MoorEnd Development Trust given £9,930 to repair Coronavirus economic damage

Hare Hill House hosted a weekly 'Meet Up' group before the pandemic

A Pennines charity has received £9,930 in National Lottery funding to help recover from the economic impact of Covid-19.

The funding will enable MoorEnd Development Trust Ltd, which aims to promote the regeneration of Rochdale and improve quality of life for residents in the Pennines Township, to provide a range of activity packs for its 'Meet Up 'participants, a group of older and often isolated residents.

Prior to the pandemic, the 'Meet Up' group met weekly at Hare Hill House to enjoy a lunch, entertainment, companionship and conversation.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the trust had to close its community centres in Littleborough and Milnrow, but has continued to give support via telephone, visits and social media. Consequently the Meet Up and Blokes support groups have had to stop meeting.

Nick Andrews, Hare Hill House Project Champion of MoorEnd Development Trust, said: “This grant will provide a lifeline to our participants, who because of the restrictions have been isolated and desperately miss the weekly get together.

“The Activity Packs will provide them with positive activities that will help maintain their well-being this winter.”

The charity has been given its share through the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme (CCLORS), led by independent trust Power to Change, in partnership with Locality, The Ubele Initiative and Social Investment Business.

The scheme was also part of the National Lottery Community Fund’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund, which launched in May of this year.

Vidhya Alakeson, CEO of Power to Change, said: “Whilst Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on people right across the country, it has disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minority-ethnic communities. By bringing together this strategic partnership, we’ve ensured this much-needed financial support is reaching those communities that need it most.”

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK and has made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects to benefit millions. The £9.5m National Lottery funding has been distributed to over 302 community-led organisations, including 205 led by, or that support, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

Established in 2003, MoorEnd Development Trust operates two community centres - Butterworth Hall Community Centre, Milnrow, and Hare Hill House Community Arts and Enterprise Centre, Littleborough - manages the Pennines Township Business and Tourism Forum and organises events such as the Tim Bobbin Festival.