Ambassadors ready for action!

Rochdale town centre ambassadors take their award from the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift

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Rochdale town centre has today been officiated with a team of “ambassadors” who will guide visitors and paint the town in a positive light.

Police officers, traffic wardens, council staff and owners of local businesses joined with Rochdale Online News reporter Kirsty Rigg in completing a training course, qualifying them as envoys for their local area, and making them official customer service representatives for people who are visiting the town.

Having brushed up on their local knowledge and map reading skills, and answered a detailed questionnaire about how to impress a visitor, the team received a certificate from the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift, this afternoon (Tuesday 30 June).

The ‘ambassadors’ will be regularly updated with information about local services, in conjunction with Link4Life, Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Town Centre Management, with the aim of painting a more positive picture of Rochdale.

Among the new ambassadors is Rochdale Borough Council’s tourism officer, Tim Nuttall. He said: “We want people to feel happy about coming to the town, and this is an opportunity for the local ambassadors to be able to promote it as something they’re proud of. Because, there is, if you look, something to be proud of.”

Dieter Brandstatter, who runs Coffee Cali on Yorkshire Street, also accepted his award. He said: “It is my job to deal with the public and people ask me every day a bout the town centre. There are always people asking questions, and as a local business it is important to be able to answer them.”

Rochdale Online News reporter Kirsty Rigg said: “It’s all too easy to focus on the negativities and miss out on the great things that happen in the area.

“I’ve learned all sorts of things I didn’t know about Rochdale, and I look forward to putting that knowledge to good use.”

Every Ambassador is to receive an information badge which they will wear when out and about, so everyone can see they are there to help.

The badge was designed by a 17-year-old Hopwood Hall College student, Jordan Knight, whose design was voted for through Rochdale Online.

He said: “I went for a simple design which people can look at and know what it means. I’m glad to have had my design picked out.”

Course leader Katy Moussaada said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to not only lead the course but the meet some of the great people Rochdale has to offer.

“We have a cracking team of ambassadors here who will do Rochdale proud.”