Double delight as council wins in two categories at Municipal Journal Local Government Achievement Awards

Rochdale Borough Council has won two awards at this year's prestigious Municipal Journal Local Government Achievement Awards.

This year saw hundreds of entries across 17 categories, including everything from social care to transformation and public health to digital, with the judges noting that it was tough to decide on the 'top spots' as the competition was particularly strong this year.

The council’s community response team, who have worked closely with many local community groups and partners throughout the pandemic, scooped the ‘Community Heroes’ award.

Judges praised the impressive way people came together to solve problems, and share skills to provide a cohesive response to the needs that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to an expert panel, the foundations had been laid for a support network that will survive the pandemic and thrive for many years to come.

The team was described by judges as "true heroes" that "went above and beyond during the pandemic; mobilising every available resource and, in their own words, 'adjusted, adapted and accommodated' to leave nobody behind. A tough award to judge but your kindness was a true example of local government at its best!”

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and cooperation, said: “We are so thrilled to win this award, it’s an award for the whole of the borough.

“So many people have gone above and beyond during the pandemic and that is a credit to the cooperative spirit of Rochdale. I think back to when so many people and businesses across the borough came forward with food donations and practical support to assist families and individuals in greatest need.”

 

 

Councillor Daalat Ali, deputy leader and cabinet member for health, added: “We’re privileged to have such dedicated and hardworking staff and so many fabulous local community organisations and partners who’ve played a crucial role with us in supporting our residents. This prestigious national award is in recognition of all our community heroes in our borough.”

As the award ceremony continued, there was more success for the borough.

The council’s children’s services teams were finalists twice in the ‘Innovation in Children’s Services’ category with the Safe After School campaign and Rochdale Relationships Matter work.

It was Safe After School, which aims to improve understanding of child safeguarding at unregulated activities and clubs, that took top spot at the ceremony.

Judges were impressed by the simplicity of the programme, which adopted a co-production and whole community approach and championed community ambassadors: “The team put the needs of all children first by promoting replication of the programme across the wider community and demonstrated their ambition to influence government and make policy and legislative change.”

Rochdale is the first local authority to develop a campaign on the topic of unregulated children’s activities. Not all providers are regulated, a fact many people are unaware of, and the campaign provides a series of questions parents and carers can ask to check the providers safeguarding arrangements as well as providing supportive materials for providers to implement to protect themselves.

Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “This was such an uplifting event and we are so proud to have come away with two wins. It’s a testament to the work we’re doing for our communities.

“To be finalists twice in the ‘Innovation in Children’s Services’ category is such an incredible achievement. I’m delighted to see our Safe After School campaign win; it’s an innovative and pioneering campaign that puts the safety of children front and centre whilst also campaigning for wider change and I think that sums Rochdale up well.”