Member Article

Cash grants in Oldham to support work clubs

Two organisations have won grants to support their efforts to help people in the Oldham area to start businesses or find work.

They were chosen by Voluntary Action Oldham (VAO) based on the strength of their applications and their potential benefit to residents.

Hollinwood Work Club will receive £5,000 to help people who want to start their own business or become self-employed.

The Oldham Work Club – which will receive the full grant amount of £10,000 – will use their money to run a training and accreditation scheme for volunteers.

They are among seven projects who successfully applied for a grant from the Co-operative Oldham Fund. This year the Fund is focusing on projects and community initiatives that help people into work. Projects which enhance residents’ wellbeing are also being prioritised in 2013/14.

The Cooperative Oldham Fund was set up by Oldham Council and Voluntary Action Oldham to support local good causes. It is split into two categories - the ‘Seed Fund’ for smaller projects, and the ‘Full Fund’ for larger ones.

These are the first group of projects to successfully apply to the Full Fund - which can give up to £10,000 in grants.

The Fund – which was set up by Oldham Council earlier this year – is administered by VAO. It is part of a wider initiative – Active Oldham – aimed at getting people to donate their money or time to community initiatives.

Jeremy Broadbent, Chair of the Cooperative Oldham Fund award panel, said: “Getting Oldham back to work is the top priority right now in the Borough and these projects will really make a difference, helping successful work clubs to support more local people into work. The panel is delighted to support these projects.”

Councillor Steve Bashforth, Deputy Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Neighbourhoods, said: “I’m delighted that the Co-operative Oldham Fund is going to these Work Clubs.

“By selecting projects which help residents to find work, this money will continue to benefit people long after the grant has been used.

“I would like to congratulate the projects who were successful in this round of applications and VAO for their fantastic work in administering the Fund.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .