Community Volunteer Festival

A community volunteer festival was hosted at The Butts in Rochdale town centre on Friday (1 June).

The event, organised to start Volunteers Week, showcased volunteer opportunities within the borough, as local experts guided attendees through what Rochdale has to offer them.

Mayor Mohammed Zaman said: “This event, organised by Link4Life, was attended by hundreds of people. There were many stalls with lots of useful information, offering help and advice on sports, health, energy wise, policing and showing us the opportunities for volunteers.

“The idea of this event was to develop a strong network with local community organisations and to encourage them to take on volunteers to enhance their knowledge, experience and life skills.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in organising this fantastic event.”

Philip Greenwood, Volunteer Centre Officer, said: "Everyone agreed it was the best event we have done.

"The Mayor seemed to enjoy himself and he joined in on every stall."

Local organisations and groups in attendance included Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Link4Life, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Hamer Boxing Club, Making Space, Women’s Housing Action Group, Rochdale Connections Trust, Living Well, The Prince’s Trust, Pennine Care, Littleborough RUFC, Burnside Community Centre, Police Cadets, Army Careers Service and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Circle.

Opportunities were available to find out more about training, volunteering and jobs within these organisations.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service provided a space for children to play sports as well as bringing a fire engine which attendees could climb to the top of for a picture as a bubble machine filled The Butts.

The Fusiliers demonstrated what equipment they use as well as allowing people to see what it is like to be in the army as children dressed up in army uniform.

Other stalls had games such as a giant connect four.

The Rochdale volunteer centre has over 300 live opportunities for people to volunteer for within the borough.

Visit:

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/volunteer-centre-rochdale/intro