Greater Manchester & Cheshire
Community partnership sees centre reopen in Oldham South
Last week, a community centre in the heart of Hollinwood opened its doors after leading North West housing association, Onward Homes, delivered a refurbishment project.
Prior to the refurbishment, Onward consulted with local people who said they needed a multi-purpose space to host a range of community activities.
In response to this feedback, Onward worked with partners including Avenues and Hollins Residents Association (AHRA), Oldham Council, Oasis Hub, Bedrock, and ABL Health to develop a community-led vision for the centre.
Over the last six months, Onward refurbished the centre to create a thriving, multi-purpose space that will enable the local community to host a range of activities alongside services delivered by local partners.
The housing association’s contractors Connolly, Seddons, EFT Systems, Mainland Catering Supplies and FTD provided circa £20k in social value through materials, equipment and labour.
The centre was officially opened during a Community Fun Day on the 28th August 2024.
Andrew Brown, Director of Housing and Specialist Living at Onward, said:
“We put the community at the heart of this project, listening to residents’ needs so that we could design a space that reflects their views and aspirations. Our collaboration with local partners and residents has enabled us to create a thriving centre that the community in Hollinwood can be proud of.”
“It was great to see the community come together to enjoy the space at the opening this week. We look forward to working with AHRA and other partners to deliver support services for the residents of Oldham South at the centre for years to come.”
Alongside a range of fun activities on offer for young children, Cracking Good Food delivered cooking demonstrations, Yuvanis Foundation provided free bike maintenance, and ABL Health offered free health checks to residents at the Community Fun Day.
Steve Williams, a local resident and member of the AHRA, said:
“This marvelous facility which can be used by all residents in the area will hopefully bring people together and rekindle some of the community spirit, something that we [the residents] enjoyed when the hall was open for all those years previously.”
Going forward, the AHRA and Oasis Hub will manage the centre alongside support from Onward’s Social Investment Team. Oasis will expand its outreach programme from the centre to provide initiatives such as parent toddler groups, English classes, art and craft activities and school holiday provision.
AHRA will also manage the centre in the evenings and weekends, allowing the community to use the facility to participate in activities such as karaoke, bingo and celebration events. There will also be an opportunity for the local community to use the centre for private bookings.
To learn more about support that might be available to you or local community groups, please visit onward.co.uk/community-fund or email socialinvestment@onward.co.uk.
