HMR Circle celebrating ‘year to remember’

Mark Wynn, HMR Circle Director

HMR Circle is celebrating 2018 as a ‘year to remember’. It started January as the Greater Manchester Social Enterprise of the Year 2017, took over the running of the Volunteer Drivers Service (VDS) and passed the incredible landmark of taking over 30,000 social bookings since its first event in November 2012.

In December HMR Circle held its 2000th social event, and completed its 5000th practical job, delivering over 10,000 hours of support to members.

The VDS drove members in excess of 100,000 miles in 2018, which is the equivalent of driving over four times around the world.

HMR Circle also befriended 41 people delivering over 700 hours of 1-2-1 companionship and opened up two Micro-Circles in Crompton, Oldham and Moorside in Bury.

HMR Circle director Mark Wynn said: “Working with our friends at partners at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Ambition for Ageing and Rochdale MIND we are making great progress with our Social Eating programme and soon on a Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project.

“These achievements and more have made 2018 a year to remember, all capped off by not one but two groups of overseas visitors from South Korea, with a government delegation in October and the Korean equivalent of the BBC, KBS spending two days with us to film our work for a documentary on HMR Circles work and that of our partners.

“None of this would have been possible without the help, dedication and support for our members, staff, partners and volunteers.

“Thank you to everyone who helped make 2018 such a fantastic year.

“Looking to 2019, we have an event at 2:00pm on Thursday 31 January 2019, at The Heywood, 1 Tower Street, Heywood, OL10 3AA - Suggestion Time - a chance for us to hear suggestions for events, and answer any questions you might have.

“It’s also a chance to hear more about the great work Circle is doing across the borough and beyond.

“At this event, we want to hear suggestions for the March calendar of events in particular, and we hope to have a brief workshop to help with the creation of the calendar for that month.

“Tea and coffee will be served, and the event is free, we look forward to meeting you there.”