They say charity begins at home and that’s the principle behind the Give Local Oldham campaign.
Six Oldham charities: Action Oldham Fund, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Kingfisher Special School, Maggie’s, Madhlo and Oldham Coliseum Theatre, are collaborating this festive season in a campaign to raise money that will help improve the lives of people across the borough.
Give Local is a fundraising initiative showcasing great causes across Oldham, spreading the word in the community about the difference they make, and how they work together for the benefit of the town.
Throughout the borough the six charities are fundraising with a series of bucket collections and raffles, including collections at supermarkets, at Oldham Athletic FC matches, and at the Coliseum throughout the run of their ever-popular pantomime, Dick Whittington. Thanks to Sir Norman Stoller CBE DL, all money raised for Give Local Oldham will be doubled by The Stoller Charitable Trust and split equally between each charity.
Sir Norman Stoller commented:
“All six charities are working so hard for the good of the borough and the Trust will be happy to make sure every pound raised is doubled so that the good work can continue and Oldham thrives.”
From our health to our mental and emotional wellbeing, the six charities involved in Give Local Oldham work tirelessly to provide much-needed support and opportunities to the people and communities of Oldham.
Kingfisher Special School is the only school in Oldham for primary aged children with severe and complex learning difficulties. The school’s population of children are drawn from all wards in Oldham and have a huge range of special needs and disabilities, ranging from life limiting and threatening medical conditions, severe and complex autism, physical disabilities to communication needs and heading and visual impairments.
Mahdlo provides positive activities and practical support for young people ages 8-19 (25 for those with disabilities) to come together, learn new skills and address any issues they may face. The centre is open whenever schools are closed, providing a safe but exciting environment which inspires young people to challenge themselves to grow and develop in all aspects of their lives.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre is one of the longest-running organisations in the borough. Best-known for its award-winning home-grown plays and musicals, the theatre also provides a wide variety of participatory activities, working with people from all communities in Oldham to develop creative programmes to facilitate learning, engagement and community cohesion.
Maggie’s Oldham, built in the grounds of The Royal Oldham Hospital, provides free practical and emotional support for people living with cancer and their families and friends. Maggie’s is a warm and welcoming place, with qualified professionals on hand to offer a programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing. The charity’s aim is to make the biggest difference possible to people affected by cancer.
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice provides a range of services tailored to those living with life-limiting illness along with their families, to look after people when hospitals can’t. They also help people to die in peace and dignity and offer support for their loved ones afterwards.
Action Oldham Fund supports good causes across the borough with grants, so they can make a real difference to local lives. They encourage giving to smaller volunteer-led organisations, such as older people’s luncheon clubs and self-help groups, to transform the lives of people right on our doorstep.
Dr Paul Cook, CEO of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice commented:
“The Give Local Oldham campaign is a great opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the six main charities in the borough. Between us we touch everyone in the community with the services we provide, almost from cradle to grave. Working collaboratively allows us to show the impact we have on the people in our community and that the community’s support is vital in helping these services to flourish into the future.”
Michael Unsworth, Director of Business at Kingfisher Learning Trust, added: “The campaign between the six charities is crucial as not only does it join up the work of the charities and their support for the cross section of communities in Oldham, it also highlights the necessity of money being raised by the people of Oldham, benefiting the people of Oldham.
