big Tai Chi sessions and much much more. us a call on 0161 667 2526. Lottery funded programme that Action We are also trying to reach those people Together has been supporting in Healthwatch Tameside is continuing who really don’t talk to anybody from Oldham and Tameside. The aim of the with this mental health project, one day to another or who haven’t been programme is to reduce social isolation working with providers and out of the house in a while. commissioners of services. and make areas more age friendly places to live for people aged 50 plus. We are always looking for new ideas If you want to tell Healthwatch The areas we are working in are:- to connect people with their local Tameside about your recent communities, each other and to Oldham - Alexandra, Crompton and experiences of mental health care, increase opportunities for people West. give the team a call 0161 667 2526. from all communities to get involved Tameside - , Denton and have a voice at all levels from South and Newton Hyde. community volunteering to becoming Working jointly with our Age UK involved with how the programme is Oldham and Age UK Tameside governed. colleagues we have supported and We produce a quarterly newsletter that invested in over 100 projects and events contains information on the activities in those targeted areas. that are taking place in the targeted We have had a fantastic 18 months, areas. If you would like to receive a copy meeting lots of inspirational people of this newsletter, or would just like who have given us their investment to chat to somebody about Ambition ideas to make their communities more for Ageing then please contact the healthy, connected, and inclusive for Ambition for Ageing Oldham or people over 50. Tameside teams on 0161 339 2345. Some of the projects we have supported include exercise and dancing projects, gardening and allotment

15 Acting Together to support people’s health and wellbeing

The way health and social care is and wellbeing long term. local community ideas about how to delivered needs to change. People are expand what’s on offer and support There are plenty of examples of living longer which is great, but we the setup of peer support groups and places doing things differently across also have more long-term conditions activities to meet gaps. Working with the country, and new and exciting and ongoing care needs. e.g. ‘healthy local partners like Age UK Oldham, programmes that seem to make a life expectancy’ (the age at which TOG Mind and the Early Help Service significant difference to the lives of people can expect to live without a we will be developing ways to help local people, while creating savings long-term condition) is 59 years in connect people with the support that are needed to ensure we can Oldham and 57 years in Tameside, they want to improve their health and afford to look after people when they both lower than the national average. wellbeing. need it. In Oldham and Tameside we The health and care system, was not are supporting the development of In Tameside we are delivering the designed to cope with this level of ‘Asset Based Approaches’, and ‘Social Self-Care Programme working demand and the health and social Prescribing’ Programmes. together with colleagues from the care budget, like all public services, Hospital, Primary Care, Social Care and These approaches rely on building the is under strain and cannot afford to Community and Voluntary Sector to: capacity of local people, communities sustain this. and the voluntary, community and • Use an ‘Asset based approach’ to Across , significant faith sector (VCFS) at a local level to be build the capacity & resilience of local changes to the way health and care is successful. people and agencies to ‘do more’ for delivered are underway to create new themselves and their communities. As part of Oldham’s Thriving ways of working that are sustainable. Communities Programme, we will be • Link local people with Long Term As well as creating efficiencies in working with the integrated health Conditions to non-medical support the way services are commissioned and social care team in Cluster West that enables them to better ‘Self Care’ and delivered, a large part of this to: by a process called - Social Prescribing. thinking is supporting people and communities to make healthier • Make connections between the To find out more about Thriving choices, and tackle the underlying community and voluntary sector and Communities contact Mafooz Bibi on causes of what can turn into illness. the wider primary care workforce and Email: mafooz.bibi@actiontogether. Things like becoming isolated and ensure the whole offer across the local org.uk. To find out more about the lonely, worrying about money, not areas is known about and connected Self – Care Programme contact having a job or qualifications, can all in. Anna Hynes on Email: anna.hynes@ actiontogether.org.uk. have huge implications for our health • Providing practical help to develop 16